Has anyone ever applied back to their old place of work?

[HotChocolateLover]

I left my old place of work about 7 weeks ago for my dream job (Occupational therapist) I’d completed return to practice as I never practiced after graduating. Anyway, deep down, I’m not sure whether I’m enjoying it as much as I thought I would. I can’t work out if I was just more in love with the idea of being an OT than actually being one.

Anyway, back to the point. A B6 position has come up at my old work. It’s a job I could do with my eyes shut and would mean I could work from home again. I’m feeling quite tempted as my work life balance has gone to pot and I’ve been having more seizures than usual (I have epilepsy) and have already had one day off sick due to this.

Has anyone ever gone back to their old workplace? Did you regret it? Has anyone given up what they thought was their dream job?

So many questions.
TIA.

Yes. In financial services. Was a mistake.

No, but I work with quite a few people who left and then came back.

I would say 7 weeks is no time to get to grips with a new job but the fact you are having more seizures is worrisome.
Do you think this could still be your dream job once you get more experienced/ things become more familiar and you can fall into a routine or have you realised this will never be your dream job?
Did you like your previous place of employment and have you left on good terms?
You said you could do the job with your eyes closed, so would you get bored and want to move on after a year or two?

Yes. It’s ok. Pay increase and it’s only two days a week.

@honeybeetheoneandonly

I would say 7 weeks is no time to get to grips with a new job but the fact you are having more seizures is worrisome. Do you think this could still be your dream job once you get more experienced/ things become more familiar and you can fall into a routine or have you realised this will never be your dream job? Did you like your previous place of employment and have you left on good terms? You said you could do the job with your eyes closed, so would you get bored and want to move on after a year or two?

It’s not the same role so no worries there about being bored (I think) I left on good terms, so again not a problem. The closing date for this job isn’t for a couple of weeks and the interview is a couple of weeks after that so even IF I got it that’s still a minimum of four weeks to decide whether I’m getting into it. I just don’t know 😢

It's not unusual for people to return to companies in the industry I work in; it's quite niche and there are only a few big players. Particularly as it's for a different role I don't think it would be a bad thing - at least you know the downsides of working there!

I did TWICE! Once when I was very young and my old manager was so nice, managed to sort me out another job in a different department that I loved. Another time, left job and sound found the people at my new place were toxic, and I gave it six months. Then the person who was doing my old job at previous workplace decided to go back to uni for postgraduate studies...I applied for and got my job back. I felt so embraced at the time but had to do what I needed to for my own mental health and DD. I have a job I love now. Also by going to your previous employer, you already know the organisation, its culture, their way of working and whether its for you. Do it.

If you love your old company and didn't leave because of any negative factors there, then there is no reason not to apply! You'll only have to make the final decision to rejoin once you get offered the role.

I'm going back to my old company (after 6 years) where my dream role came up (finally) and my old line manager hired me. The culture was for me and the people were lovely, the only reason I left was because I knew I had to develop certain skillsets (and gain certain salary levels) to be able to progress and create value in myself. The reason of leaving had paid off as when I interviewed they said I had exceeded all expectations and since they already knew my personality and work style they were happy to offer me the role right then and there.

Apply, and see what happens next. Right now it's all hypothetical.

I left my job and went and did something completely different after 7 weeks I emailed my old boss saying I wanted my job back (luckily he said he'd welcome me back but I still had to interview) I applied and got an interview and walked out of the job I was in - I mean I quite literally packed my desk up midweek and didn't go in the next day (that's how much I HATED the new job) and I have never looked back and that was almost 3 years ago. I also found that when I got back to my old job I had a new found love for it. Life's too short to be unhappy and if your gut tells you to go back then do it

Lots of people leave my work place and come back whilst there is no problem with this it is bloody annoying that you put money and effort into getting them a gift from everyone and when they come back they seem to have forgotten we gave money! Those that return should buy biscuits for the team! I’ve given up giving into team goodbye gifts

Ok well I’ve done it!! (It’s me, HotChocolateLover but for some reason I’ve gone back to my Christmas user name) 🤷‍♀️ Scary! They’ll probably think I’m bonkers at my old place of work but we’ll see. Just realised that there’s actually two positions so I’ve actually doubled my chances.