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Original poster

Could I return to my old job?

21 replies

Pifflepuffin · 23/03/2023 14:20

I left my very stressed role early last year. I was overworked and bullied by a nasty man and had to deal with a cocky junior who frequently stirred up drama and made others cry etc. He was awful.

I left, slowly recovered from the mental breakdown and burnout.

I feel great now. I miss my job (the job itself!). The nasty man and cocky junior have also left. And all that remains is my perfect job and lovely colleagues who miss me (I miss them too. Very good friends!)

They never replaced me but my absence has caused the senior team to be overworked. I could easily walk in and take over my old responsibilities (and probably extra!) - everyone would work more efficiently and spend more time on billable projects. Which means happier clients, happier colleagues and the business generating more money.

How could I start a dialogue about me returning? I'm not in direct contact with the Director but am in contact with everyone else.

Has anyone ever done this? Did it work out well?

(Hindsight: If I knew those two gits were leaving I would have hung around and persevered! Or I should have been signed off for stress!)

OP posts:
feelinglikeanewparent · 23/03/2023 14:36

Contact whoever would be your manager and ask them if they have time for a catch-up / coffee chat

Original poster
Pifflepuffin · 23/03/2023 14:56

@feelinglikeanewparent Thank you! I'm trying to work out who that would be (company structure has changed a little bit!) but I think it's the Director himself now....

I saw him last week and he totally blanked me 😳

OP posts:
feelinglikeanewparent · 23/03/2023 15:11

I guess if you want it, put yourself under his nose and see what happens. Won't happen unless you take that first step

Good luck x

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Newestname002 · 23/03/2023 15:37

Don't sell yourself short financially OP. Remember they're saving on two salaries/benefits pots now so there should be more cash to "entice" back someone who knows the job as well as you do and had great knowledge/working relationships with clients. Also if they had to go to an agency to recruit they'd have to pay £thousands so there's a good possibility of a win/win if they re-recruited you. Good luck! 🌹

Original poster
Pifflepuffin · 23/03/2023 15:46

@Newestname002 that's a bloody good point! There's some specific software which is very difficult to learn and many people don't have the skillset. I might do a refresher course and then go for it 😁

OP posts:
Newestname002 · 23/03/2023 15:58

Also if they dig their heels in and say there's no additional cash ask about a car allowance plus a smaller salary increase. I did that in my last job then put the car allowance money straight into the company's very generous pension scheme.. 🌹

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 23/03/2023 16:02

In my experience, most returners leave again within a year. But that's because the issues that made them leave weren't resolved - sounds like it will be different for you.

And me... because I did this yesterday. I called my old head of department and said hi, I want to come back. We had a good relationship and are both very straightforward/blunt, so I didn't need to word it carefully. He's put the wheels in motion.

Be prepared for them to ask what's wrong with your new job, how your issues with the old job have been resolved, and what salary you want. Don't sell yourself short on the last one.

Original poster
Pifflepuffin · 23/03/2023 16:19

Ooh I wish I was brave enough to just call them up. I feel a little sheepish even though I have no reason to.

That place destroyed my self esteem. (The people who left did that!)

OP posts:
HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 23/03/2023 16:26

I completely get feeling sheepish. But honestly they're only going to be happy to hear from you!

The bit I'm sheepish about is they did a collection when I left. I will offer to pay it back but I know nobody will take me up on it Blush

Original poster
Pifflepuffin · 23/03/2023 16:43

OK I need to pluck up the courage! @HeyDemonsItsYaGirl this is going to be tricky!

I'll talk to my friends a bit more and double triple check that they need me 😂

OP posts:
wincywincyspider · 23/03/2023 16:49

Pifflepuffin · 23/03/2023 16:19

Ooh I wish I was brave enough to just call them up. I feel a little sheepish even though I have no reason to.

That place destroyed my self esteem. (The people who left did that!)

With respect, the old employer either allowed you to feel like your self esteem was being destroyed and did nothing about it, or you weren't comfortable enough there to go to HR/the director (or someone senior) to tell them what was happening with faith they'll fix it.

Are you sure this is somewhere you want to go back to?

Howmanysleepsnow · 23/03/2023 16:57

I manage a team. 3 people have left and returned within the last year. It’s not unusual!

Original poster
Pifflepuffin · 24/03/2023 14:51

Howmanysleepsnow · 23/03/2023 16:57

I manage a team. 3 people have left and returned within the last year. It’s not unusual!

Does anyone ever joke about it? I know they're going to rip me to shreds if I returned! (In a nice way!!)

I still haven't plucked up the courage to ask...

OP posts:
Original poster
Pifflepuffin · 24/03/2023 14:56

@wincywincyspider The nasty person was the Director and we had no HR at the time.

However he has left and the new Director has recruited a new HR Manager who sounds really good! There's been an overhaul in departments and structure.

OP posts:
Epicstorm · 24/03/2023 15:05

Hope it works out for you. How long would a refresher course take? I might enrol for it and then make the approach once plans for the refresher are in place. Please let us know how you get on.

weststreet · 24/03/2023 22:05

I have done this and it was the best thing I've ever done.

I emailed my old like manager. I didn't know if she was still in the role and asked me to pinpoint me to the correct person if it wasn't her.

She called me the next day and we had a very informal chat, then arranged a zoom with HR and her (she's still my manager) went back the following week.

Sometimes returning to your old stomping ground after some time away, and after toxic colleagues have left, js the best thing.
It sounds like you loved the job and they loved you. I'd say go for it OP!

(I haven't read the full thread so apologies if you've already acted upon this)

weststreet · 24/03/2023 22:08

Also, I worked there for 7 years. Left for 9 months, and ive been back for 2 years and have no plans to leave in the near future at all. It's definitely not the case of most people leave again soon. In the industry I'm in (insurance & finance) it's pretty common (esp sales but I'm not sales) for people to move around. Sales has a higher staff turnover, as does most places.

But back office (where I am) doesn't. And there are a fair few of us that have left and come back, and it's a bit of an inside joke now, when someone leaves (especially if they're staying in the industry) we'll write a lighthearted 'see you soon' in their card. (We dont with seniors / management)

Go for it OP. Just don't get short changed.

Original poster
Pifflepuffin · 24/03/2023 22:23

@weststreet oh I love this! Thank you so much for sharing. I'm going to pluck up the courage this weekend to message who I think could help the most!

I've gone a while but I see my ex colleagues very regularly and talk to them everyday so it's like I've never left.

I also miss the clients which is just bloody weird but there we go 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Pifflepuffin · 27/03/2023 21:31

I don't think it's going to happen unfortunately 😔

I just can't open the dialogue! Never mind. X

OP posts:
Newestname002 · 27/03/2023 22:07

Pifflepuffin · 27/03/2023 21:31

I don't think it's going to happen unfortunately 😔

I just can't open the dialogue! Never mind. X

That's such a shame. If you ask and they say no thanks is that so bad? But there's a chance if you ask that they might say Yes!! You have very little to lose. Take a deep breath and put yourself out there - there are far scarier things in the world than this. 🤗

weststreet · 27/03/2023 23:20

Maybe we can help you type something op?

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