to ask for my old job back?

[EEatingSoupForLunch]

Two years ago I was offered a secondment from my permanent job, it was a great opportunity but my employer wouldn't release me. I decided to give my notice and go anyway, I felt I left my old job on good terms with the boss.

Two years on I am coming to the end of my contract and my old job has not managed to replace me. They have been assessed as not doing very well in inspection, the results were excellent when I ran the team. I contacted my old boss saying I will be free soon and I've heard you are looking for someone, how about me? No response, not even a no.

What should I do now? I need to earn a living and jobs at my level don't come up all the time. My old employers won't do any better than me, and the team are desperate to have me back (mostly). Any ideas on my next move?

How did you get in touch? Email or phone call? I need to understand a bit more about how they didn't respond to your proposal to have the role.

If it was an email - is it possible they didn't get it or read it properly?

I would be inclined to call or go in. I think you can tell far more about intent by someone's voice than you can by emails.

I'd ring and ask your old boss to go for lunch or coffee and discuss it properly
they miht be on holiday and not got the email

I emailed. Thank you for your thoughts - I rang this afternoon and left a message with his PA saying it was about the message I left and asking him to ring me. I will give it a few days then try again.

Like the idea of going for coffee too!

I agree, keep trying. You left on good terms, and because you wanted to develop new skills and experience in a secondment post, which means you would come back with some new skills. The worst they can say is no, and you've nothing to lose by trying.

Thank you everyone. Yes Kitkat I will keep on trying - I am disappointed that things have declined so far since I left and I know I could sort it out. Plus I need to feed my family so a bit of persistence could pay off.

Definitely pursue it- might not have got the email yet, in my sector out of office auto replies aren't sent to external email addresses depending on security settings