Has anyone left a job and started a new one, only to promptly return to the old job?

[JMSA]

I am 3 weeks into a new job. It's going quite well but I really miss my old workplace. The closing date for applications for my former post is on Friday. I am tempted to apply. But I'm old-school and feel that I should stick out the current job for longer. I'm not unhappy per se, it's just a feeling that I don't fit in quite so well and still feel rather uncomfortable. My new boss is amazing but I sometimes feel like a spare part. I'm sure the passage of time will help enormously. I just find it hard to sit with this feeling, and tend to hark back to the familiar. I applied for the new job because it was a promotion, but the same promotion will open up in the old workplace. Long story short, it really was just a case of bad timing.
My heart says 'old job' and my head says 'new job'. I also can't help but feel the move would be very embarrassing on both sides!

Have you ever been in this situation and what did you do? Old job feels like the easy way out, but like putting on your comfy slippers at the end of the day
New job is the pair of Doc Marten's you really wanted and felt so good about getting, and even though the bisters are killing your feet, you know it will probably come good in the end.
Apologies for the weird footwear analogy

Oh, and I'm not great with change, as you can probably tell.

I believe that once I leave a job, that's it. I wouldn't go back, especially not to the same job as there were reasons I left in the first place and they're still there. I've been offered more money to stay in jobs once I resigned, but it's too late by that point.

I know people who have done it though and honestly I think it's a bit embarrassing on their part (for coming back) and for the employer to take them back. I've also known employers to say no in this situation.

I suppose it depends on whether you care about it being awkward?

It's been only 3 weeks!!! You need to give it more time.

I went back! Albeit with a 3 year break and although my job role was broadly the same I went back to, it was with more money and a pathway to potential ownership of the small business. So I haven’t regretted it for a minute.
sometimes it can be a case of not knowing what you have until it’s gone.

I know what you mean OP! Having similar feelings

The best thing about this job is the increased salary and there was no job to move up at old place. Pretty much everything else better though.

Slightly different but on day 2 of new job, I thought ‘oh shit, what have I done!’ Old job was crap, but this was 100% crapper! Phoned up my old boss on day 2, & went back to my old job on day 3. 😁. I was only there another 12 months, but made sure the next jump was 99% right.

Yes, the person whose job I took, two months later I was out of work.....honestly though 3 weeks is not nearly long enough, usually takes me at least 6 months. I too hate change, hence me sticking at jobs that I probably shouldn't have 😕

Personally if my old role one came back up then id be interested in it

I left a job that was comfy slippers at the end of the day. First few weeks I missed the old place but now 3 months in I am happy and wouldn't go back. Give the new place a fair try before giving up.

Yes I did, after 4 weeks.
The was 3 years ago and not regretted it for a second.
I loved my old job, but saw something I thought would fit the family better (closer to home, next door to ds school, fewer hours, same money, company with a great local reputation) so I jumped at the opportunity.
Hated every second and left by mutual agreement after 3 weeks, was back at my old job by 4 weeks.

I hate change too, I took a 6 month secondment in another part of the organisation as seemed like a low risk move. I hated it so much I cried when I got home for the first week, I also had lots of wobbles along the way. But the thing I hated was the change, feeling like I didn't know what I was doing and feeling overwhelmed. I could do my substantive post in my sleep and found it incredibly easy and boring so I decided to stick out the secondment. I was extended in the post and eventually made permanent in it (its been 4.5 years now). Its been an enormous period of professional growth for me - in fact I feel I'm getting to the point of it feeling a bit too easy for me in this role now (but recruitment freeze at the moment so nowhere to go internally and sector wide issues so will be staying put for at least a year I think).

Anyway all to say I think 3 weeks is too soon to know for sure, but if its just feeling a bit fish out of water because you're new I think you should stay. We learn so much more from being stretched.

I've done this twice. Neither time did I regret it. The jobs I moved to were utter shite. One job I kept hoping they'd fire me I hated it that much! When the offer from my old place came through I cried. The firm of solicitors I worked for were absolute arseholes and I couldn't wait to leave. My boss didn't even say bye...utter manchild.

I have known people to leave my current place and return in a year or two for a promotion as they realised the grass isn't always greener. But three weeks is too soon, you need to give your new job a proper go, it takes 6 months to settle in.

I've done this and looking back now I shouldn't have. You lose the bargaining power you once had.

I'm in Education, so it's not really like that.

Thanks everyone. I reckon I'll stick it out. I will like myself more for it.

I did it!
I knew within a few weeks of taking a job at a company that I'd always dreamed of working for that the role and the culture were TOTALLY wrong for me.
The job was different from what I'd be promised, some of the clients were horrendous and there were elements of the work that I had really big ethical misgivings about. I just knew this was not a place where I'd be successful or happy.
I went for a beer with my old boss and he offered me my old job. Been back at my old company over 5 years now and have progressed into an exciting new role.
A lot of people thought I was bonkers for walking away from a job at the high-profile dream company but I know in my heart I did the right thing.
Interestingly a colleague of mine found themselves in a similar situation two years later where the supposedly prestigious job they left for turned out to be utterly toxic. They were welcomed back with open arms and as far as I know it's worked out really well for them.
I know it's an unorthodox career move but people do boomerang back to old jobs sometimes and you wouldn't be the first.

I did it!
I knew within a few weeks of taking a job at a company that I'd always dreamed of working for that the role and the culture were TOTALLY wrong for me.
The job was different from what I'd be promised, some of the clients were horrendous and there were elements of the work that I had really big ethical misgivings about. I just knew this was not a place where I'd be successful or happy.
I went for a beer with my old boss and he offered me my old job. Been back at my old company over 5 years now and have progressed into an exciting new role.
A lot of people thought I was bonkers for walking away from a job at the high-profile dream company but I know in my heart I did the right thing.
Interestingly a colleague of mine found themselves in a similar situation two years later where the supposedly prestigious job they left for turned out to be utterly toxic. They were welcomed back with open arms and as far as I know it's worked out really well for them.
I know it's an unorthodox career move but people do boomerang back to old jobs sometimes and you wouldn't be the first.

I felt like this in my job. I almost went back. Then the pandemic hit so I stayed. And I am really glad I did.

But we also have lots of people that do return. We call refer to them as boomerangs. It’s actually quite nice. They try something else but want to come back.

I don’t think anyone can say whether you should or shouldn’t. It’s really personal. Either decision is one you could end up regretting. You can only do what you think is the right thing at the time you make the decision.

Not me, but I know someone who did.

The new place was a terrible working environment, so he called his old boss and as he'd left on good terms and they were struggling to recruit - they took him back.

I’ve done it twice - once to a “dream job” (nightmare) and once when headhunted (also a nightmare) , but on my return I took slightly lower grade jobs and either worked my way back up or out in a calmer , more balanced way in to something that suited me better. Both times I have been really lucky and now, 14 years on, I’m still with one of those two businesses in a much more senior role.

I did after three years into a different role. Three weeks isn’t long enough to tell. You barely know where the toilets are after three weeks.

Change is hard, of course it is but sometimes you have to power through otherwise you would never try anything new.

If you really hate it after six months reappraise. Ideally a year.

Yep..twice! Also in Education. First time I went to a totally different type of job and realised in 2 months that I was going to be bored stupid even though it was much better paid.
Second job was similar but with adults and it was pleasant enough but just not ME, so messaged my old head after 6 months...and was back a month later. Still there now, poorly paid but cheerful!

I did. Realised by lunchtime on day 1 I'd been sold a pup. Old job had offered me a promotion to stay, I gave it a few more days but ended up accepting by end of week 1.

I'm not remotely impulsive but I knew instinctively it was completely the wrong fit.

Yep. I get it - I posted yesterday I think about hating my new job.
I’ve been toying with the idea of contacting my old boss and asking to return. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it - you tried something else, it didn’t work and that’s ok.
often the early days of the job are ‘easy’ and if you know you won’t settle, what’s the point of staying and being unhappy?