Going back to old employer?

[DareDevil223]

I left a job I loved where I was highly regarded and liked for a new job in the same sector which was a promotion but a much longer commute (70ish mile round trip as opposed to under 10). I've been in the new job about 7 months and am doing well but not loving it and I really dislike some aspects of it. I left my old place on really good terms.

I like some aspects of the job but not all, the people are nice but the commute is killing me. it takes two hours at least out of day and leaves me really tired, also the thought of doing it in the winter isn't pretty.

A job has come up at my old employer which would really suit my skill set and experience but I'm worried about looking like a sad failure who's coming crawling back if I apply for it. Any views?

Nope I would never do it. You will be seen as a failure coming back.

It's not as uncommon as youd think. Why not phone your former boss for a chat and sound them out?

It depends on what you say to your old colleagues if you do decide to go back. What are your grounds for coming back? The thing is initially people might think that you are are stepping backwards again but eventually things will all blow over and you won't be the gossip anymore. people don't have time to sit and chat about the same thing again and again so do what is right for you.

Never go back. I speak from experience.

Who cares what people think- if it's all round better for you then go for it! If you've left on good terms then they'll be pleased to have you back more than anything! And definitely not a failure- that commute alone is as good a reason as any! And also, better to have tried and decided the grass wasn't greener than staying put and wishing you hadn't!! I'd happily go back to any of my previous employers and did do once within a year - there were a few jokes about returning my leaving gift as it was relatively soon afterwards but that was all (That I knew of at least haha). Good luck with whatever you decide x

I have remployed people with varying degrees of success it usually worked best if they had only been away a short time if they are going back to the same team or role. My first question would be why did you leave, be honest with yourself, if there were unresolved issues will they still be there.

I have also returned to a previous employer, was head hunted to go back to head up a new project. I had left 3 years previously on very good terms and not to work for a competitor, although when they contacted me I was back working in the industry.
The role I went back to was very different from the role I left and like you it reduced my commute time considerably and also let me set my own hours although still full time.
I had to do a lot of soul searching before I accepted as there had been issues previously, there was for instance one person who I had clashed with constantly, but they were on their notice period. All the money would not have dragged me back to work with them.
I have been back now for 3 years, and it was the best move for me to have made.

Thanks for your opinions. I might sound out a few friends who are still there and see how the land lies

Absolutely no issues at all and I would be bringing back some really useful new experience and insight. There's time to discuss it and think it through. There's been a restructure since I left so I will want to see how that's gone first before I decide .I appreciate the thoughtful advice.

I did it and I'm so glad I did, that was 3 years ago now! Another friend has done the same and is really happy.

I have been at 2 firms which were proud that they had many 'boomerangers'. They saw it as a selling point that people come back.

”A job has come up at my old employer which would really suit my skill set and experience”

As you left for a promotion, presumably this new job at your old employer is a promotion from the job you were in when you were there before? I think that makes a difference- promotion wasn’t available before; now it is.

But if there were other reasons for leaving, be very careful because unless they are genuinely resolved, they’ll be an issue again.

A colleague did. we were glad to see him back. He took a bit of stick about his leaving present!

When he left again 5 years later, there was a lot of piss taking about his next return. But i suspect he wouldn't be taken back a second time.

as long as you're not coming back to the same level job you were I think you're fine.

you've gone away and got experience elsewhere, would you be in the running for this job if you hadn't?

even so, for the sake of a shorter commute, much better.

I don't think it's a issue returning if you left on good terms, just tell people you missed being there as it was a great environment to work in.
I wouldn't see it as a failure at all, sometimes people want to try something new and it's not always what you expect, no point carrying on if you aren't happy.

We've had a number of people leave and return where I work, in some cases after around a year others left for a few years then returned and are still with us 10+ yrs later.
We've even had a senior manager hand in notice, have leaving dates announced and then decided to stay.

We have quite a few returners. I think a lot depends on why you left originally. If it was to a more senior role, to gain different experience, increase pay, then that's all good, and can be very good in financial terms for the individual. If you left because you didn't get on with colleagues or didn't agree with the strategy they we taking or something like that, then you probably shouldn't go back, unless there have been major changes with key problematic people being removed from the picture, but you should still think very carefully - company cultures can be very slow to change.

I have just left a job to move on but my replacement is a colleague who left 18 months ago. She will hit the ground running. Another guy came back and someone asked to come back a while ago.