A position has come up with my previous employer, the employer directly before my current role. It’s not my old role and would be progression in job titles. Would it look bad on my CV to return to a previous employer?
I worked with the previous employer for 18 months, left to go to my current employer, who I’ve been with for 5 years. So my CV would go previous employer - 18 months, current employer - 5 years, previous employer. I have two prior graduate jobs but they are becoming less and less relevant to my career at the moment and I already don’t expand on these roles too much. So my CV would be very heavily focussed on only two employers going from to the other.
My previous employer is a small company but I enjoyed my time there. I left partly for the opportunities my current employer could offer (which would help me with this new role if I was offered it). I also left due to job security with my previous place. Job security is still an issue with that role as its project based but funding is in place for a number of years, even with COVID. So even though it’s project based it has more security than the position I was in with them first time around (completely different funding streams). When I left, I was getting married and looking to buy a house, so I think my previous work understood why I left for something more secure. My current job isn’t at threat from COVID or a recession as it’s regulatory but it’s not valued by my current company, so as soon as they find a way around the regulations, I’m out of a job. The new role with my previous employer is the next step up in terms of job title and responsibilities. It’s closer to home, slightly more money at the lower end of the pay bracket and more flexible. The environment was also a lot nicer but I didn’t realise that until I’d left unfortunately. I’ve really missed it with my current place.
I left my previous job on good terms and I’ve seen a number of ex-colleagues at various events and caught up with them. I’ve even worked with my previous employer on a few projects. So no bridges were burnt when I left.
Have you returned to a previous employer? If yes, did you contact your old manager directly before submitting an application? We’re the previous employers understanding about why you left?