How to be tactical- going back to ex-employee

[Selok]

I have moved to a same role at one of the biggest companies in the world in my industry (70,000+ staff globally) from a very small company that is local to me (still can work from home very flexible) (100 staff mainly UK). One of the reasons I moved to the big company was that I was missing structure and processes where in the small company I was building up processes etc much appreciated by the owners. However I had a manager whose working hours were limited per her contract and she was always pushing me to work too late in the evenings. When I found this job and moved on, she moved on too. Now, my ex-employees are open to talk to me to potentially have me back. My terms would be this time to lead that department (one other person who in fact came as replacement to me) and I would report to the one of the owners who is the lead in our side of the business. My meeting is next week with them, casual meeting at a coffee shop after work. What would your suggestions to me? Is it a mistake considering to go back? How can I put in nicely and get what I want? TIA

Sorry but I think your typo might confuse people?
You mean Ex Employer, not Employee?
😊

@GordonShakespearedoesChristmas thanks for spotting yes it should be employer

It's never a mistake to consider all the options & have a conversation.

You've worked here before & found it frustrating. Would you be in a position to change that?
Can they offer you a comparable/better salary?
Is progression important - I'm guessing you'll be top of the tree if you return.
What did you like there & in your current role, what did /do you dislike?

I don't think you need to put your requirement 'nicely' - they've approached you! Be very clear what you would need to make the move back & let them take it away and come up with an offer.

Thank you for your comments. Because it is a small company and every area of the business needs improvement and I am experienced in my field, so I made a lot of good changes there, however in time I didn't like to be the jack of all trades and especially with working very long hours due to ex-manager, I decided I missed being in a global environment with structured processes etc. So I got my dream job in the very renowned company, now I notice I don't like to fit into this big corporate processes they are too much, make things complicated and I feel like a hamster in a wheel! So I guess I also missed being more in control in what I do, how I do things so I funnily I miss being jack of all trades

Of course I must add, being in the peri-menopausal stage isn't helping me with so many processes to remember- with a memory of a fish now, emotionally wrecked etc being in a big corporate environment in fact wasn't a good idea

Have a list of what you consider essential requirements and a list of negotiatable, items.

The stats for people returning after leaving all point to most people leaving again. Culturally the pattern will still be the same and it will look bad on your CV. Build up your role where you are I think. I work in Mgmt consulting and employees who return would be looked on with major curiosity.

How long have you been with the new company?

@LadyLapsang 7 months, my manager is extremely happy with me passed my probation etc I have been in the industry for more than 8 years in the same line of work and this company is the biggest in the industry there would be nowhere else to go from there! Saying that room for growth for me I see as very little- due to intense structure and processes everything comes with a limit

I'd never heard that about boomerang employees not making a go of it and I don't agree it looks bad on your cv - those days are long gone - there are many reasons to leave an organisation and they aren't all bad news! Many relate to life style choices, career aims and organisational restructuring, all of which change over time. I know many management consultants who boomeranged - out of PwC especially after the sale to IBM and then moved right back into it when the audit practice expanded into consultancy again. I've seen consultants go to industry, or Gov depts and then back into consultancy - no one can afford to be a purist when it comes to star performers.

I’ve had a couple of senior managers who left at a lower level to return a year or two later as a senior.

One only lasted a couple of months but the other one has been with us a year so far. It’s not unheard of and not necessarily a bad thing. You’ve got nothing to lose.