Reapplying for a job that I turned down

[TurquoiseIce]

My head says that I want to leave my current job but there's a lot that I'd miss about it. It's a difficult decision that I've struggled with for years.

In October, I was offered a job that I was sure I wasn't going to get. Caught off guard, I completely panicked at the prospect of a huge change, losing the good bits of my current role, and having to learn a totally new role in a totally different industry. I told them that I'd realised it wasn't for me and I wouldn't be any good at it. Of course, I regret it.

There are a lot of people in the role across a few different departments and they're still advertising. I keep swinging between calling them and being honest, waiting a while longer (how long?) and putting in an application for a different department to the one that interviewed me before without saying anything about my previous interview, and thinking that I've blown it for good. Is there any way back from basically saying 'you shouldn't hire me' when offered a job?

I wouldn't reapply if you've already told them you'd be no good at the job. That's just me though..
You have nothing to lose so if you're confident you can do it this time then go for it. But make sure you're 100% sure.

What's changed between now and when you declined the job?

Best of luck OP

Personally I wouldn’t apply for it - you priced yourself out it when you said it wouldn’t be suitable for you.. It’s only been 3 months - not a lot of time to be fair.
I would just take this opportunity to learn from your mistakes and move on and look for something else.

Just tel them that your personal circumstances have changed and factors which were a barrier to you accepting their offer are no longer an issue.
Say that you'd like to reapply/be reconsidered for the role.

If they say no, they say no.

Unless you're Harry - I don't think they'll have you back now to be honest.

Nothing's changed. In hindsight, I should've accepted then thought it through, knowing I could turn it down later. Just very attached to my current (awful in so many ways) job, 100% thought it was going to be a rejection call, had prepared myself for a rejection call and when it wasn't, I reacted stupidly and waffled rubbish.

Only reason I'm even considering contacting them is that they're the only place in my area with this role. There's nothing comparable so I've really, really blown it. Wonder how long it'll take for them to forget me...

Unless you're Harry - I don't think they'll have you back now to be honest.

It's so hard to find good people for jobs that I'd be delighted if someone did this to me! I'd want a fairly frank conversation about why they've changed their mind but it's a conversation I'd be happy to have. Contact them, you have nothing to lose.

I like @TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams response - that your circumstances have changed and would they reconsider your application. The worst that can happen is they say no, but at least then you can stop thinking about it and start looking for something else.

As RNBrie said, I'd try a relatively informal conversation before reapplying. Draft an email asking for a discussion. I'd put in: wasn't expecting to be offered it and was ambivalent about leaving current job, so blurted an ill thought out answer; having had time to reflect it's become more and more appealing and your confidence in your abilities and suitability for the role have grown. Is it worth your while reapplying?

So really it's you reassuring them that you are suitable, iyswim. This approach has worked for me before. If the post is vacant they probably would welcome you making it easy for them. (I'd also want to know why they are having trouble recruiting though - is it a nightmare team?)

Last year a friend of mine convinced me to apply for a role at her company two levels up from my existing role. There was a restructure happening at my workplace, so I applied thinking I was very unlikely to get it but it might be good interview practice.

First interview was fine but I thought I did horribly at the second interview and was convinced I couldn't do the job. I called them to pull out of the process as I didn't want to waste any more of their time or mine, and said I didn't think I could do it. Turns out I was their top candidate, and the hiring manager said if I was just having a crisis of confidence then not to worry as he had full confidence I could do the job.

Anyway I accepted and I've been doing the job 7 months now and doing well!

So perhaps it would be worth going back to them and explaining you overreacted, the worst they can say is no.

I've had candidates turn down jobs due to recent deaths in the family or other life events - husband's unexpected redundancy was one, and they just couldn't risk her being on probation in a new role. Sometimes things change over the course of a interview process and suddenly a new job just seems like one more insurmountable challenge.
I've had people come back to me months after interviewing who have taken other roles or stayed put and later regretted it. It's sensible to consider someone on their merits again especially in a market where good people are hard to get. For me it also shows some balls to come back and ask and I look for a bit of cheeky f*ckery / "I'll give it a go" in the people I hire.

They will be wary you will waste their time and pull out again so you will need to be convincing in your reasons.

if they are advertising several vacancies phone them up and have a chat, they need staff and having found you suitable it is cost effective for them to take you or to let you apply again.

You do need to be 100% sure you will take the job, recognise you will get cold feet but need to push through. If there is even a 1% chance you are going to pull out again don’t do it. Have confidence you can do the job and recognise it is fear of change not your abilities that is stopping you.

As a hiring manager I'd be delighted if I could solve a hiring problem with someone we already wanted. I'd probably also consider that you'd had long enough to consider and would be pretty sure its what you want to have got back in touch.