Have you heard that sometimes the grass isn’t always greener on the other side? We are talking of course about coming back to work for a former employer. While it may not seem a likelihood when you first leave a job, you may wind up working for your former employer again in the future. How, though, do you navigate working with a former employer?
First, take time to enjoy the new job. There’s a reason why you’ve come back to your former employer, and a reason they want you want you back as well. So keep that in mind.
The next step is to learn from your first job with the company. During your previous stint you obviously did enough to warrant a second look this time around. However, that doesn’t mean all was perfect. If you chose to leave, something about the job or the employer helped guide your decision to pursue other options. If the choice was the employers, something in your work was unsatisfactory. Even if you were a part of layoffs, you were chosen over someone.
With that being said, don’t dwell on the past too much. Reflect on what can be improved and then start the new job off fresh. You can’t fix what happened in the past; you can only avoid the same mistakes in the future. It’s likely there has been some turnover as well, so avoid conversations about your last experience there- it may alienate some folks and cause uncomfortable situations. Keep your goals moving forward.
These are some tips for working with a former employer, but if you want tips on getting your job back with a former employer, U.S. News and World Report’s Money section has advice on getting rehired by your previous company. The article offers some good advice on how to decide if it’s worth pursuing a job with a former employer, and how to go about doing so.
Working with a former employer doesn’t have to be awkward, and can in fact build upon a pre-existing relationship. Even if some of the people have changed, likely the company culture is similar, giving you an advantage over other new hires. Going back to a former employer can help your career and be a successful endeavor, so don’t be afraid.
Have you ever thought of going back to work for a former employer? Do you think it’s a good idea? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!
IMAGE: Courtesy of Flickr by puuikibeach
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