👋 Return of the boomerang employee

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🚪 Before you go knocking…

So maybe the grass looks greener back at your old workplace once you’ve been out the door for a while. But was that always the case? 

According to Carmen Wee, founder and chief executive officer of strategic human resources firm Carmen Wee & Associates, it might be wise to take a step back and reflect: For the potential returnee, has the workplace in question changed for the better or stayed the same? (Or in some cases, gotten worse…💀)

“A main consideration is always why the former employee left in the first place,” says Wee. “Whether the reason for leaving was due to feelings of career stagnation, issues regarding compensation, a poor relationship with one’s boss, or misalignment with the company culture, it is important to do some personal evaluation as one stands on the cusp of their decision.” 

Some key questions ❓ to ask if you’re considering returning to an old workplace include: 

• Is the role interesting to you ? Will you be able to learn on the job and be sufficiently engaged in this role? How is this role better for you than it was when you decided to leave the company? 
• What is the reporting structure like in this role? Who is your immediate supervisor or boss? Are you returning to work because of said superior and was your relationship with him or her a healthy one? If not, can your working relationship with your ex-boss be salvaged and will he or she be able to support you in your role? 
• What is your long-term career plan? Will you be supported by the network of colleagues in the company you’re looking to return to? Are there opportunities to expand that network at this company?

Naturally, if the reasons for why you left the company continue to exist, returning to said workplace might not be the best move. “Leaving for a second time (after a short period) would be extremely unideal if things don’t go to plan, and very likely come across as immature too,” says Wee.

😬 “Did you miss me?”

You might find yourself sheepishly asking this if you decide to knock on a former employer’s door. Jokes aside, returning to an old workplace can be an anxiety-inducing experience for anyone. 

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Thrive editor Vivien Shiao is an example of a boomerang employee, and recalls being slightly apprehensive about coming back to The Business Times (BT). “I had some irrational worries about what ex-colleagues would think about my return, and concerns about not being able to meet expectations,” she shares. 

However, one draw factor was that the familiar office environment provided her a degree of certainty – as opposed to jumping into a completely new workplace.

“It’s really not taboo anymore,” says Shiao about returning to her old workplace. “Getting working experience elsewhere can give you a fresh perspective that really helps in your new role. What was really interesting to me when I returned was realising that things have changed in my old workplace, but then again, so have I.”

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Another boomerang employee – BT deputy news editor Kenneth Lim – points out that managing expectations of your new self at an old workplace is also essential to making progress during your second time around at a company. 

“Nostalgia can also be a risk. You might look back and long for all the good parts from your previous stint at the company, but what if some of the good stuff isn’t there anymore? Maybe old friends have left, maybe the culture isn’t the same anymore, maybe the canteen is but a shadow of its former self,” says Lim. “I find that it helps to update my memories with more current experiences of friends who are still around, or who have recently left.” 

Here’s some advice on how to ease yourself back into an old workplace:

• Think of things you can contribute upon your return by leaning on what you’ve learnt while you were outside the company. A new skill? Taking on more leadership responsibilities? Improving team organisation or making workflows more efficient? Make your time outside of the workplace count upon your return.   
• Be humble and continue to be willing to learn – and even re-learn. Organisations are not static, so coming back could likely require unlearning past standard operating procedures (and shortcuts, too). 
• Have an open mind about meeting and creating different experiences with new colleagues who joined the company after you left as well as your once-former colleagues. (💡 This isn’t just a challenge for the returning person so do be patient with those who need time to reconnect with you. 😌)

Are you confident about returning to an old workplace? While it might seem like taking a step back for some, building a future with a former (and soon-to-be current) employer might be the best way forward. 

And, finally, a tip from Lim for potential boomerang employees: “Don’t ride on past glory.”

TL;DR

• Evaluate why you left the company in the first place 🤔
• Consider how this move can support your long-term career plan
• Bring something new and valuable to the table when you re-join an organisation 
• Stay humble and open-minded to new experiences (even at these old pastures) 🌾