Should You Boomerang? Things to Consider Before You Return.

You made a mistake. The grass is not greener; it’s not even grass – it’s some sort of weird weed that you’re beginning to hate. The job isn’t what they promised. Your new “hybrid” schedule is mandatory cubicle time four days a week. You miss your teammates.

You’re thinking of asking for your old job back. And you’re not alone. So-called “boomerang” employees make up an estimated 25% of all new hires over the past couple of years, according to HR surveys. It’s not surprising; a 2022 survey by UKG found that 62% of people who left jobs during the pandemic, or more than 15 million people, say the job they quit was better than their current job.

If you’re considering approaching your former boss, here are some things to consider.

What made you leave? The factors that made you look elsewhere have probably not changed. If you felt unappreciated, overworked, underpaid, or didn’t get along with some team members, you’ll have to deal with all of that again.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What has to change at work for me to commit to coming back and staying? Is any of that negotiable – and reasonable to ask?
• If you’re thinking of negotiating a raise for returning, what new experience / skills / energy did you acquire while you were employed elsewhere? How do these things bring more value to your performance?
• If a raise is not negotiable (and you’re on probation or starting over with benefits and PTO), is that okay? Are any of those a deal breaker?
• If nothing much has changed or will change, can you fit back in and pick up where you left off without resentment?

How did you leave things? If your dissatisfaction at work was obvious to everyone at the end, your chances of a comeback are much lower. Companies are open to rehiring employees who were significant contributors; quick assimilation, short (if any) learning curve, and immediate productivity are all attractive traits. But they are (naturally) worried about bringing back baggage and bad blood.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Was my work performance strong up to my last week? Or was I just going through the motions?
• Did I burn any bridges when I left? Are there relationships in the company that need repair?
• Did I ever speak badly about my employer, even if it was mild? (So glad to make a fresh start at a company that appreciates me.) Are there any social media posts you regret after leaving? (Take them down immediately, even if you aren’t thinking about returning.)

What’s pulling you back? Marlo Lyons write a great article for Harvard Business Review online on assessing your suitability for boomeranging. She suggests taking a piece of paper and drawing two columns. She writes, “In the left column, write down every reason you left your previous employer. On the right, write down what’s pulling you back.”

Lyons suggest you ask yourself these questions:

• What was good about working at my previous employer and job?
• What concerns me about my new employer? Are my concerns real or perceived? Do they need to be investigated further?
• Am I struggling to adjust to the change (e.g., the people, environment, or work)?

If you’re convinced you’d be better off returning to your old company, you’ll need to explore it slowly. It’s likely that your position is filled or going to be, if you’ve been gone more than a few months. You may have to figure out a new role within your old company.

We’ll discuss ideas for returning to your former company in a future post.