Back to the old job: isn’t that a step backwards?
Not long ago, workers were reluctant to have a return to a previous employer written on their resume. Such a step was generally regarded as a shortcoming in the career, most just wanted to stay away from it. But today things are different: The change back to a former job has not only gained a lot of prestige, it can even be a plus point, as it can bring many advantages. According to the Handelsblatt, 40 percent of all employees are open to it, and a third have even taken this step before. A significant reason for this is the general shortage of skilled workers: companies simply cannot afford to simply turn away qualified workers just because they have already left the company.
A change back only makes sense if there are solid reasons and a positive motivation for it. It should be a climb up the career ladder, not a descent. Therefore one should ask the question: Why am I returning? If you do it because you just don’t see any other solution, that’s a bad sign. Rather, in the meantime you should have acquired new skills through experience at other companies and therefore be in a strong position in negotiations with your ex-employer. You should be able to get a significantly higher salary than when you left – it must not be lower under any circumstances. This is quite possible in very many cases, because as a former employee you bring some arguments to the table that make the employer lucky to welcome a former employee back.
The chances are good
So why is a corporate veteran in an advantageous position if you decide to continue your career with a previous employer? First of all, of course, you bring a lot of valuable experience with you in relation to the company: You already know the structures, the details of the processes and decision-making processes and of course you also have some knowledge of the industry. The training period can be kept very short, after all you most likely still know the most important things from before.
In addition, you can also score with the fact that you have gained valuable experience with other employers and acquired new skills since leaving, not to forget all the new contacts that you have expanded your own network with. What’s more, the customers are already familiar with you because you’ve worked with them before. A lengthy application process is no longer necessary, a structured interview and fair salary negotiations are sufficient.
You should definitely pay attention to this
In order for the return to go smoothly, there are a few important points that must not be ignored. First of all, the question would be: How did the departure go? Has there been a heated argument with the supervisor, at the center of which there was an irreconcilable difference of opinion? Was there trouble with colleagues? Will these colleagues welcome you back with open arms, or would there be friction over old disputes? Such circumstances would be good reasons to think twice about returning.
Then it is also important to consider whether the old employer is really the best choice. Why did I leave the company? Was it because I moved to a new city for love, or were there reasons directly related to the company that made me leave? If the latter is the case, you should be clear about whether these reasons still exist and whether you would really find joy in your old job.
When concluding that moving back is indeed the best choice, it is important to give the employer all the reasons why they should take you back. You should always be realistic about this. As GQ explains, the argument mentioned with the already known structures and processes only applies, for example, if the departure was no more than two years ago. For longer periods, such as five years, most employers are not satisfied that the applicant is still sufficiently familiar with internal processes to consider this a reason for rehiring.
That’s how you make the most of your salary
Last but not least, there is one of the most important questions: the salary. As Robert Half Talent Solutions rightly points out, when you move to a new employer, in most cases it is natural to ask for a higher salary. However, if you return to an old employer, this question is not quite as clear-cut. It is important here to be very clear in advance about what your own ideas look like. In the negotiations, you should strongly emphasize all the points mentioned that speak for you in this situation and make it clear to the former employer how they can benefit if they decide to be reinstated. Of course, the best chance of a substantial raise is if you manage to be reinstated in a higher position than before. If this is successful, the return to the ex-employer has been mastered in the best possible way.
Thomas Weschle / Editor finanzen.net
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