Getting rehired after quitting

Getting Rehired After Quitting

In this article, we will discuss the topic of Getting Rehired After Quitting.

Introduction

Let’s talk about boomerang employees. What are they, you might ask? Boomerang employees are employees who quit their jobs but are later rehired into the same company.

While it may sound weird and unusual, it is rather a frequently recurring event. You may choose to leave for various reasons like seeking out better job opportunities with higher pay or even personal reasons. However, sometimes, after quitting an old job, you might think that perhaps quitting wasn’t the ideal thing to do. You could’ve taken a different approach because, really, your old job wasn’t that bad, and now that you’ve finally quit, you kind of regret it.

If such doubts cloud your mind, it is better to entertain them, and if you believe that quitting was a mistake, just apply for a position there again.

Re-applying to a place that you quit some time ago can be awkward. It may also feel scary. But statistics show a growing trend in HR hiring ‘boomerang employees’ as the modern employee market is undergoing some major changes and individuals are shifting from one job to another more than ever. 

This article is just an attempt to guide you through the entire process of being a potential boomerang employee and how to ace it. Changing jobs and coming back to those you’ve already tried and quit is nothing to be ashamed about. However, it can turn out to be a rare opportunity, and you might not want to miss it. 

Everything You Need to Know

This article will help you understand just how these changes are happening and why getting in contact with your old employers isn’t that bad. Your employers, too, might have something to gain if they decide to rehire you. 

Before you start, however, you need to ask yourself why you left your old job and why the new one isn’t working out. If the only reason you can come up with is dissatisfaction with the current job, you might want to continue with your job search. But, instead, think of the reasons why you decided to quit in the first place. If similar issues occur at your current workplace, going back to your old job would simply be counterproductive and a waste of time and effort.

Secondly, do not presume that the company will hire you. Even if you were stunning at your job, the best, they still might not consider rehiring. It can be that your position has already been filled or perhaps, the management simply wants to start over with a fresh candidate. 

Rehiring can be a lot more complicated than applying to a fresh job which is why it becomes necessary to check and recheck your motivation for trying to get rehired. Are they worth the extra effort and uncertainty? 

Steps on how to get Rehired

Just a slight disclaimer that these ‘steps’ aren’t a solid plan to a hundred-percent success rate at being hired back. Instead, they merely highlight things that you should keep in mind when going through the process and are more or less friendly advice that may help increase your success rate. 

On what terms did you Quit your Job

One of the most important things to keep in mind before you get in touch with your old job is to see what terms you left. One of the most important aspects of resigning is to resign peacefully and on friendly terms such that, when need be, you can easily approach your old employers.

You must stand on friendly grounds with not just your former boss(es) but also your colleagues. Resigning on good terms would mean that you and your supervisors had a nice, non-heated discussion, and you left them with at least a two-week notice and showcased gratitude towards all of your colleagues. 

If you believe you did not leave on good terms and the resignation part was quite rocky, you might want to tread lightly and rethink your choices. Mistakes can, of course, be redeemed, and so a patchy resignation should not entirely stop you from trying to get rehired. But it can negatively impact the process and make it more arduous and unstable. 

Are you still in touch with your colleagues?

Being connected with your old company and colleagues is one of the easiest ways to get hired back. Personal connections can sometimes be extremely efficient and reliable. Ensure to check up on them once in a while. 

Follow your old company’s LinkedIn and Facebook pages, keep up with recent developments and join their LinkedIn groups. If possible, you may even want to try joining an alumni network that they might have in place.

Is your old position still available?

Your previous position might already be filled, and the company may no longer be accepting responses. However, it is always better to call them and inquire about available positions before dedicating your resources to getting rehired. 

In case your earlier position has been filled, you can always ask about other empty positions that you might be qualified for (that is, of course, if you’re comfortable with the change). It can be that you come across a position that suits you so much better than your earlier positions!

In any case, if the company isn’t hiring at all, then you can always enquire about when they will open applications again and be on the lookout in the future.

You can also consider contacting your former supervisor via email and schedule an in-person meeting. But, again, make sure to clearly state your reason for requesting a meeting and give a brief explanation for the same.

Here’s a sample email:

Dear Mr. Park,

I hope you and your team are doing well.

As you know, a few months back, I accepted an offer at XYZ corporation. However, the job and the environment are not what I expected, and I am not fulfilled for this position. Therefore, I am writing this email to you to inquire about the recent job opening for a content manager and if it would be possible to return to the company as an employee.

I sincerely regret my decision to resign, and I promise that if I were to be rehired, I would provide the company with long-term benefits.

In the past few months, I have enhanced my communication skills and taken training programs on storage software and content management systems like WordPress and BlogSpot.

I would like to meet and discuss this further with you if possible. So please let me know whenever you’re available.

I look forward to hearing back from you. 

Yours sincerely,

Anthony Smith

Prepare for the interview

Think of the questions that your old supervisor may ask you. The chances are that most of those questions might not be related to your skills but why you want to join back. Let’s be honest; your old company is already familiar with your skills; they know how you work and what you bring to the table. Hence, their foremost concern would be to try and understand why you want to join back. 

They might ask why you quit, why they should rehire you, or what skills you have gained in your time away from the company.

Try being honest, not very explicitly, but enough for you to come off as genuine and humble. For example, look at the sample answer below:

“I quit a year back because I thought that this new job was going to help me become a much more independent employee. And while I loved the experience and exposure it bought me, I realized that I much preferred the kind of support and mentorship I received here.” 

Quitting doesn’t have to be a negative thing. Try displaying how the decision was important for you, and even though it didn’t work out, it was still a learning experience that has helped you gain more skills and become a more efficient worker. 

Make Compromises when needed.

Your employer might not return you your full-time position and may instead offer a temporary position. Don’t be afraid to take them up on such offers. 

If you truly believe that returning to your old job is beneficial to you and will help you with your long-term goals, then this opportunity is one that you should not miss and try working your way up to a higher position. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are boomerang employees?

Boomerang employees are employees who quit their jobs due to various reasons but are later rehired to work in the same company.

Q2. Isn’t it unethical of me to ask for my job back after I’ve already quit?

No. It might feel weird and may even send a blow to your self-esteem, in all honesty, but it isn’t unethical or even wrong. If you believe that your old job was a lot better for your career or that you were more suited for it compared to your current job, then just go for it.

Q3. How common is it for employers to rehire ex-employees?

Ten years ago, it might’ve been pretty uncommon. But, as of today, in 2021, it is a growing phenomenon. 

The job markets are rapidly changing, and the newer generation is a lot keener on trying out different things, which means that more and more people feel comfortable quitting their jobs to try out something new.

Q4. Why would a company rehire employees?

There are many reasons why they might choose to hire someone who quit their company in the past. But, one of the most common reasons given is that it makes things easier. 

For starters, the company wouldn’t have to train a boomerang employee. The employee will also be more familiar with the ins and outs of the company, and they might’ve also improved their skills from the last time they were working there. All in all, it’s not only efficient, but it also helps cut costs.

Getting rehired after quitting

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