It’s been an exhausting and fulfilling start to 2018. I am eternally grateful for the experiences I have had and the many that are to come!
My post today is about returning to an old job that you have already left. In October, I received and opportunity at a company that I personally felt I could not pass up. I had an internship in the industry, the company vibe fit what I was looking for, and it came with a small monetary increase (NOT a deciding factor). I walked away from a job I had for only 4 months for this opportunity.
And now I am back.
The opportunity was not what I was expecting and I felt completely lost in my role. While I wanted to love it, I simply couldn’t. Every day I missed my old job and every day I went to work nervous. The vibe wasn’t what I had expected and neither was the role.
So, I reached out to my old boss and asked for my job back.
And he gave it to me.
I am incredibly fortunate that in my 2-month absence, they did not find someone to replace me. I am incredibly fortunate that I left on great terms so that I would be welcomed back with open arms.
Here is my advice to you:

1. ALWAYS leave a job on good terms. Unless you are suffering severe abuse and need to leave a job because of it, do your best to put in at least a weeks notice and don’t complain about everything that went wrong.
2. Part of number 1, don’t bad mouth the company during your last week.
3. Resign with grace. Make sure you write a formal letter and speak with your boss directly. You are choosing to leave, so you need to build up the courage to quit gracefully.
4. Say goodbye to as many people as you can. Don’t forget that these are coworkers that you spent a lot of time with during your employment. You never know when someone might want to get coffee or speak about another opportunity for you.
5. Keep in touch. When I left, I made sure all my coworkers had my new company email in case there was something that they needed from me or could not find. I wanted to remain accessible until I was no longer needed.
6. Don’t be afraid to admit to making a mistake! When I asked for my job back, I explained my reasoning for leaving and why it was a mistake. I explained what I loved about my job at the company and why I wanted it back.
7. Remember, they are taking you back, so you might need to bend a little. My boss asked for a commitment from me to stick around for a bit. That does not mean I will be here forever, but it does mean that I will be around to make a difference and I won’t be trying to leave as soon as the going gets a little tough.
8. Don’t be afraid of the pay cut. I was taken back at my original salary and I have zero regrets regarding that. While it would be nice to have some extra cash, being happy and comfortable is even more important. Money will come with success in a job, and it is much easier to be successful in a job that you like.

That’s all of my ramblings regarding returning to an old job. Have you ever returned to a job? How did it go for you? Let me know!