Considering Returning to My Old Job After a Short Gap: Should I Reach Out to My Mentor?

I left my old employer in March 2011. I stated personal reasons for my departure, mentioning that I was relocating with my husband. However, the actual reason was different. I was dissatisfied with my role as I hadn't been utilizing my skills for the past 6 to 7 months. They assigned me tasks that required a different skill set.

Despite maintaining good relationships with my mentor and other seniors, who assured me that my role would change, it never materialized. Consequently, I resigned citing personal reasons. I then transitioned to a new firm where I lost my job after only two months due to project delays.

I have received another job offer with a slight salary increase. However, this new company is located far from my home, resulting in longer commute times. I am contemplating returning to my previous employer. Should I reach out to my mentor? What reason should I provide this time? Do you think they would consider rehiring me?

I would appreciate your guidance in making the right decision, especially as my new employer is expecting me to start next Monday.

Regards,
Anjani44

Anjani, you may not enjoy the status you had earlier if you rejoin. It is up to you to decide.

Pon

Dear Anjani,

Evaluating the Benefits of Returning to Your Previous Employer

My suggestion would be to evaluate the benefits of joining the faraway place compared to your previous employer. Besides location, are there any other benefits you see?

If you go back to your previous employer, the obvious advantages I can see are:

- Familiarity with the organization. It would take you at least 6-12 months to get to know a new organization.
- Knowing who your boss is and how they operate. This will be helpful, as in the new place, there will be a new boss who could be better or worse. The uncertainty element is not there when you rejoin your previous company.
- Since you already know the culture of the previous company, you understand what works and what doesn't. You can use this to your advantage.
- It also demonstrates some stability on your resume. You can explain that you briefly joined another organization but returned to your old employer because they offered you a rewarding career.

You have done a great thing by not burning bridges when you left your previous employer. Use this to your advantage. All the best.

Regards,

Going back can be a good option at this stage if you truly value what you can achieve there. Don't ignore the fact that you may not be receiving satisfactory offers elsewhere currently. Here, "good offers" refer to those that align with your preferences and satisfaction. It's common not to find everything perfect in every situation, so it's up to you to prioritize and make necessary adjustments in life.

Since you have a good relationship with your previous employer, consider speaking with them to explore any suitable positions they may have available. However, be cautious not to repeat past mistakes. While many tempting opportunities may arise, returning to your previous job will require you to work with loyalty.

Wishing you all the best. 

Hi, thanks to everyone for their advice. I may look for another company. Can anyone suggest how I can explain this career gap to a future employer? It seems that if you are not working, even for a shorter period, employers do not give you a warm response. What should I tell them?

Regards,
Anjani

Hi Anjani, The thought that you want to go back to your previous company shows that the company is a good one with a good, if not great, culture and has a quality of life and balance. My suggestion would be to approach your senior there and ask for their advice without directly suggesting that you want to come back. If they are interested in taking you back, let them give you a hint. From there, take it forward.

Cheers,
K

Dear Anjani,

My advice is not to go back to the previous employer because they will not treat you as before.

Explaining Your Career Gap

Regarding your career gap, inform the recruiter that a family member was unwell and needed care, so you had to leave. Alternatively, you could mention that you went abroad for personal reasons. You can also say that you needed some rest, so you took a break. These are common reasons given by many candidates for short gaps.

Since it is a small gap, you can use these explanations.

Regards

I don't think a 4-month gap in between is a big deal. At the end of the day, if you're not happy with the job you were doing, there is no meaning in where you are working or what your role is there. It's up to you to decide since you were well aware of the people working there. My suggestion would be if you don't have many responsibilities or burdens on your back, try for a better opportunity where you don't need to compromise or think about others.

Good luck!

Regards,
Mouli