Considering Returning to My Old Job: How Will It Affect My Career and How Do I Explain It?

Hi all,

I was with company X for 2 years and 6 months. Then I quit working for X and joined a new company Y in search of good quality work and challenging projects. After being in Y for 6 months, I did not get to work on any challenging projects. Now I decide to go back to company X. If X offers me back my position there,

1.) What impact will going back to X have on my career? Will it create a negative opinion about me to any other employer in the future?

2.) Also, how do I justify my decision of moving back to X to the HR at company X?

Any suggestions or personal opinions on this would be really helpful.

Thanks and regards,
Naren

Hi,

I would not suggest you go back to the previous company. I don't know about your designation and hierarchy level, as well as your previous company's environment; this is just a personal opinion. Overall, it depends on the work environment and the attitude of people there, and how they make you feel after going back.

I would suggest you at least complete your 6 months more in Company Y and then try for another company, but do not go back to the previous company.

Hi,

I have come across these types of staff who returned to their previous company, both in large organizations and medium-sized organizations as well. Based on that, the impacts I presume are:

Maybe you would have lost your service continuity, but if you were good enough to all your colleagues when you left and rejoined, then you may not feel any difference. The management also didn't perceive this in a different way as long as the employee's past record is excellent. Otherwise, they will never rehire even if the same position is still vacant.

But personally, I feel that if anyone is leaving Company X, it means that he/she would have been unhappy or dissatisfied about any aspect such as salary, job satisfaction, work environment, superior relations, promotion delays, etc. In that case, you can't justify your return at any point consciously.

I hope this information is useful to you.

Regards,
Hari