How to Negotiate Your Return to a Prior Employer

Were you one of the many employees who transitioned to a new job during the pandemic? Are you wishing you hadn’t? If so, you are not alone.

According to the Wall Street Journal, LinkedIn data shows that the number of employees who return to a prior employer after leaving is on the rise. Called “boomerang employees,” these returning employees accounted for 4.5% of all new hires in 2021 - up from 3.9% in 2019.

With the tight labor market for talent, some organizations are even encouraging people who have left on good terms to consider returning. But how do you do that and save face?

Here are a few tips:

-       Develop your story as to why you want to return to work for your prior employer. Do this in a way that emphasizes the positives – and does not disparage the place where you are currently working. For example, “When I worked with you, I really valued the part of my work that __________. I found it very rewarding to be able to __________.”

-       When referencing the place where you are currently working, identify any additional skills or experience you have obtained and identify how that would make you an even better employee if you returned to work for your prior employer.

-       Remind the former employer that your familiarity with the company employees, culture, operations, etc., enable you to hit the ground running, without the usual ramp-up time that a new hire requires.

If you left on good terms, there is no reason not to reach out to express your interest in returning. 

At Transition Strategies, we have helped clients prepare for “boomerang” negotiations” with positive results. For example, even if your old job has been filled, your former employer may still welcome you back in a different role or consider you for an even better future job opening.