How to Ask for Your Job Back and Get Rehired

How to Ask for Your Job Back and Get Rehired How to Ask for Your Job Back and Get Rehired You have just started a new job. Yet, you have a sinking feeling that perhaps you made a mistake. What can you do when youve quit your job, started a new position, and then discover that the new job isnt what you expected? What are your options when you are already regretting leaving your old job, and you really wish you hadnt left? Is there a way you can get rehired after quitting your job? Whats the best way to ask for your old job back? Hopefully, you left your old employer on a positive note. Because you dont know what can happen when you start a new job, it makes good sense to leave a job on the best terms you can. Even if you diligently check out the company, your future manager, and your co-workers as best you can, the job might not be what you thought it was and working for the company might not be what you expected. It happens, but before you ask for your old job back, be sure that you want it. Even if you could go back, you might not be able to. Its also important to think about why you decided to leave your employer. If nothing has changed, other than you not liking your new job, it might be better to continue your job search for a position thats a better fit. Should You Ask for Your Job Back? Does it make sense to ask for your job back? You resigned for a reason. Is the fact that the new job isnt working out a good enough reason to return to a situation that you have recently left? Or, does it make sense to look for another new job and move on? Think seriously about what you would have to lose - or gain - if you quit the new job and started over. If you’re stressed even thinking about going to work, and you cant see any options for changing the dynamic at your new workplace, it might be time to move back or move on to something else. There may be a way you can carefully discuss the situation with your new manager. After all, the company may be having second thoughts as well. If you do, don’t mention how much you hate your job. Instead, review options for what to do next before you start a conversation or make any decisions. Weigh the pros and cons before you make a final decision: Make a list of why you left and then create another list of what the benefits would be if you went back.If the pros outweigh the cons, consider asking for your old job back or for a new job with your former employer. Will the Company Rehire You? Dont presume that the company will hire you back even if they loved the job you did. Your position may have already been filled. Even if its not, they might prefer to start over with someone else. There will be questions about your commitment to the company and whether youll quit again the next time you get a job offer. If the company is willing to consider rehiring you, you would probably have to sell yourself to the company and make the case that its a good idea to rehire you. Be prepared to explain why you left, what didnt work out at the new company, and why you want to come back. Also, be prepared to show the company why it is advantageous for them to rehire you, and how you will show your commitment to staying this time around. How to Ask for Your Job Back Here are tips you can use to try to get your old job back: Resign Gracefully. Before you leave, do everything you can to ensure you resigned on good terms. Heres advice on how to resign from a job. Leaving on the best terms possible will help you keep a foot in the door of the company and up your chances of getting rehired. If you didnt leave on the best of terms, it might be difficult to get rehired. You could reach out to your former manager to try and smooth things over.Stay Connected with Colleagues. Keep in touch with your former colleagues. Connect with them on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google. Send an email once in a while to check on how they are doing. Have coffee and lunch on occasion. The more connected you are, the easier it will be to go back. The stronger your personal connections, the more likely you are to be taken back. Stay Connected to the Company. In addition to keeping in touch with your former colleagues, stay connected to the company. If the company has a LinkedIn Group, join it or follow the companys LinkedIn page. You could also like the company Facebook page, and follow the company on Twitter. If your former employer runs a corporate alumni network, join it. The more engaged you stay, the better your chances of returning.Make a Decision. Dont make a hasty decision. Be sure you want to go back. Dont go back just because its the path of least resistance and its easier to ask for your job back than it is to start your job search over. Be sure its the right move from both a career and a personal perspective. Ask for Your Job. If you decide you do want to go back to work for your former employer, you can request an in-person meeting or send a letter or email message asking for your job back. Heres a sample letter to ask for your job back and a template that you can edit to fit your personal circumstances.What Else Can You Do? Check on other jobs at the company. If your job has been filled, inquire about other openings you might be qualified for. Companies are likely to consider rehiring ex-employees who have done a good job for them in the past. There may even be a position thats a better fit than the job you left. Be Prepared to Explain. Be prepared to answer questions - lots of questions. Prepare answers to questions about why you quit, why you want your job back, and why the company should rehire you. Youll need to be convincing and sell the company on giving you a second chance.Have a Plan B. Going back to your former position may not be an option. Have a backup plan in place and be prepared to start a new job search. Here are tips on what to do when a new job doesnt work out. Even though its difficult to be told no, it may be better, in the long run, to consider other options and keep your career path moving forward instead of backward. What to Do Next If you get a positive response from your former employer, the next step is to resign from your job as gracefully as possible. It can be uncomfortable, but quitting a job you just started may be the best option for the employer as well as yourself. What should you do if your old employer doesn’t want you back? Start discreetly looking for a new position, line up some references who can attest to your qualifications, and consider this as a bump in your career - not a major incident. It happens more often than you may think. Ultimately, if the job isn’t the best fit, it would best for everyone if you moved on.