Can you click your heels and go back home (or return to an ex-employer)?

Sure, why not if you want to? There are some really strong reasons why you may want to return and why a former employer would welcome you back.

1. You left on a good note, leaving a strong and positive reputation behind you.
2. Your good work, attitude and being a strong team player. Good people are hard to find.
3. You didn't burn any bridges but you left with their best wishes (and sometimes sorrow).
4. You realised that they 'complete' you and that your new employer was just the rebound relationship.
5. Money isn't everything. WHAT!! We all know that good leaders, fantastic colleagues, and interesting work makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning and race to work. Sometimes the grass isn't greener.
6. You have really thought about why you left and why you want to come back and are convinced you jumped too early and still had a lot to learn and contribute to your former-employer, so why not reach out to your ex-manager? All they can say is YES or NO.
7. You already know the culture, and the positives and the negatives of the company and the work.  All of that can take up to 6 months or more for a new employee to be of value to a company. With an active vacancy, normally companies want to hire NOW! so bringing someone 'good' back who can 'bring it' makes good commercial sense.

Have you ever returned to a former employer?  I have and found it liberating because I didn't have to prove myself again but maybe that was because I was invited back.  What do you think?  Is it possible to go back to a previous work place successfully?

Please note: The opinions and advice above are my own from many years in the talent attraction field, and do not represent those of my employer.