The pros and cons of going back!
Craig Elvin
Executive Search | Executive Recruitment | Executive Search Consultant | Director Recruitment | Operations | Supply Chain | Procurement | Talent Acquisition | Veteran Coach | Veteran Advocate
As Tom Brady announces a u-turn on his retirement, I wanted to take a look at the pros and cons of going back.
You may well have seen that six-time, Super Bowl Winning, quarterback, Tom Brady has decided to come out of retirement just six weeks after retiring from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Brady has said that he has “unfinished business” and as someone who is widely recognised as one of the all-time greats it is easy for him to fall back into his previous club.
BUT WHAT IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO A PREVIOUS EMPLOYER?
There are three questions you need to ask yourself and cover off before you think about going back to a previous employer.
HOW ARE YOU SEEN IN THE BUSINESS?
It may be that you are going back 12, 24 months or even longer since you left.
You need to ask yourself in what role you or capacity you might be going back into.
You will undoubtedly have changed since you last worked for the business.
Your skills will have improved, and your experiences will be broader, meaning you have more to offer the company.
But, you may not be able to flex your muscles and bring the extra value to the forefront if you are still seen as the same person that left.
You need to check that you’ll have the headroom and opportunity to do what you need to do without being held back by your boss of management teams if you are seen as the same old individual.
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HAVE THE CHALLENGES CHANGED?
You may well have left the organisation because of internal challenges.
Things that frustrated you and made you want to leave.
You’ll need to have an open and frank conversation about what’s changed.
If the company or your boss can’t reassure you that things have significantly changed or give you the ability to change them.
If they, haven’t you, may well find yourself in the same situation very quickly.
ARE YOU PREPARED TO RISK YOUR REPUTATION?
Recently, we saw Cristiano Ronaldo return to Manchester United.
The 37-year old has won numerous global, European and domestic titles as well as the Ballon d’Or four times.
But, some may argue that his return to the Red Devils has not been the swansong that he was hoping for and may even tarnish what has been, until now, an incredible career.
If the answers to the previous questions are in doubt, if the business has moved past where you add value, or if the behaviours they require are different, you may need to rethink your return or risk your reputation in the company or industry.
Many people have “gone back”, very successfully to their previous employers and even managed to exceed their expectations.
However, some have had frustrating, unproductive and even career-damaging returns.
You need to be very sure that everything is aligned to enhance your career and not damage it.