When it comes to relationships, the general advice is to not go back. After all, the romance likely ended for specific reasons. Unless those underlying issues are solved, it will all end in tears once again, goes the accepted wisdom.
But does the same rule apply to returning to a former job? While it's true to say that interpersonal relationships can be tricky both in and out of the office, surely a little more emotional detachment can be applied to considering a fresh job offer from a previous employer.
For an increasing number of American workers, that would seem to be the case. A HBR report from 2023 found that 28 percent of new hires were actually “boomerang” hires who had resigned from the company within the previous 36 months.
That period, of course, is the timeframe covered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was a boom era to switch jobs as companies aggressively hired to keep up with surging demand. So much so that it was dubbed “the great resignation” at the time, as tech workers in particular job-hopped with impunity, securing higher salaries and better benefits as they went.
In retrospect, life wasn’t quite as rosy as it may have appeared for job switchers. Another piece of research found that 43 percent of those who quit their job for a new one said they’d be better off in their old role. And 41 percent felt they’d jumped the gun and left their old job too quickly.
Sometimes, it is a case of better the devil you know, and with recent data from jobs site Indeed noting a 12.3 percent decrease in job postings year-over-year, it’s not a bad time to seek the comfort of a familiar environment.
Returning to a place where you’re already confident in your job, can easily navigate the structure, have established relationships with colleagues, and know exactly what’s expected of you during your work day is an attractive prospect.
You may also have an opportunity to ask for a bigger paycheck or better benefits. Because money motivated so many pandemic-era job moves, this puts boomerangers into a much better negotiating position when they return to their previous companies.
As a boomerang employee, you’re also valuable to your employer because you already understand the nuances of the organization and can hit the ground running. This can give you the opportunity to put forward a case to move up the ranks, pivot into a new area or step sideways into a job that you’re truly passionate about.
Whether you’re looking to return to a previous job or you want to move on to pastures new, then you’ll discover countless opportunities with employers all across the country on The Hill Jobs Board. Explore three current vacancies below.
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, Director of External Affairs, JDG Associates, Washington
The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) is an independent federal agency in the executive branch responsible for administering the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).
As the Director of External Affairs, you’ll be responsible for leading all agency activities as they relate to Congress, the media, other federal agencies, and the Employee Thrift Advisory Council (ETAC).
One of the main duties of this position is to lead the development of FRTIB legislative stances and plans by starting discussions, collaborating with other FRTIB offices, and offering guidance to the executive director and board members. It also involves creating and executing suitable strategies to monitor Congressional activity on important topics, and planning and executing effective strategies for providing FRTIB input on various legislative matters that impact TSP participants. See the complete job description and application requirements.
Scheduler to the President, Voto Latino, Washington
Voto Latino is looking for a meticulous and enthusiastic Scheduler to the President to oversee the president’s schedule and calendar, and act as the first contact person in the Office of the President.
You will play a critical role in supporting the organization’s mission by coordinating and managing the president’s daily, weekly, and monthly schedules, including organizing meetings, appointments, and conference calls.
You will also handle all incoming correspondence and meeting requests, plan and coordinate domestic and international travel plans, accommodations, and logistics, such as booking flights, hotels, and ground transportation, and maintain an organized system for tracking appointments, commitments, and important dates.
A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in a related role is necessary, as well as outstanding writing/editing and verbal communication skills. See more here.
Legislative & Member Advocacy Specialist, National Education Association, Washington
As the Legislative & Member Advocacy Specialist, you’ll support the NEA’s strategic objective to focus the energy and resources of its three million members toward the promotion and defense of public education.
You’ll accomplish this by planning, developing and executing strategies to enhance and broaden NEA’s online advocacy program. You will also act as the department editor and site publisher for the NEA Action Center and Government Relations section of InsideNEA sub site and workspaces, and will use programming languages to create, edit and maintain NEA’s Action Center website, evaluate the effectiveness of the digital advocacy program, and maintain a current knowledge of internet trends/developments, among other tasks.
To be considered, you will need a Bachelor’s degree in public policy, education, political science (or an equivalent combination of education and experience), as well as five years’ of professional experience involving program and policy analysis. Apply right away.
