New job situation

KI2013

I left my old job about seven months ago. It wasn't perfect, but I was pretty happy apart from working for one person, who is retiring at the end of this month. The new job seemed like a good gig - double the salary and promotion prospects. I have ended up not enjoying the new job at all (there was a slight complication - I was in a crash a couple of weeks in that took me out for a couple of weeks) - the work is dull and there are a lot of red flags with management. I approached my old employer after a couple of months in the new job and asked about going back, but they told me no (I didn't ask why). I have applied for new jobs, but no equivalent companies to my old employer are recruiting - and smaller companies are unlikely to hire me because I just haven't been trained that way. I am thinking of asking my old employer again if there is any chance at all of going back - there is somebody there I am quite close to - but I worry they will say no again. On the other hand, I obviously have nothing left to lose at this point. Would appreciate any advice - obviously I was stupid to leave in the first place, but that doesn't feel like it should have been a career ending decision…

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058406711/new-job-situation

If your close to someone in the old company is it worth sounding them out to casually say they heard you asked could you come back and see what the boss has to say to them as to why not?

KI2013

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123369736#Comment_123369736

The person I'm close to is in management at the old company - I was thinking my best shot would be to ask her why they said no last time and spell out the efforts I have made to get another job/why it hasn't worked (I think I can be honest on that - it's more an industry point than an individual one, because I have a good CV). Obviously it's very embarrassing and I think another no is more likely than not, but it's a bit of a back against the wall situation.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123369761#Comment_123369761

As you said then, nothing to lose unless you get your friend in the proverbial by asking them to sound it out. If you think you will leave them out of it and ask yourself.

SuperBowserWorld

Why do you say "obviously I was stupid to leave in the first place" when "The new job seemed like a good gig - double the salary and promotion prospects".

Stop beating yourself up. 👍

KI2013

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123369771#Comment_123369771

The person I know is technically a decision maker (but there are c12 decision makers - the whole management team has to be on board with people coming back - weird I know). I think it will just be really hard to hear why they said no last time and knowing it might be another no (there are some frustrating dynamics at play - the person I am close to is now the third most senior on the management team, so you would think they would be able to make some space, but I have no confidence in that).

ledwithhedwith

I mean if you've just asked then the answer is probably gonna be the same but no harm in giving it a go. Also you would have been highly stupid not to take a job that's double your salary, jobs just often don't work out, don't be blaming yourself.

engineerws

Why not have a chat with HR or your manager. How can it be that bad, work is work or are you working for an military company or something morally unacceptable?

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123369761#Comment_123369761

Why would you think they would want you back at this stage? After 7 months is the position even open?

Also I'd say you have not been in the current position long enough to judge how it will work out. Some times it takes a long time for the on boarding to be completed, for them to gain confidence in you and so on. And as you say there are opportunities for promotion so you may not even be in your current position for very long.

KI2013

It's a professional services job (think e.g. finance; law) in a large firm, so it's not really a case of there being a distinct role to fill/position being open. I take the point that onboarding can take a while, but I think 7 months can be plenty to decide a place isn't for you/raises red flags. Promotion would be to management in the group that I'm in, so it would mean having to work even more closely with people I don't like/taking on work that I don't want to do. It would be lucrative, but not exactly a great deal all round - I would be happy to sacrifice the extra money for better work and more stable colleagues.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123370132#Comment_123370132

So you doubled your salary when you left, which would suggest that your old employer was paying well below the market rate and they refused your offer to come back, presumably at the old salary… if that is the case, then I very much doubt they want you back at all… Were you qualified or was it a training contract?

KI2013

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123370709#Comment_123370709

It wasn't really a money thing (for context, I moved from £2xxK to £4xxK, which is a pretty standard jump - firms in that segment of the market don't really compete on salary - it's more types of work; promotion prospects, etc.). I wouldn't mind cutting my salary to move back to the old firm. The reason I moved was to get away from always having to work for somebody who shouted at me (not unreasonable). The missing piece is I don't know why they said no last time - it could have been because that person vetoed it (petty but possible) or other reasons. I am coming round to the thinking that there would be no harm in gently probing, now they are about to retire imminently.