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Asked for old job back and haven't heard back

  • 29-05-2025 11:11AM
    #1
    LutherBlissett
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 198 ✭✭


    I posted about this a while back, but I resigned just over a year ago and have been in a new job about 9 or 10 months now. I don't like the new job for a variety of reasons - poor management leading to bad work/life balance; quality of work, etc.

    I asked my old job to take me back in November, but they said no (I can see in hindsight why requesting to go back after two or three months may have looked odd).

    I then asked again in May. I spoke to somebody in management who I was particularly close to, and they said they would speak to the head of the department on my behalf.

    It's now two weeks later and I haven't heard back - do you think I should assume that's a no? I feel quite let down by not hearing anything back, as I was close to the person in management, who I thought of as a mentor, but I suppose that's business (and life).

    I would love to follow up for closure (as I think it is just good courtesy to let somebody know what the outcome of a discussion like this was) but should I bother?



Comments

  • #2
    SteM
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,452 ✭✭✭SteM


    They should have gotten back to you but I'd take it as a No and move on.



  • #3
    LutherBlissett
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 198 ✭✭LutherBlissett


    It's a law firm and I am relatively senior so yes there would need to be a business case. I was never very optimistic about it (and also a skeptic - it's true there is no way to know if my ex-manager even raised it with the head of the department) but I would have thought an email/phone call to say sorry it's not a runner would just be polite - i worked very closely with ex-manager over a long period of time and they (at least pretended to be) happy when i got in touch.



  • #4
    HeidiHeidi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 31,953 ✭✭✭✭HeidiHeidi


    I'd see it as a no-lose to follow up (politely) - it might jog his memory or prompt him into action if he hasn't done anything about it yet but does actually mean to - and if it's a no, you were never getting the job anyway and at least you'll know for sure.

    (Him/Her obv!)



  • #5
    con747
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 9,994 ✭✭✭con747


    ^^^^^^ This.

    Don't expect anything from life, just be grateful to be alive.

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  • #6
    SteM
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,452 ✭✭✭SteM


    Have you spoken to the ex-manager much since you left? TBH, if I was looking to go back I would have invited them out to lunch for a chat to broach the subject rather than just a call/email.



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  • #7
    LutherBlissett
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 198 ✭✭LutherBlissett


    Yeah had a lunch in November and coffee in May. They knew all along i didn't like the place and was looking for another job so was able to be fairly direct in the coffee (and i am a fairly direct person anyway). The email would just be to follow up to (presumably) confirm that the head of department vetoed me coming back.



  • #8
    crusd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,483 ✭✭✭crusd


    There are often a number of considerations in bringing people back who left recently other than their performance.

    Is there a role and budget?

    Do you want to send out the message that people can leave on a "free trial" basis? On the flip scenario it does sometimes send out the message that the grass is not always greener either

    How will the team who stayed "loyal" react? (I use loyal in brackets because in a RIF scenario the "loyalty" wont be reciprocated)

    I had a director who took the view, if within two years, yes happy to have them back once there is an open role, they come back on the same terms(or lower if he could get away with it) and then come back in a different team. He even rotated people internally to do this on at least one occasion I remember.



  • #9
    LutherBlissett
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 198 ✭✭LutherBlissett


    Yeah it's all totally fair and i knew it was a longshot (it would quite a substantial paycut anyway, so maybe this is an example of the universe saving me from myself…). i think at this point it's more just wanting an answer so i can move on!



  • #10
    Bandana boy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,341 ✭✭✭Bandana boy


    If your talking about a fairly senior role , two weeks is no time to fully explore the ways and means of bringing you back .

    I would wait another two weeks and then reach out to see how its progressing .I imagine they replaced you , budgets have been set , and the optics of your return all need to be ironed out.

    For example a member of my team had similar happen and from start of conversation to come back and the offer was 4 months.



  • #11
    LutherBlissett
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 198 ✭✭LutherBlissett


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123499629#Comment_123499629

    Yeah I'm not going to chase this week. I strongly suspect the person has just not got back to me with a no but we'll see. It would effectively be going back into a law firm at partnership track or counsel level (having previously deserted them and with only one serious backer for that) so vanishingly unlikely but I always thought it was worth a shot.



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  • #12
    Tull Considine
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 52 ✭✭Tull Considine


    Keep trying mate.



  • #13
    Etc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 592 ✭✭✭Etc


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123500418#Comment_123500418

    I don’t know why you’d feel let down by this person, you were a senior in a law firm, you should know the culture in these organisations by now.



  • #14
    LutherBlissett
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 198 ✭✭LutherBlissett


    Just a personal thing really because we worked so closely but yeah agreed.



  • #15
    CramCycle
    Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 26,147 Mod ✭✭✭✭CramCycle


    It's two weeks, that's barely enough time for them to have broached the conversation with partners let alone SMT to decide if it was viable or a good choice.

    Don't take it as anything, even if it's a yes, it could be weeks if them deciding is it needed, is it the same terms, and so on.

    Considering your seniority, I'm surprised you were expecting quicker. A flat out no would be within a fortnight, a yes could be a fortnight to 2 months.



  • #16
    Ash.J.Williams
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 22,488 ✭✭✭✭Ash.J.Williams


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123496086#Comment_123496086

    Relatively senior in a law firm and you're asking us?



  • #17
    LutherBlissett
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 198 ✭✭LutherBlissett


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123500628#Comment_123500628

    Looks like it



  • #18
    Calahonda52
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,924 ✭✭✭✭Calahonda52


    re: I then asked again in May. I spoke to somebody in management who I was particularly close to, and they said they would speak to the head of the department on my behalf.

    That's the easy option, stay nice with you and pass the buck up the line.

    IMO, iff your credit with them was good, then I would pen a handwritten note to the managing partner, as it will be his call, those lower down the food chain may see you as a threat to their lunch and never consider the matter.

    In 50 years of work, have seen plenty examples around where people have returned but never for Joe Average so look in the mirror and who do you see: 😀

    “I can’t pay my staff or mortgage with instagram likes”.



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