My old employer wants me back. Why does returning feel like admitting I failed?
Career / WorkMy former manager called about a vacancy and said, “We’d love to have you back.” My first reaction was relief. My second was remembering the farewell card where I’d written that I was ready for a bigger challenge.
I left a publishing company eighteen months ago for a role that sounded broader. The new job has turned out to involve far more scheduling and far less editing than I expected. I’ve learned things, but I miss working closely with manuscripts.
The old company has a different vacancy from the job I left. It includes editing a new series and mentoring an assistant. My former manager says the team’s systems have changed too. I haven’t had a proper interview yet.
On paper, I’m interested. In my head, I’m walking back through the door while everyone remembers my confident leaving speech.
How would you assess a return without letting embarrassment decide it? What would you need to know before trusting that the place you remember is still the place you’d be joining?
