I think I have made a really bad decision

[mm23]

Morning all,

I think i have made a really bad decision and I am suffering as a reason of it. I was working for company A, where I was very happy and the prospects of growth were good however each stage of the ladder would take longer.

Out of the blue I got a call from someone I use to work with who offered me a promotion etc etc, at which point I was tempted to leave company a and move. Now that I have moved and been here a few weeks I think its been a bad idea. The company is not everything i hope for it to be, I feel as if my progression will not be simple and the opportunities of learning are not really available. I have had a few chats with management who have assured me that this will happen however after my initial experience I don't believe it to happen?

I left company A on good terms, they didn't want me to leave however couldn't match what i was being offered at the new place. I am thinking maybe i should just go back to Company A? A informal chat has taken place and one of my colleagues from Company A has informed me that senior management have said that the door is wide open for me to return?

Do you think if i was to go back it would be a bad idea? The environment, management etc were decent. The scope of learning was good. I am genuinely really upset by the whole situation and feel as if I have shot myself in the foot by leaving. I feel as if my health is suffering as a result.

Just a point to note I am not looking back at Company A and only looking at the positives. There were some problems, but I feel as if the new company is even worse. Anyone I speak to says if the money is good I should stick it out but its really making me unhappy.

Edited by mm23 on Saturday 29th October 11:42

[anonymous-user]

We all make mistakes and leaving on good terms always leaves the door open.

I've left and gone back once after a 9 month absence before. I work at Microsoft and people are leaving and then returning all the time.

If you absolutely know leaving was a mistake then contact your old employer and have that conversation. Nothing to lose and if you do go back at least you and your employer know that you've had a look at the other side and you prefer it back there.

All the best!

[randlemarcus]

If the new job is affecting you this badly, then by all means go back to your old lot. However, you have shown your old company that you are not loyal, and this will be uppermost in their minds when training, promotions, payrises etc are up for grabs. Bear that mind.

[mm23]

Thank you Gary and Randle,

I completely understand the point of promotions and payrise, also I have been considering what if they take me back but then get rid of me a few months later "to get their own back" then I will be really screwed.

I know if I leave the company I am with now to return to my old company, I will be burning all bridges with my current employer, as I was asked to join by senior member of management. I think speaking to previous line manager will be a good step.

I just don't know what to do..

[davepoth]

I made a similar mistake and realised after three days in the new place. They hadn't sold the job properly, and what had been described as a team leadership position was merely ticking some boxes on a form while the actual team leader was seconded to an IT project that would eliminate my role in a couple of years.

Happy to say I'm back at the old place and things are going well.

[marcusgrant]

I left my current employer and came back after 9 months. That was 3 years ago and I'm glad I did! I thought the grass would be greener and it wasn't.

I've also progressed further in this place than I would have done at the other place.

[mm23]

I am genuinely thinking I should go back, what about the question of them getting rid of me to get their own back because I did leave to go to a competitor?

Genuinely really appreciate the advise I have felt so st for the past couple weeks.

[davepoth]

mm23 said:

I am genuinely thinking I should go back, what about the question of them getting rid of me to get their own back because I did leave to go to a competitor?

Genuinely really appreciate the advise I have felt so st for the past couple weeks.

They wouldn't bother re-employing you with the aim to sack you - that would just be silly. If they want you back it's because they want you back.

[Antony Moxey]

If you left on good terms and if the management have said - anecdotally - that you'd be welcomed back with open arms what on earth makes you think it'd just be to get rid of you later to get one back on you?

Are you all 12 years old or something?

[cheshire_cat]

mm23 said:

I am genuinely thinking I should go back, what about the question of them getting rid of me to get their own back because I did leave to go to a competitor?

Genuinely really appreciate the advise I have felt so st for the past couple weeks.

If they are a decent employer and hold you with enough regard to accept you back it isn't a scenario worth considering in my opinion.

One of my colleagues left the business I work for currently, to return again a year later. He had a renewed focus and it has not harmed his long term prospects at all, possibly the contrary being motivated and knowing that the grass isn't greener elsewhere.

[elanfan]

You could ask (but not be given) for your absence to in effect be ignored and that your employment be regarded as continuous if that's possible they wouldn't just be able to sack you assuming it's over 2 years and you'd get a bit more redundancy should it come. (I don't know if this is actually possible btw) if they were to agree it would be a very good sign.

Has the working elsewhere taught you anything that you can bring back to your old business?

[mm23]

I think they are decent however previously something was removed from my package because the person who agreed it with me had left the business. They explained that it was against company policy to offer this and had been offered to me in error.

I am not sure if they would disregard my absence and continue employment, I had only been with them for a year. I just don't feel happy at the new place! Even though I know a few people in management.

My friends have advised me to consider the salary and the fact that I am on good terms with my management to improve the situation that I am facing. I just feel that after asking numerous times I haven't seen any response. I may give it another couple of weeks, I've never felt this way when I started my previous job which or any other job therefore I am really concerned.

[bitchstewie]

Out of curiosity has your old employer advertised "your" role yet?

[mm23]

I had a look a few days ago and it wasn't advertised, I will check again to see if it has been advertised. I am lucky I am on good terms with one of the senior managers at the old company, he however wasn't directly my line manager. It was to him it was said by the divisional director that I would be accepted back.


Those who have mentioned returning to an old company were your chances hindered because you had returned to the old company?

Edited by mm23 on Saturday 29th October 13:00

[davepoth]

mm23 said:

I had a look a few days ago and it wasn't advertised, I will check again to see if it has been advertised. I am lucky I am on good terms with one of the senior managers at the old company, he however wasn't directly my line manager. It was to him it was said by the divisional director that I would be accepted back.


Those who have mentioned returning to an old company were your chances hindered because you had returned to the old company?

Edited by mm23 on Saturday 29th October 13:00

I was lucky I think; some quite intriguing opportunities opened up after I came back which has been very interesting, but I have no way of knowing whether they're a result of my leaving and coming back - I'm not 100% certain a lot of people were even aware that I'd left...

[mm23]

I've been at the new place for a couple of weeks, in my department there is one old timer, other than that there is a very very high turnover of staff.

I will see how this week goes but I just don't feel the same happiness I felt when I started at company A

[Butter Face]

I think it's always a shock when you start a new job.

I did leave a job and go back after 2 days, I instantly knew it wasn't for me and went back to my old place with my tail in between my legs. Best thing I ever did!

[marcusgrant]

mm23 said:

I had a look a few days ago and it wasn't advertised, I will check again to see if it has been advertised. I am lucky I am on good terms with one of the senior managers at the old company, he however wasn't directly my line manager. It was to him it was said by the divisional director that I would be accepted back.


Those who have mentioned returning to an old company were your chances hindered because you had returned to the old company?

Edited by mm23 on Saturday 29th October 13:00

If anything I think returning made them realise I would go again if I wasn't kept interested! Had good opportunities, training, promotion and pay rise

[zeDuffMan]

mm23 said:

I know if I leave the company I am with now to return to my old company, I will be burning all bridges with my current employer, as I was asked to join by senior member of management.

I might be misreading but it sounds like they mis-sold you the role so I don't see why you'd feel compelled to stay or ever feel like returning.

It's never going to work out if your employer isn't honest on day one.

If company A has the door open then you've lost nothing and learned something for the future.

[mr mac i]

Sales Manager quit the BMW dealer I worked at to go to a local Mercedes dealership.
By lunchtime on his first day he was back.