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Old boss following me to the new job

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Old boss following me to the new job

I escaped quite a stressful job situation with a boss I really didn't care about. I moved to a different company and have been here for a year and a half. My current boss is moving to a new role and I just heard that one of the primary candidates for her replacement is... my old boss. I did not leave on bad terms before, sent a very polite farewell email, but I really am dreading this and don't want to look for another job. Between you and me, I did not even think that my previous boss was even that competent, but talked a good game. She brought her old folks, who were very condescending too.

Not sure whether there is any way out of it. Some people are saying to apply for my bosses position, but I think they clearly are looking for people from the outside. Thoughts or just sympathy appreciated :).

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  1. Anonymous

    I would not be happy about that either. Does your old boss know you work there? Will you be a part of the interview process? I say apply for it. If others are asking you about it they see you as a leader. There’s no harm in trying if it feels right to you. I for one would be looking elsewhere if this new but previous boss gets it. There’s a reason we leave people behind in the previous roles. Icck! I’d be applying to get the job or finding my way out.

  2. Laura

    First of all, if you are interested in applying for the position then do so! They may be weighing all their options with internal and external candidates. Also if your old boss is interviewed, what (if any) role will you have in the process? If you do, I'm betting your input will come into play so be strategic with what you say and how you say it. Good luck with this situation!

  3. Anonymous

    Management had made it clear they are looking external, so I don't think it will help applying. I will not interview. They have been interviewing already. It was confidential search. I learned about it by accident almost. And now have to be careful what I say so it doesn't bite me. I will start looking again, but it is a bummer, I was really happy here. It is almost bad luck.

  4. Anonymous

    Definitely start looking but also consider that your old boss may not get the job, and if she does, she may not be successful at it. Don't give up hope yet!

  5. Anonymous

    I'm so sorry. Yes, it will be difficult but it will take time for your old boss to get the old team onboarded and in a place of condescension and power. So that will buy you some time to find another job.

  6. Tina Moreno

    This is definitely a tough situation, but you have more options than you might think. If your boss’s role is something that interests you, I’d absolutely encourage you to explore it. Even if leadership is looking externally, internal candidates—especially those with direct insight into the role and company culture—often have an advantage. I’d recommend finding out what the hiring process looks like, whether internal candidates are being considered, and if there’s an opportunity to have a conversation about your qualifications.

    If you’re not interested in the role but are concerned about your former boss returning, it’s worth thinking through how to approach it proactively. If she does end up being hired, you have a few ways to navigate it:

    Speak with HR (Strategically): If you have concerns about her management style, you can bring them up in a constructive way—focusing on how a healthy work environment is critical and referencing past challenges in a way that isn’t personal but instead highlights lessons learned. A strong recruiter or HR team should take these factors into consideration and may even tailor interview questions to assess leadership skills and compatibility.

    Control What You Can: If she’s hired, you may not be able to change that, but you can set clear boundaries. Consider drafting a game plan for how you’ll interact professionally and maintain the positive work environment you’ve built. You can also leverage the relationships you’ve formed with your colleagues and leadership to ensure you don’t feel isolated or disempowered.

    Observe Before Reacting: People do change, and leadership roles in different organizations come with different expectations. While it’s understandable to feel dread based on past experiences, it might be worth seeing how things unfold before making any major decisions.

    Regardless of what happens, you have agency in this situation. Whether that’s advocating for yourself, preparing for change, or ensuring that you continue to thrive professionally, you’re not powerless here. You got away from a bad situation once—you will figure out the best move forward again.

  7. Anonymous

    Thank you for the encouragement. They made it clear they are not considering internal candidates. I like the idea that maybe here my boss could view me as an ally in an unknown situation. I am also trying to built relationships with other people. I left on good terms, I just never felt good internally. I like the company, don't want to leave, but I may need to keep my options open.

  8. Anonymous

    Apply!

  9. Lara McKusky

    Oh this sucks! A good work environment is *essential*! Would you feel comfortable sending an email to the hiring manager or HR? And who cares if they are looking for outsiders, if it’s open to anyone to apply, then maybe applying yourself is something you should do? And so, this old boss would be your new boss, your direct supervisor? God. I can’t imagine.

  10. GirlBossanova934974

    Apply for the manager's job and at the same time, start looking at places to transfer within your current company. You do NOT have to let anyone know in your current company the reason for a transfer. Make up something. I have done two transfers in my time. Was worth it. I got off sinking ships and didn't wait around. If you have a few good performance reviews, transfers are not that tough.

  11. Anonymous

    OP, it's ok to talk to the hiring manager and present facts on why that person should not be hired. As a hiring manager, I value when current colleagues have feedback on past interactions with candidates.

  12. Balanced372207

    You are rare. I have found that many HR folks don't listen to even the most reliable of employees. And I have been in the work world for 50 years.

  13. Anonymous

    Hi, I agree. I have provided a feedback professionally verbally of pros and cons, but stayed neutral for exactly this reason. BTW, I cannot apply, the position was closed as they are in the final rounds of interviewing. I am happy in my position currently, if it wasn't for this situation. Transfer or another job will take time.

  14. Linda A

    I definitely would not discuss this with anyone. Especially HR like some here have advised. Either apply for transfer or apply externally.

  15. Kimberly McKenzie-Klemm

    I would start looking elsewhere...

  16. Mary Mathiowetz-Shaffer

    I 100% agree with this advice. Do not get emotional or opinionated - keep it very factual and focused on your company's best interest.

  17. Anonymous

    What's the loss of applying? Apply if you believe you can do the job regardless if you think they are looking for an external. Do they know that you've worked with them in the past? They may want to learn that and if asked provide feedback on their style, etc, nothing personal on feelings but stay skill focused on leadership style.

  18. Jill

    Agreed. I would adapt this advice and have the note request to speak in person/meeting. Just to make certain that it's not in writing and focus the discussion on competencies. You can frame your note as offering insight into a candidate and give the hiring manager the option to reach out (or not if they so choose). Good luck!

  19. Allyson Doherty

    go for it!

  20. Anonymous

    Does your company know you worked with this person previously? Typically wouldn’t they ask what you think about the person as part of due diligence?

    I would suggest sharing your insights, applying for the boss role (if you want it), and begin searching for a new job externally.

    In my situation I moved departments within the company and two years later my old boss, who had continued to cause problems in my new department, moved to my department. I believe the learning is if there is a problematic manager, that continues to get leadership support despite real concerns, they will spoil the whole company.

  21. Drea Rahming

    Excellent advice

  22. Anonymous

    I like this advice but I wouldn't do all that in writing. I'd say you heard they're being considered and you worked with them previously and you'd like a few minutes to provide some insight from your previous experience on a call.

  23. Anonymous

    Coming from an HR professional. Don't put anything in writing. Your old boss could go after you if you are not listed as a reference for them and your feedback causes them not to be hired. If you are comfortable with the hiring manager have a conversation with them. Express your concerns based on your experience, and then see what happens. Best of luck.

  24. Anonymous

    If you have the qualifications for that role definitely apply. Even being an internal candidate write a thoughtful email with your application as to why you are the best option for the role.

    Separately from that in re of your former manager if you have details on the lack of qualifications or a specific situation where her lack of experience or behavior was doing harm to the culture or other business needs and you don't want that brought over then be sure to share that with the hiring manager for the role (only if you are too afraid or don't apply as above) and also with HR. I once did this and despite my best efforts the person got hired anyway. I was going to quit but loved my job and decided to stick it out. I made a bet with myself that the person would train wreck within 30 days. Guess what! As I surmised they made it to 24 days before they created a super dramatic train wreck that almost tanked the whole department. I was right and got a hug apology from my boss for bringing that up to them, they never did not listen to me again... oh and have I mentioned I work in HR? So speak up, don't make it personal make it business and give details on the why they should not be considered.

  25. Balanced372207

    You are fortunate that they didn't can you for sharing your knowledge and first hand experience. Some employers would have fired you because you told the truth they didn't want to hear.

  26. Anonymous

    Agree, if you decide to apply it will be hard to give feedback as it could look like you are sabotaging your "competition." If you don't apply, you should give feedback and frankly if they know you worked at the company that the old boss is at, I'd be surprised if they don't ask. I would. I always look at where the candidates worked previously and try to find people I know and trust to provide feedback. My city is a smaller world but I can usually find someone - amazing how a large place can become small with a network. I look up candidates on LinkedIn and see if we have common connections as well. Now, with that said, I may not put complete stock in what I hear (although I usually only talk to people whose opinion I respect), but I will possibly explore comments in the interview process as well. For example, if I get a comment that the candidate doesn't play well with others, I'll ask more questions around difficult stakeholders, or a time when they didn't agree with someone and how did they handle it, etc. If you do provide feedback and they still interview, that may be what they are doing. Depends on if the interview has already been scheduled, and what the other candidates look like.

    I will say, if you think you are qualified, and you think this is a job you would like to do, you should consider throwing your hat in the ring. Talk to your current manager (sounded like you had a decent relationship) and see what they think if you are in doubt. One sure way to ensure you get to make the decisions and lead is to apply and get the role.

    Whichever way you go, best of luck to you!

  27. Titra Hamilton

    Nothing is actionable yet, so pause on jumping ship, especially considering the current job market. Apply for the position and see what happens next.

  28. Anonymous

    You can tell your current boss and higher ups that you left the previous role due to how that manager manages. Inside information has an impact on hiring. You may also be assigned a new team if you ask.

  29. tejaswini

    please start looking for a new job if you are not comfortable with your old boss. It would anyway take the old boss at least months to get onboarded.

  30. Changemaker828603

    I have a similar situation. Happy at my new position, and my former boss is now at my new job. We left on "Okay" terms, but not friends.

    I don't have any magical solutions, I just make it work. We are both polite to each other, and leave the past where it was at the other job.

  31. Crystal Lemming

    I recommend speaking to the hiring manager about your former boss. Leaders want to know if a candidate is a bad manager. Bad managers lower morale and the end result is lower productivity and even chaos.

  32. Focused541800

    Apply for the position. You could talk to Hr or the hiring manager. Just to let them know you worked with this person before, you would be happy to chat about your perspective on their leadership if they are interested.

  33. Anonymous

    Tough luck. It is good that you left on good terms so you shouldn't have any difficulty in your current job with your old boss. See if there is a possibility of lateral move.

  34. Anonymous

    This happened to me once! I had worked for a small company where my boss was awful -- she took credit for my work and kept implying that I was about to be fired (this was not true). Eventually she got promoted to some new made-up role in the company, fired our only designer because she didn't get along with him, and managed to implode the whole company and move on. As that was happening, I left and went to a new organization where I was really happy. Eventually, her best friend (who had been a contractor in the last company) came to work at my new company, and wouldn't you know it...my old boss soon followed, and at an even higher level. The good news is, she was expected to work, and she couldn't handle it, and was out the door pretty quick. I stayed 6 years.

  35. Debbie Stirrup

    This happened to me once before too! Got a job at a company I liked, until my boss decided to take a particular 'liking ' to me. He would follow me on my beaks, constantly talk to me and even PM all the time during work hours. I couldn't stand it in the end and asked him to politely leave me alone and just confine things to strict work related issues. Well he then took that at liberty to start talking about my husband and how he wasn't suited to me etc. (he had met my husband when he had come to pick me up rom work). Unfortunately (or fortunately) I got quite ill and had to take time off from work. As I was staring down the barrel of possibly having cancer, I handed in my resignation and focused on my health.

    A couple of years later I got another job and lo and behold, my old boss was there again!!! This time he had found out I got the job and then decided to let the big boss know that he wanted to train me himself, as he had worked with me before. Thus began my job from hell. He deliberately kept hanging around me, following me etc all under the guise of helping me 'settle in' to the new job. I tried to tell management to take me off the same shift as him but they said it would take 8-12 weeks to change the rosters. I was pushed to the brink when he was off sick for a few days but turned up to my night shift anyway and sat on my desk for 12 hours straight talking trash to me about my home life, my husband and how I should leave him etc (I was happily married to my husband without any issues). Then I had to work a Christmas Day and Boxing Day shift with he and I the only ones in the building. I quit after that and almost had a nervous breakdown.

    Apparently he got sacked from that job about 1 year after all this happened to me.

  36. Lori Caso

    Hopefully your current company has a more work-friendly /less-stress environment than the last place and the "old boss" won't be encouraged to bring any bad habits with her... I say hope for the best!

    "IF" she gets the job you may want to reach out to her in advance with a welcome email stating, "I really like it here, I'm sure you will too...the atmosphere is much more conducive with getting projects completed with a lot less stress..." (hint hint) :) Good luck!

  37. Marci

    Apply anyway. Do it.

  38. Kelly Quinana

    Girl you got Jesus? APPLY!!! You have my sympathy but apply.

  39. Focused721350

    Good Morning,

    Well! i suggest you give her a run for her $$$! you be a strong confident woman and apply for that position. You never know! This might be your time to SHINE!!!!! Just think POSITIVE!!!! IMAGINE YOU BEING HER BOSS!!!! ;) You could kill her with kindness and be a way better person than her!

    Best of Luck to you & God bless on your new Journey.

    Ms. T ;)

  40. SproonkyWeb
    Situations like this can be really uncomfortable because even if things ended politely before, the idea of working again under someone you did not enjoy is stressful. I had a similar experience when a former manager joined a company where I was already working, and the best approach for me was focusing on my own performance and keeping communication professional. During stressful periods I sometimes relax with online games or try a casino odds platform like bc game just to switch my mind for a while.
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    Hoy en día hay muchas plataformas de casino online, pero no todas ofrecen una experiencia cómoda. Personalmente, siempre busco sitios con buena navegación y variedad de juegos. Mientras comparaba opciones, encontré https://alawin-espana.com/ y me pareció bastante interesante. Tiene una interfaz clara y permite acceder fácilmente a diferentes slots. Desde mi experiencia, cuando una plataforma está bien organizada, se disfruta mucho más el tiempo de juego.
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    Descubrí la plataforma de Pin Up por una publicación en un grupo de tecnología en Oruro donde destacaban páginas bien estructuradas. Decidí abrirme un usuario desde el navegador del teléfono y la interfaz me atrapó al instante por su estilo clásico totalmente despejado. Al ingresar me permitieron aplicar ciertos códigos de bono PIN-UP de manera súper fluida, lo que me sirvió para probar las distintas funciones del sitio sin presionarme. La verdad es que la velocidad de respuesta del servidor en conexiones 4G es un punto fuertísimo. Además, poder hacer transacciones directas con la banca local te ahorra mil dolores de cabeza. Una alternativa súper transparente, moderna y recomendable.
  43. Anonymous
    Participar en mesas largas desde un teléfono inteligente de gama de entrada a menudo provoca toques accidentales que te hacen retirarte por error debido a una mala distribución de los botones en la pantalla. Para evitar arruinar tu estrategia por una interfaz mal optimizada, estructurar tu juego de poker mediante un entorno virtual con escalado dinámico garantizó una precisión táctil absoluta. La arquitectura de esta plataforma redimensiona automáticamente los vectores visuales para adaptarse a resoluciones bajas, impidiendo que el motor de renderizado drene la batería del equipo durante rondas extensas. Este nivel de eficiencia ergonómica se complementa de forma nativa con el ecosistema financiero peruano, permitiendo asegurar las ganancias instantáneamente a través de Yape o Plin en soles sin sufrir cuelgues del navegador durante las validaciones bancarias.

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