Applied for my old job.. Feeling nervous?

Question

I have re-applied for my old job which I left two months for a senior role. My interview is next week for my old job but I can't help being nervous and thinking how the managers or some colleagues would be thinking of me as a loser for asking my job back. I have also applied for other roles but haven't heard anything back. I left the job on good terms but can't help thinking they are going to look down on me for coming back.

Barb Hansen · Answer

As a manager, I would love it if a valued and talented past-employee came back into the fold.

I think @erinyan59's advice above is excellent, and I can only add,  'use your nerviness as a tail-wind.'  All job interviews cause some amount of nerves in the interviewee, so some of your nerves are just normal 'I have an interview next week' nerves.

And of course you are anxious about an interview for a job that you left - I think all of us would be.  Build on @erinyan59's comment and write your narrative on why you want your old job back so you have your points in front of you during your interview.

Right before your interview next week,  come back to this post and re-read @erinyan59's comment to re-center your thoughts.

Good luck!

MinaKeppel · Answer

Hi Laila,

As someone who has done the same, do not worry about what others think about you! They might be glad to have your rejoined the team. My past co-worker were glad to have me back. They were happy to avoid the “new team” adjustment that comes with someone new joining them. My advice is for you to contact your old manager about your interest and that you have an interview already setup. If you have any contact in the company or department, reach out to them to get a “feel” or “temperature” of what your return will be like or looks like.  In your interview talk about the new skills or process you have learned, that you can now bring to the department/ company.

Good luck on your interview.

Keisha Pierce · Answer

I would suggest emailing them and telling them the reasons why you are reapplying for your old job in advance, knock the wind out of the anxiety and you will be able to concentrate! If you want it, go get it!

Melinda Barrow · Answer

Hi Laila, you've got this! Based on the situation, it seems clear that you have the skills to do the job. Your explanation of WHY you want to do this job is what will shape their perception of you coming back into the role. Maybe the answer is, 'This was a great job. I really enjoyed working here and being in this particular position. There's so much uncertainty in the world right now and I think it would be a win-win for both of us for me to be back with a company I like doing a job that I like and that I'm good at.' See how nice that sounds?  If someone said that to you, wouldn't you respect them? The key is that you have to believe this is a good move for you. If you see yourself as taking a step back or as only being good enough for a specific position, you will project that to others. If you are confident that you are a great candidate and this is the right role for you, they'll see that too! Good luck.

Laila · Answer

Hi everyone, I thought to update you about my interview which was yesterday. I tried my best to convince them that I would love to have my old post back and how I have the skills and knowledge as I was doing the job before. They didn't seem too happy and kept a blank facial expression along the interview. At the end of the interview, the manager said they will be in touch but I haven't heard anything back from them. I'm not sure how long I should wait before contacting them.

Elizabeth Marie · Answer

I wouldn't be too nervous about it. If anything, you can share what you have learned about taking the other job. We had a guy in our dept who was a manager that came back to be a senior analyst instead. He was over having manage people lol

Jackie Ghedine · Answer

You can't do anything about what people think or believe in any situation. Shift your perspective a bit, instead of  thinking and worry about how you'll be perceived for coming back, focus on what you really liked about your job that is drawing you and which colleagues your most excited to reconnect with.

Laila · Answer

Thank you everyone for the encouragements. I feel much better now and I would really consider your advices.

Shara · Answer

As an employer, I am happy to re-hire a dedicated, hard working employee who left on good terms. I understand that sometimes people think there is something better out there, and it doesn't work out as planned.

When a former employee reaches out to me for their old job, I don't think anything negative about them. In fact, I am pleased to know that we have created an work environment that people want to return to.

Susan Smoter · Answer

I've known many people who have left a job for a possibility that didn't turn out as they'd hoped, and returned to their former position - nobody thought less of them. Nobody. Just the opposite - because they were known they were able to come back getting things worked through that needed to be said.

Applied for my old job.. Feeling nervous?

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