To Start, You Can Go Back!

Give wind and tide a chance to change.  -Richard E. Byrd

     As I read recent blogs, I see many people are wondering how to start a job search.  Today, I would like to suggest a simple starting place – your past employers!  I watched a friend do this several years ago, and I too have had success with going back.

     My friend’s employer told him at the time that the company would no longer need his work specialty because they were changing business direction. Told he was welcome to stay, he knew this would limit his career growth and opportunities.  This was a big disappointment; but he took the time and effort to seek out other options.  Fortunately, he found an employer who would support his area. He went to work for a competitor!  The best part was that the competitor also offered him the career path and job development he really wanted because it was a larger nationwide company with much to offer.  For me it was a joy to watch him thrive in his new organization.

     Several years later, things with the competitor changed as well.  The company was taken over by an even larger company and this new company was considering shutting his office down! Feeling uncomfortable with the uncertainty, my friend reached out to his first employer to see if they had any interest in re-evaluating their business direction.

     Guess what?  They were well aware of his success and growth at the competitor. And now, not only did they want him back, they offered jobs to all of his staff as well! Today, his former organization enjoys much prosperity and growth, as does his entire group. At no time did he ever believe he would end up back where he started.  The truth is, things change, people change and places change.  So yes, you can go back!

Some say opportunity knocks only once. That is not true.  Opportunity knocks all the time, but you have to be ready for it.  If the chance comes, you must have the equipment to take advantage if it. - Louis L’Amour.

     Consider contacting previous employers to see if here are any opportunities there.  As I applied for jobs over the years, I would always contact colleagues at former employers to confirm them as references.  Much to my surprise, often they offered me the opportunity to go back as well! It is so reassuring to me to know that several of my past employers would hire me again, if I were looking to make a change. 

     In addition, by reaching out to past employers, you start to network.  Networking is really just talking to lots of people about what you are looking for in a job, and asking them to keep you in mind and pass on any job leads.  When talking to past employers, not only do you have the chance to ask about any current openings with them, it also gives you the opportunity to ask that they keep you in mind for the future.  Taking this one step further, you can ask them to pay attention to openings they may hear about at other companies, and pass that information to you. I have a friend that I worked with over seven years ago who still sends me job leads!

     Yes, you can go back!  Go back to former employers to start your search, and begin your network.

I look forward to reading your comments about your job search progress and success!