Do you remember the days when, if you left your company for a new employer, you were regarded as a Benedict Arnold? Well, those days are a thing of the past, although many job hunters don’t realize it. They are operating with two major misconceptions:

1. Job hunters regard their former employer as forbidden territory rather than a place where they may want to demonstrate their new skills and expertise.
2. They are afraid that they will be eating humble pie in the eyes of their friends and neighbors and former colleagues. This is because it appears that they’re going backwards in their career by returning to the familiar old place, not forging a new career at a brand new company.

There’s even a term for the increasing trend of former employee returning to their old company. It’s called boomeranging -- for obvious reasons! In two recent studies by Gartner Group and Recruiting Trends, both reported that 60 percent of midsize and large enterprises are routinely rehiring high-performing IT and business professionals. And because there will be continued shortages for top talent, the trend of boomeranging will become a far more common event.

Most Boomerangers don't leave their employer with the intention of returning. It just happens. Many return after learning their new job wasn't as good as they thought it would be. Others come back when their old boss leaves. Or they find out they can make more money. Sometimes, folks try to go into business for themselves and find that they were not cut out for the entrepreneurial life.

There seems to be no time line to boomeranging, either. Some return after a few years, some a few months. But with unemployment at record lows, businesses are warming up to workers who used to be thought of as abandoning ship. Some have even dropped the name ex-employee in favor of "alumni."

Progressive firms around the country are working hard internally to keep track of their best former employees and have the red carpet ready for them. Bain & Co., a Boston-based consulting firm, for example, goes all out to keep in touch with its 2,000 alumni. It holds social events and sends out newsletters. McKinsey is also known for alerting former employees about new projects and job openings. "If you have a good employee who decides to leave, many companies now embrace the idea of welcoming them back," says John Challenger of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas in Chicago. "It's a product of the tight labor market."

What can you do as a job hunter when you’ve completed your due diligence about your old company and it seems right to return? Call a former colleague whom you respect and explain why you want to return. Point out to him or her that you’ve acquired additional skills and knowledge that can help your old employer — at no additional expense to him. And since you know how your old company operates, you can start contributing right away. Your old company will look like a hero for bringing you back because it sends a positive message to the current staff — that the grass may be greener on your side of the fence.

So, in the dynamics of today's workplace, an increasing number of workers are discovering that the grass they thought was greener is, in fact, crab grass. Faced with this situation, many job hunters wish they could turn the clock back and return to their previous work. Don’t be embarrassed and try to move on to something else. It is increasingly common for job hunters to return to their previous employers, anxious to pick up where they left off. The boomerang move is easier if you've maintained relationships with co-workers. And increasingly from a strategic perspective, savvy employers are cultivating ongoing communication with their "alums" who have left. This is becoming a major part of their recruiting efforts. They regard Boomerangers as just having been on sabbatical and welcome them back as the proverbial son or daughter!

Online resources:

www.Vault.com: The electronic water cooler is a great place to find out what the receptivity of your old company is toward alums lately.

www.Asaenet.org: Revive your contacts with former colleagues at local professional association meetings. If you’ve let your memberships get rusty, the list from the American Society of Association Executives will get you quickly back on track.

University alumni associations: Use fellow alums from your university who may be working at your former company to find out when/if you should apply. Fellow alums can also be very helpful in finding new opportunities for you. Be sure to return the favor when you have a job and they’re out looking!

www.SelectMinds.com Check out selectminds.com, which is the first, and only company that specializes in helping corporations build, manage and capitalize on their netwoks of former employees. Agilent recently signed on SelectMinds to reach its broad network of "alums."

Feel free to contact me re questions or concerns about the Brave New World of Boomeranging or other Internet job searching topics.

Fortune has just released its 100 Best Companies to Work For. Next month we’ll take a look at what these companies are doing to find the best and brightest and how this will work in your favor. In the meantime, I can be reached at jlommel@WorkforceAssociates.com

Happy Valentine’s Day and happy job search!

Other NetWorking with Jane Lommel columns

Home

---

Copyright © 1995-2007 Gary Johnson Communications. All rights reserved. BraveNewWorkWorld, NewWork, NewWork News, Careers in the NewWork World, WITNE, and WITNE: Women in the New Economy are trademarks of Gary Johnson Communications.