Image this…
It’s your final two weeks at a job. After years of searching, you’re finally moving from that drab cubicle in the suburbs to a corner office downtown. The pay is twice as much as you earned before and the decision-making power is exponentially higher. All in all, it’s a HUGE career upgrade. Without even realizing it, your mind is fast at work on a list of ‘nevers.’
“I’LL NEVER WORK IN THIS INDUSTRY AGAIN”
“I’LL NEVER WORK FOR THIS COMPANY AGAIN”
“I’LL NEVER SEE THESE ANNOYING PEOPLE AGAIN”
Your final two weeks starts to feel like it will never end. You find yourself restless. This leads you to act slightly combative, almost arrogant. After all, you have a new job, perhaps it’s time to let people see how you “really” feel.
When you’re not busy muttering about work disdain under your breath, you are turning to isolationism. The hope is that you can slip out like a ghost. Come Monday morning, people will wonder where you went.
FAST-FORWARD SIX MONTHS…
You started your new job and it was great…out of the gate. After several weeks you notice some of the same career problems begin to rear their ugly heads. It ain’t perfect, but it’s better than your previous job. That is until your boss calls you in, and without warning, lets you know that the bad economy has forced the elimination of your position.
You’re now back in familiar territory, hopping from job board to job board. There are few openings in your field, but there is one job that meets your criteria and seems to be listed all over the place: YOUR OLD JOB.
The weeks fly by with nary an interview. The bills are stacking up and the world is suddenly bleak. In a moment of weakness you allow yourself to think the unthinkable: maybe the old job wasn’t so bad. It’s probably desperation sinking in, but who cares! You need to eat, right?!
You begin to rack your brain for the right person to contact. You have so many questions. Is the job still available? Would they consider taking you back? Then you flash back to how cold and distant you were before departing and realize that no one is going to help you. You wouldn’t even help you and you are you!
Reapplying for a job you once held comes along with a lot of baggage for both the employee and employer. It’s a long shot to begin with. But despite slim odds, you only hurt yourself when you take the option off the table. You never know the cards that life will deal you. That old job you turned on might be the best option for you down the road.
The way you handle yourself at the end of a job is even more important than the way you handle yourself at the start of a job.
Take those final weeks, days and hours at a job and use them to shine! Need help? The Exit Guide: How to Leave a Job the Right Way is guaranteed to help.
Only fools close doors. It takes a lot more work to keep them open. Put in the time and you’ll give yourself more options in the future.
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