4 Steps to Becoming a Boomerang Employee

4 Steps to Becoming a Boomerang Employee4 Steps to Becoming a Boomerang EmployeeIf you have ever considered returning or boomeranging to your former employer, you are not alone. In a recent study, nearly 40 percent of those surveyed said theyd consider returning to their former company, according to the study from The Workforce Institute at Kronos Incorporated and WorkplaceTrends.com. Among those surveyed, 15 percent said they already had boomeranged back to an old employer at some point. kronos.com/pr/boomerang-employees-and-the-organizations-they-once-left.aspx Boomerangs may be onto something. Theyre already accustomed to the ins and outs of the company culture, technology and leadership. And perhaps their goal for leaving to earn a higher salary or develop a new skill has been achieved, and it feels like time to revisit the old stomping grounds. Intrigued? Well, there are several ways you can immerse yourself in this trend. Market yourself appropriately and, better yet, stra tegically position your career moves, so that returning to your former employer is the natural next step. Heres how. 1. Leave on good terms. The adage never burn your bridges couldnt be more true. You should always resign on a positive note. Resist the temptation to text your resignation and always give at least two weeks notice. And write thank you notes to your former boss and colleagues. Besides the fact that you may need to reach out to them as references in the future, you never know when you may cross paths with your colleagues especially under the same roof again. 2. Strive for impeccable performance reviews. When I worked in recruiting, former employees who applied to my jobs were always highly considered. Regardless of the employer, the common denominator welches always to give significant weight to boomerangs and put them at the top of the virtual pile. Why was this consistently the case? For starters, ramp-up time for boomerangs is significantly shorter than with ne w hires. Theyre already familiar with the internal workings of the company, from the culture to the time sheet system. That said, I mucksmuschenstill always looked into their performance reviews from their time at the company and, more importantly, to find out why they left. Were they terminated for poor performance? Or was their department eliminated? If anyone had a needs improvement rating on their record, they were an immediate no. So, during performance reviews, and upon exiting a company, find out whats going to be on your permanent record. Granted, theres not much you can do to change a needs improvement rating after the fact, but its always good to be knowledgeable about where you stand and make sure that records are 100 percent accurate before you leave. 3. Stay in touch. Its always smart to maintain your professional relationships, and its especially important to reach out if youre contemplating returning to your former employer. While youre enjoying lunch or coffee wi th them, dive deeper. Ask about ways the companys culture, leadership and values have changed and what growth looks like. Is it a happy environment to work in? Are there opportunities to grow? Figure out what youre looking for in a new employer and ask specific questions to determine whether theyre aligned with your priorities. Keep your original reason for leaving in mind. If you previously felt that the companys core values werent aligned with your own, but now it seems like things have changed, then by all means consider pursuing them. At the same time, just because certain things have changed doesnt mean that everyone at the company will share your beliefs. For instance, if your former horrible boss still works in the department youd be joining, or if compensation hasnt changed, and you previously felt underpaid, it might be better to simply stay away. 4. Showcase your knowledge about the company. Its not only likely that old colleagues will forward along job opportunities to you as soon as they hear about them theres a good chance theyll send your application directly to the hiring manager. When recruiters call you for the initial interview, be prepared for an alteration to the ubiquitous question, Why should we hire you? And of course, Why do you want to work here? You need to be prepared to convince them why they should rehire you and, of course, why you truly want to work there again. Yes, being a boomerang certainly boosts your chances of being a front-runner for that job, but dont solely rely on it during the process. You still need to ace it. Demonstrate how knowledgeable you are about the company. Dont be a know-it-all, but remind them how youre already ahead of the curve without saying, You know, Im a boomerang. I should get first preference. Its a show-dont-tell scenario show them that youre well-versed on company happenings by mentioning nuggets of information you found on their social media feeds, for example. Make it seem like you havent missed a beat in the time youve been gone, and youll boomerang back into familiar territory in no time.