Seahawks fans are all buzzing about the latest headlining news in Seattle sports- the return of Marshawn Lynch. After leaving Seattle years ago, he is back and ready to give Seahawks fans what they want- a winning season. Although not the strangest thing to happen in professional football, Marshawn’s career still isn’t a typical tale. As more articles come out regarding this unlikely return, I have been asking myself if it is truly possible to return after you have left a team.

While reflecting on this question, my thoughts wandered from the Seahawks team to the team that we collaborate with day in and day out in the workplace; leading me to this question:

Should you return to a company after you have left?

Upon further reflection, I came to the conclusion that the answer is completely dependent upon an individual’s unique experience. Simply put, there is no clear answer. What I can say is that for those who are considering boomeranging back to a company, it is important to know the pros and cons that you may experience if you go back.

Pros:

  • If you are thinking of returning to a company that you previously worked for, you can rest assured that you will be bringing something new to the team. During your time away, you were developing skills that you may not have had the opportunity to refine before, and are now bringing a better, more well-rounded, version of yourself back to the team.
  • There is a certain amount of ease coming back to a company. Instead of entering an entirely new company and being “the new guy/girl”,  you already know the lay of the land and that familiarity can be downright comforting during a transition that would otherwise be stress inducing.
  • Coming back after taking time away can give you a whole new appreciation for the company. Maybe the grass wasn’t greener, and you will find more satisfaction in your time with the company moving forward.

Cons:

  • One obvious con of accepting a job offer with a company that you previously worked for is that the reasons for your departure may still be there. If you are considering returning, make sure that those details are ironed out before you accept an offer. If the issue or issues are still relevant, consider moving on in a different direction with your job search.
  • Teams grow, mature, and have the tendency to move on over time. Simply put- you may not be returning to the same company or team that you worked with in the past, making it necessary to manage your expectations of what your return will really look like. 
  • Trust is an important aspect of any team, and one that may have been lost when you originally left the company. Leaving a team, only to return later, may not sit well with your teammates and your commitment will likely be scrutinized and questioned. Over time, you can build that level of trust back up, but chances are that it will be an uphill battle.
  • Unlike the expectations that are placed on a new employee, the expectations that are placed on a returning employee are much higher. There is little room for excuses when you return to a team.

It is important to acknowledge that every individual’s experience is different and there is no clear right or wrong when it comes to deciding if you should return to a company- just make sure that you reflect on the pros and cons before you accept any job offers. In fact, making your own personal pros and cons list can help you to make the right career move. For now, we are just hoping that Marshawn’s pros outweigh the cons!