Agree to Work “boomerang” to Get More Money and Great Benefits
More American workers will quit their jobs in September 2021 than ever before , leading some scholars to speculate that “boomerang workers” (a cute name for “re-hiring”) will soon become much more common. Boomeraising is nothing new, especially in high turnover industries, and under the right circumstances, it is beneficial to everyone involved.
Unfortunately, finding useful information about the realities of hiring a boomerang is not easy. Many articles are aimed at employers, and those who fail to formulate a neutral-positive decision as shameful. The dominant narrative right now is that people who quit their jobs during The Great Retirement may regret their decision and want – no, ask – to get their jobs back.
“Expect boomerangs amid labor shortages,” warns Business Insider on a subscription-blocked blog . CNBC puts it a little differently : “Why are all your fired colleagues going to return as boomerang employees.”
These headlines skew the big picture. There were 10.5 million job openings, 6.5 million people and 6.2 million layoffs in September 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). We do not know how many employees were re-hired (or who initiated them) because BLS does not publish these numbers. But we know how many people quit smoking: 4.4 million, accounting for 71% of the total number of divisions and a historically high 3% of the total employed.
Low-wage, high-stress industries such as food service, retail and hospitality have the highest quitting rates – and most job openings. Basically, millions of people quit their shitty jobs, and because employers refuse to make them less shitty, there is no one.
Boomerang is one way to turn a potentially shitty job into a decent (or at least less shitty) job. Returning candidates are “known quantities”, which gives them a better position from which to claim higher pay, benefits, schedules and responsibilities; and given the current job market, employers are more likely to agree. Here’s why and how to use it to your advantage.
Boomerangs are cheaper and easier than hiring new employees
Hiring someone who is already familiar with both the company and its specific role is very beneficial for employers. Current recruitment methods are complex, unnecessarily protracted, and very expensive ; In addition, they often fail to identify good candidates. When they do, new hires are often expected to meet unrealistically high expectations for productivity with little on-the-job training. This is a recipe for exhaustion that, of course, starts the whole expensive cycle all over again.
From an employer’s point of view, boomerang candidates are cheaper and more reliable than new hires, which is ideal in principle. Companies can expedite the interview, review and training process without exposing themselves to any of the risks involved. If you are considering returning to an old company, hiring you instead of a newbie will save them money – so keep that in mind when it comes time to negotiate.
Consider your circumstances (and negotiate accordingly)
Most people will not go back to jobs they hate willingly; If you’re already thinking about going boomerang, it’s fair to assume that you are on good terms with your old company. You are also likely familiar with the common patterns of new jobs, such as culture, what your new role will entail day-to-day work, and perhaps even what your future manager looks like. This gives you more time to focus on why you want the job and what is right for you, which can give you serious leverage in negotiations.
Before deciding on a salary range, think about your situation: why did you leave? How did it go for you and the company? What have you done since then? How long have they tried to fill this role? And most importantly, who initiated the second hiring conversation? Your position depends on all of these answers. The better you leave things the first time, the stronger the argument for getting you back on board will be. If during this time you have acquired new skills and expanded your responsibilities, even better; if the job has been open for a long time and they approached you , consider it a go-go go-go.
Bottom line: depending on your situation, returning to your previous employer may be an opportunity to improve your working conditions. Anything you want from a new job in an old workplace – more money; more beautiful office; full-time remote work; No more branch shifts, never again, for any reason – don’t be afraid to ask for it. You may be pleasantly surprised at what they have to say.