How long to wait before asking to move back

indianabones

I recently (6 weeks ago) started at a company where I was promised I would lead projects and work directly with client project managers. So far none of that has happened and it doesn't look like it'll change any time soon. The promises keep coming, but the work doesn’t.

I regret leaving my old company but not the job as I was repeating the same work and getting bored. I left my old company on very good terms and most of the upper management liked me as well. Unfortunately the exact area I was looking to move into (enterprise architecture) wasn’t recruiting, so looked externally.

I'd definitely like to move back to my old company but in a different role. I was a technical resource before , but I'd like to go back and have some form of an architect/project delivery role to add to that.

Is 6 weeks a bit too soon to approach the company CTO? Or should I wait a few months? My concern is that if I stay in my currently role, I won't have any meaningful projects to my name.

[Deleted User]

No I went back to a company at exactly 7 weeks out after I asked, sure they made me sweat it for a few days after I asked - strike while the iron is hot they say! if I were to remember the better times. Even though how it turned back out it's not something I regret.

indianabones

Deleted%20User wrote: »

No I went back to a company at exactly 7 weeks out after I asked, sure they made me sweat it for a few days after I asked - strike while the iron is hot they say! if I were to remember the better times. Even though how it turned back out it's not something I regret.

Did you go back to the same role or a different one?

xapprenticex

personally id be to embarrassed to return with my tail between my legs. Whatever works for you though.

Just prepare for the "Oh he's/she's" back attitude from the odd person and a bit of gossip or banter if you're lucky (sarcasm), all the trappings of adult environments......

sangie595

indianabones wrote: »

Did you go back to the same role or a different one?

I am not convinced this posters experience will help you. I believe they are temp admin staff with a very varied and short term empowerment record. So not exactly the same thing.

You are six weeks into a job. You haven't quite proven yourself yet! You want to lead, you need to prove you can follow first. Projects take time too gather steam, and if a project is important they may be unwilling to simply hand it over to an untested person whose entire history appears to consist of being impatient!!! So let's be clear. You were bored at the old job, going nowhere and not likely to. Going back will achieve what? Still bored, going nowhere and not likely to! So if the current job doesn't work out, you have lost what? On the other hand, as a potential employer, I'd be papered to consider you made one bad career move. But skipping about in weeks backwards and forwards, I'd think twice about employing someone who doesn't appear to know what to do!

gettingtheresometime

An ex is an ex for a reason.

indianabones

sangie595 wrote: »

I am not convinced this posters experience will help you. I believe they are temp admin staff with a very varied and short term empowerment record. So not exactly the same thing.

You are six weeks into a job. You haven't quite proven yourself yet! You want to lead, you need to prove you can follow first. Projects take time too gather steam, and if a project is important they may be unwilling to simply hand it over to an untested person whose entire history appears to consist of being impatient!!! So let's be clear. You were bored at the old job, going nowhere and not likely to. Going back will achieve what? Still bored, going nowhere and not likely to! So if the current job doesn't work out, you have lost what? On the other hand, as a potential employer, I'd be papered to consider you made one bad career move. But skipping about in weeks backwards and forwards, I'd think twice about employing someone who doesn't appear to know what to do!

Firstly thanks for taking the time to reply.


Secondly, I don't like how you've used the term "impatient", you know very little if anything at all about me. I was at my old company almost 7 years. They offered me a promotion twice in that time, but I declined as I prefer hands on work to managing people. I was loyal and I tried to move internally before looking externally.


"You were bored at the old job, going nowhere and not likely to." Far from the truth, they wanted me to take up either team leader role or for a tower service manager role. People do move up and they wanted me to, but the whole point of me leaving was I wanted to move into a different area altogether and not upwards in the same department.


"You haven't quite proven yourself yet! You want to lead, you need to prove you can follow first." What's with the exclamation marks? Well contrary to what you think. I was told both in my telephone and then face to face interview, they wanted me right in the thick of a large project. They said they'd want drop me in the deep end. Basically I was supposed to be one of three technical resources working on a large project. But instead one is leaving and the other has hinted he'll be leaving too. There are lots of factors when people make decisions. For the record, I've spent the last 6 weeks on YouTube.

indianabones

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

An ex is an ex for a reason.

Well I like my old company. I love it there and most of the people. Unfortunately the work had become stale and I needed a different challenge. Tried internally without luck, so hence ended up going externally.


If I could I would turn back the clock and still make the same decision, but definitely make a better choice as to where I decided to go.


I've asked the same question to some friends. They all think, I should go into contracting rather than staying put or returning.

TELLIT01

One potential problem if you did go back to your previous employer is that they may feel that whatever they do, or however they treat you, you won't leave again. That might count against you when future opportunities for promotion arise.
Only you can judge if that is a valid concern.

Ozzuk

If you go back to your old employer it's likely you'll be treated as new, i.e. no continuation of service. They might also take you back at a lower salary as you'll effectively be starting again (unless they really need your skills). All a guess of course.

If it was me I'd build up some savings in current role then go contracting - if you are in an area with roles (or can travel) and have marketable skills. Could be a good option for a few years, I enjoyed it.

sangie595

indianabones wrote: »

Firstly thanks for taking the time to reply.


Secondly, I don't like how you've used the term "impatient", you know very little if anything at all about me. I was at my old company almost 7 years. They offered me a promotion twice in that time, but I declined as I prefer hands on work to managing people. I was loyal and I tried to move internally before looking externally.


"You were bored at the old job, going nowhere and not likely to." Far from the truth, they wanted me to take up either team leader role or for a tower service manager role. People do move up and they wanted me to, but the whole point of me leaving was I wanted to move into a different area altogether and not upwards in the same department. Yes, but that wasn't available so you were going nowhere! You made it clear that what you wanted to do wouldn't happen with your former employer. So what I said was wholly accurate.


"You haven't quite proven yourself yet! You want to lead, you need to prove you can follow first." What's with the exclamation marks? You are six weeks in - that is unproven in anyones books. So you are expecting a lot to be done at the pace you want it to happen. Well contrary to what you think. I was told both in my telephone and then face to face interview, they wanted me right in the thick of a large project. They said they'd want drop me in the deep end. And perhaps their definition is different from yours? Or perhaps something has happened that you don't know about? Whatever, it is what it is. Six weeks on a job looks bad on a CV to many employers, whether you like that fact or not. And if you go back to the old employer all the same problems will still be there - assuming they will take you back at all. Basically I was supposed to be one of three technical resources working on a large project. But instead one is leaving and the other has hinted he'll be leaving too. There are lots of factors when people make decisions. For the record, I've spent the last 6 weeks on YouTube.

No, I don't need to know you. Neither will other employers know you! So their reactions could easily be the same as mine. You asked for opinions. But since you don't want objective opinions, I'll bow out and let you have only opinions that you like.