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Boomeranging is Back
Bob Weinstein is a journalist who covers technology, project management, the workplace and career development.
In 2004, boomeranging was a hot new concept. I wrote a story about it for gantthead readers. As Bob Dylan wrote in 1964, "The Times They Are A-Changin'", and it's time to revisit the subject again. You never know, it just may open up some unexpected doors…
Following the dot-com bust years, employers were so desperate for talented and experienced workers, they started hiring former employees. While it made sense at the time, the whole idea of returning to a former employer seemed like an uncomfortable move from both perspectives. Why would an employer consider hiring back an employee who jumped ship, most always for a better job? Similarly, how could an employee pocket his pride and return to a company he left for greener pastures?
I've changed my mind. When you put aside all the ego-pride stuff, boomeranging made perfectly good sense then, and it makes even more sense now. And the big reason is that nothing remains the same. People and companies change. So let's not be so hard on ourselves and our institutions.
You're not the same person you were five or 10 years ago. Hopefully, you've learned a few things; maybe you're wiser, smarter, more open-minded and humble. On the career front, you're probably a lot better at your job.
Companies? If they don't change and grow, they go out of business. Products and services are improved, and new ones are offered. In many …
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