Would you go back to an old job?

[laurakate]

Question as above. There are lots of pages online about this referring to general situations but I would like to know how people in the hair/beauty/nails industry feel about this.

The job I am thinking about is one in the beauty industry where I left for some very certain and established reasons based on how I was feeling at the time. That said I have some nostalgia for the job and I miss the income...it was rubbish pay per hour but those hours were nearly always available.

I would consider going back to this job for a period of time because they are always recruiting and I was told that I would be welcome back when I left. If I was to apply for this job, by the time I choose to do that I would have been away for about a year. One of my main reasons for leaving was because I felt I was stagnating and being overlooked for opportunities but since leaving there I have addressed those concerns (by creating my own opportunities) so I would no longer have that insecurity if I went back to that job. In some ways it was overly political there and the who's mates with who business used to really wind me up because it was very prominent there but I'm thinking that's everywhere to a point.

There were some procedures and practices that I passionately disagreed with at the time and I suspect that they would still be in place upon my return but I also know that I could do a lot worse as far as this industry goes (not to be cynical but yeah).

So yeah, in summary there were some things about that job that I really didn't like but there are also some things that I have good memories of and when I think of the money, doing a stint there could give me that financial bolster I need to keep things flowing better and hopefully longer with my self employed venture if business is slow (and yes, they would probably be fine with that because they are a big company).

I've gone into a fair bit of detail here to try and give some context but either way I would really appreciate your opinions folks. When I left my boss told me that I was welcome to ask for a job back there and I didn't have to fear never having a job to go back to which was really touching at the time and I hope that that is still the case.

Opinions please!

Edit: I've been thinking about this for a while now and every now and then I look at their website *my sad*! lol

 

[w1nnie]

Are you resenting the fact that you gave it up to do this difficult venture ?

I was kicking myself when I gave up my old job, because getting a home salon off the ground is not easy. But I had no choice but to go forward and make it work. It took a couple of years before i was 'flying' with it and 10 years on now and I'm so glad I persevered because I would not want to do anything else but what I'm doing now.

 

[laurakate]

Are you resenting the fact that you gave it up to do this difficult venture ?

I was kicking myself when I gave up my old job, because getting a home salon off the ground is not easy. But I had no choice but to go forward and make it work. It took a couple of years before i was 'flying' with it and 10 years on now and I'm so glad I persevered because I would not want to do anything else but what I'm doing now.

I'm so glad when I left when I did because I needed out to explore other things and to become more versatile and better trained. So from a career and mental health perspective I don't even slightly regret leaving when I did. I'm just thinking that that's where the money is which is ironic but yeah....so that's why I want to go back in the short term in order to earn money to fund further courses and living expenses as a self employed person.

 

[w1nnie]

The money would be useful for the courses etc, but on the otherhand would it be stressful perhaps to try and do both the job and set up by yourself ? but plenty of people do just that, but you would be going back to something you were not entirely happy with.

 

[WilsonBarberCo]

If you're absolutely sure that you're not just feeling nostalgic about this job, and you've got a practical hat on, then I don't see why you shouldn't go back, as long as you've learned lessons from last time.

Sounds like you need to remember to stand up for yourself and not take any sh*t or get involved in anyone else's rubbish either.

I've absolutely been in this situation and for me, I decided that it would be bad to go back because I know the things that were negatives would still wind me up

Good luck in your decision!

 

[laurakate]

If you're absolutely sure that you're not just feeling nostalgic about this job, and you've got a practical hat on, then I don't see why you shouldn't go back, as long as you've learned lessons from last time.

Sounds like you need to remember to stand up for yourself and not take any sh*t or get involved in anyone else's rubbish either.

I've absolutely been in this situation and for me, I decided that it would be bad to go back because I know the things that were negatives would still wind me up

Good luck in your decision!

Thanks I agree with what you say about the standing up for myself. In many employed roles one of the key reasons I've left is because I reach a point where I'd rather remove myself from a situation than feel like I've got to fight tooth and nail for the most basic things because I just reach a point where I think the energy it takes to fight my corner is not even proportionate to what I'm asking for anymore. When you put it that way, I think my reasons for leaving were bang on justified at the time.

Fast forward to now though and I've learnt that it's not worth getting involved in the politics and taking things too personally because it just gets to be more stress than it's worth. That's why I'm hoping that I can go in for a short stint, earn as much money as I can in that time and then leave without too much trouble. I would look forward to going back there but I would see it for what it was as well kind of thing. Hmm...

 

[Cholo]

You asked whether we / I would ever go back to a job? Absolutely not. I'd never go backwards. I've actually been in this situation. I was asked to go back to a Directors job, not long after I became self employed. I said no.
That first year I earned less than 25% of what would have been my salary. Do I regret it? No. I made other opportunities and it paid off in year 2.

Should you go back? Can you afford not to? If you do, do you think you can work there without similar things (and dynamics) winding you up? If there's a chance it would affect your mental health, I'd probably be cautious. If you know it's to serve a particular purpose then just maybe you'll feel differently.

 

[Nicolahayley]

I personally wouldn't ever go back to an old job. I don't ever think you should burn your bridges. But I don't think bridges should ever be crossed again. Otherwise there's no moving forwards.
You may think right now the money would be a big help to you. But maybe a couple of months in when you see there is no change and things are the same as before you may just start to feel the resentment and the upset you felt before you left the last time. And as already mentioned... If you long to set up your own business you may not ur your heart and soul into it because your working all the time making someone else's business a success.
I just feel you may get used to the regular income, fall back into the old routine and then keep putting off your own venture to start your business.



Nicola! Xxx

 

[KHS]

Reading between the lines and your justifications for leaving the 1st time and why they would be different this time, I think you've already made your mind up to go back.
Firstly, you left on a good note with your old boss, how would she feel if you suddenly left again after a short time?
Secondly, all the same reasons you left before will still be there and reminding you why you left in the 1st place
If self employment was easy everyone would do it, it takes drive and guts to do it, don't just go back for an easy money option and regret it leaving you feeling miserable again.
Good luck, I hope you make the tight decision, whatever it may be

 

[laurakate]

Reading between the lines and your justifications for leaving the 1st time and why they would be different this time, I think you've already made your mind up to go back.
Firstly, you left on a good note with your old boss, how would she feel if you suddenly left again after a short time?
Secondly, all the same reasons you left before will still be there and reminding you why you left in the 1st place
If self employment was easy everyone would do it, it takes drive and guts to do it, don't just go back for an easy money option and regret it leaving you feeling miserable again.
Good luck, I hope you make the tight decision, whatever it may be

Thanks when you put it that way I guess the only thing I have to lose is things going sour for whatever reason and me reducing the chances of a good reference for a job where in my initial stint there, I was there for a fair chunk of my career to date. Overall it is quite a short term job with lots of staff turnover and that probably tells a story unless most industry jobs are like that? (all the ones I've had have been!)

 

[Nicolahayley]

Thanks when you put it that way I guess the only thing I have to lose is things going sour for whatever reason and me reducing the chances of a good reference for a job where in my initial stint there, I was there for a fair chunk of my career to date. Overall it is quite a short term job with lots of staff turnover and that probably tells a story unless most industry jobs are like that? (all the ones I've had have been!)

I think all the big spas are pretty much like that. With high staff turnover. And I'm not being rude here, but I will be. And it's because usually the larger the business the more the employees are nothing but a number to them. They don't care how many hours you work, whst time off you have, when you need days off, if you need annual leave. They don't care as long as they have got staff working their back sides off for peanuts!
I laughed when everyone told me what working in a spa was like. I thought no way a big compsny like that they will be sure to appreciate you.... No. You work like your on a conveyor belt. There's nothing luxurious about working in a spa. It gets you bloody good experience behind you,, but no it'd ever sticks it cos you get no breaks, it's long hours, constant hard work.
As you know from personal messages I've got my own salon. And it's only now that I can really appreciate myself and my own work. And it's a wonderful thing to get able to build up a reputation under my own name. Not work your absolute hardest and the spa/salon getting all the credit.
But I agree... If building up and owning your own business was easy everyone would be doing it. It takes time, effort a bit of worry but most of all it takes courage. It's not a walk in the park. But my goodness it's the best thing ever.


Nicola! Xxx