Moving on without burning your bridges

Hyatt, of the human resources consulting firm CorVitrus, recommends being blunt about the possibility of returning to a previous employer. In fact, he says you should come right out and ask your supervisor when you offer your resignation if you'd be able to return after gaining more experience. He also suggests staying in touch with co-workers by mingling at professional events and inviting them out for casual coffees or lunches just to catch up.

That's what Chris Myers did when he left FedEx after three and a half years to work in marketing at BellSouth. He went from being a manager in corporate marketing at FedEx to regional marketing director at BellSouth. It meant more money and lots more responsibility.

When he brought the news to his supervisor, he explained that he could gain experience at BellSouth that he wasn't able to at FedEx, and that it was a good professional opportunity.

He stayed at FedEx for about six weeks to wrap up his business there. "I wanted the director of the department to have the opportunity to find the right person for the job," he says.

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Myers wasn't thrilled with the culture at BellSouth and he missed FedEx's focus on customer service. He kept in close contact with his former co-workers and they suggested he apply for a job since the business was expanding and there was lots of opportunity.

His job interview was with folks he had known at FedEx for years. When they asked why he left, he was honest. "I told them it was a good, local opportunity with good compensation," Myers says. "But I soon discovered the culture difference and their expectations weren't in line with mine."

He was hired back in another sector of business, retail marketing. It was a lateral move but he quickly moved up the ladder.

Hiring former employees back at FedEx is a company philosophy. Says Sally Davenport, a spokeswoman for the company: It takes a long time [about a year and a half] to acquaint someone with our kind of business [transportation]. If we have the opportunity to bring back a strong employee, it makes good business sense."

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