What Should I Say to My Ex-Employer?

A couple of months ago, needing a job (still do, but that’s another matter), I found out that one of my ex-employers was hiring through a temp service. So I went down to the temp agency, got a job working at my ex-employer as a temp, and was told by management and HR that I “didn’t have a thing to worry about” in regards to getting hired back on. They lay-off all the temps with the promise that we’ll get interviews, a month later, I get an interview, which is more like a cattle call than an interview. Today, I get a form letter telling me I didn’t make the grade.

Quite frankly, that’s bogus. Before I left my employer (on good terms), there was no one with a higher productivity level than the team I led. Additionally, I was given more awards for suggestions improving the company than anyone else. When I returned as a temp for my employer, I required no lengthy retraining, indeed, I was training new temps on my first day back, and pointing out to managers when incorrect proceedures were being used. This is after being gone for over eighteen months! (My damn password and ID’s still worked in their systems!)

So, I’d like to drop them a note which expresses my feelings on the matter, but doesn’t torpedo the possibility of them realizing that they made a mistake in not taking me back. Any suggestions?

Just to clarify: Why did you stop working for them the first time around?

Well, when I left them, we were getting very few hours and I was going to be walking into a job that paid the same amount of money and I was going to be working at least 40 hours a week. Thanks to 9/11, I got laid off from that job.

Tough spot. I’d suggest that if you decide to write a letter, don’t write a letter about your feelings. Share your feelings with friends, family, here, etc. But the letter should be as devoid of emotions as possible. It should be a clear statement of your strengths and contributions to the company, just as you outlined in the OP. You might request an interview to discuss the situation more fully. You’re obviously smart enough to avoid backing them into a corner. It sounds like a challenge, but do-able. Good luck.

If I were you I wouldn’t write a letter at all.

From what you have described I highly doubt you are going to get hired back on with that company. My Dad taught me a rule long ago, “If you quit a job you quit that job forever. You will never get it back.” The reason for this is simple. By quiting the first time you showed the company no loyalty. Companies will not re-hire people who have been disloyal to the company. When a company hires and trains a person it costs alot of money. If that person leaves then the company lost some of the training money. At the same time a person who left the company has a track record for leaving the company. ‘Once bitten twice shy’ sums it up nicely.

Slee

Good luck on your job hunt.

Uh, slee, you have no idea how nonexistant the job market in this area is. I’ve literally had three sure-bet jobs evaporate before I even got them within a week. Nor does my current financial status permit me to survive for much longer without a better job than the one I currently have now. My ex-employer is about the only company hiring in this area at the moment for jobs which I’m even remotely qualified to do. I’m going for broke on this one.

Maybe I am an exception to Daddy’s rule because I have been offered jobs back (with more pay).

To answer the OP, if I wrote a letter it would briefly thank them for their time and ask them to keep me informed if a new opportunity arises.

For starters, you should write to specific people who would remember you, rather than to the human resources department.

This is a good idea when applying for any job.

Me, too. And I’ve taken them–at higher responsibility levels than I had held previously.

Is there anyone you know in the company that might be able to “champion your cause”?

Good luck.

[hijack]I have a few choice words for my ex-employer.[/hijack]