Returning to a company you used to work for can be a smart career move. But don’t assume you will pick up right where you left off. Reset expectations — both yours and others’. Demonstrate that you’ve grown, and establish yourself as a more senior person in the organization by humbly highlighting what you achieved and learned while you were away. You might need to project maturity by being a bit formal and reserved in your initial reactions; colleagues will want to see that you’ve evolved. And don’t assume the company has stayed the same since you left. Power has shifted, people have come and gone, and your colleagues have grown too. Acknowledge that the context has changed, and learn the new lay of the land.
Adapted from "What to Do When You're Returning to a Company You Used to Work For," by Rebecca Knight
