Latest / The Resume Room with Fexingo: Resume Writing, Cover Letters, and Application Strategy / How to Explain a Return to a Former Employer on Your Resume
Transcript
- Lucas: You leave a job. You try something new. It doesn't quite work out. And your old employer is willing to take you back. If that's happened to you, you're not alone — it's called a boomerang employee, and it's surprisingly common. But how do you write a resume that tells that story without making it look like a failure or a sign of indecision? Luna: I think a lot of people worry that a return to a former employer reads as 'I couldn't hack it elsewhere.' Or that they'll look like they're not committed. How do you actually frame that? Lucas: Right — and the instinct many have is to try to hide the departure or the return, or to list the two stints as separate jobs without explaining the relationship. But that actually creates more confusion. A recruiter sees two entries at the same company, maybe non-consecutive years, and they start asking questions you'd rather preempt. Luna: So you're saying it's better to be upfront? Lucas: Exactly. But upfront doesn't mean apologetic. The key is to frame your departure and return as a deliberate, strategic evolution — not a zigzag. Let me give you a concrete example. Say you're a marketing manager at a mid-size B2B company. You leave after three years to join a startup as a marketing director. The startup environment turns out to be very different from what you expected — maybe the funding fell through, the culture was chaotic, or the role wasn't what was promised. After a year, your old company offers you a senior marketing manager role with more responsibility. You take it. Luna: So how does that appear on the resume? Do you list the startup separately, or combine everything under one company? Lucas: You list them separately but you add context. Under the startup, you include the title and dates, and you focus on what you accomplished there — even if it was short. Then under your original company, you list two separate stints, but you can label them as 'First Tenure' and 'Second Tenure' or just list the dates for each period. The important thing is the narrative in your bullet points and, more critically, in your cover letter or summary section. Luna: So the cover letter is where you actually explain the return? Lucas: Yes. Or in a short note at the top of your resume if you're using a summary. The phrasing matters. You don't say 'I left because the startup was failing.' You say something like, 'After gaining valuable experience scaling marketing at a high-growth startup, I recognized that my long-term strengths align best with a mature organization where I can drive impact across a broader portfolio.' Then you tie it back: 'When my former company offered the chance to return in a more senior role, it was a natural fit.' Luna: That makes it sound like the departure was for growth, not escape. And the return is a recognition of mutual fit. I like that. Lucas: Exactly. And you can reinforce that in the bullet points. For the first stint, emphasize the foundation you built. For the temporary role at the startup, highlight specific skills or achievements that you brought back. And for the second stint, show how you leveraged both experiences to deliver even better results. Luna: What about dates? If there's a gap between the first stint end and second stint start — say you were at the startup for a year and there's a month between leaving the startup and returning — do you account for that? Lucas: A month is not a gap that needs explaining. If it's longer — say six months or a year — you may want to include a line like 'Transition period' or simply list it as a period of job search or consulting. But honestly, with a boomerang return, recruiters are usually more focused on the continuity of your career arc than on a small gap. Luna: What about LinkedIn? Do you consolidate the two stints into one position with a note, or keep them separate? Lucas: LinkedIn is a bit different because the platform doesn't handle non-consecutive stints well. Most people keep them separate but note 'Returned to company in ' in the description. Or some use the 'position' field to write 'Marketing Manager ' and then later a second entry. The key is consistency — make sure your resume and LinkedIn tell the same story. Luna: And if you're worried the recruiter might think you were fired from the first role and rehired later? That seems like a common fear. Lucas: It is a fear, but it's unlikely if your resume shows a separate role between the two stints. If you went directly from the company to somewhere else and then came back, it's clear you left on good terms. The only red flag is if you left and returned within a very short period — like a few months — without a clear reason. That might suggest you left impulsively or had performance issues. But even then, it's rare. Luna: So bottom line: treat the entire journey as one career story with a deliberate detour that added skills. That feels honest and confident. Lucas: That's exactly it. And I think that's actually a powerful narrative. It shows you're self-aware, you took a calculated risk, and you chose to return to a place where you could make the biggest impact. In many ways, boomerang employees are more valuable because they bring outside perspective back into the organization. Luna: You know, hearing this makes me realize how much of resume writing is really about storytelling. And I think that's why this show is so helpful — we're not just teaching people to list facts, we're helping them craft a narrative. It's pretty rewarding. Lucas: That's actually a great point. And it's the reason we keep this podcast ad-free — because we believe career advice should be straightforward and accessible, not buried under sponsorships or sales pitches. If you find value in these conversations and want to support keeping them that way, you can do so at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Every contribution helps us stay independent and focused on what matters: helping you tell your best professional story. Luna: Yeah, even a small gesture goes a long way. And it keeps the show free for everyone who needs it. So thanks for considering that. Lucas: Alright, back to the resume. One more thing I want to address about boomerang moves: how to handle the compensation question. If you left for a higher title at the startup and returned to a lower base but with equity or better growth prospects, you might be tempted to inflate the title on your resume. Don't. Be accurate. Recruiters can verify, and a dishonest title can kill an offer. Luna: So keep the actual title, but frame the responsibilities in a way that shows progression. Lucas: Exactly. For example, if you were a 'Marketing Manager' at the old company, then 'Director of Marketing' at the startup, and then 'Senior Marketing Manager' when you return — that's fine. It shows you had a director-level role, even if only for a year, and then stepped into a senior individual contributor role that actually leverages that leadership experience. Luna: And what if the return was to a lower level than you left? Like you were a manager, left for a director role, and came back as an individual contributor? Lucas: That's trickier, but still workable. You'd want to emphasize that you valued the company culture and the opportunity to work on a specific product or team. And you'd frame the IC role as a strategic choice — maybe you wanted to get back to hands-on work. Use bullet points that show impact, not just scope. Numbers help: 'Generated $2M in pipeline' matters more than 'Managed a team of 5'. Luna: I think a lot of people worry that a step down in title signals a failure. But the truth is, the best career moves aren't always upward in title — sometimes they're about fit or happiness. Lucas: Absolutely. And a resume that reflects that kind of decision-making shows maturity. So don't be afraid to tell that story. The key is consistency, confidence, and clarity. And if you're applying to companies that value loyalty and institutional knowledge, a boomerang can actually be a huge plus. Luna: Any final tips for someone writing their resume after a boomerang? Lucas: Yes: update your LinkedIn summary to reflect the narrative. Use a headline like 'Marketing Leader | Returning to with Expanded Expertise'. And in interviews, when they ask why you left and came back, have a two-minute story ready that starts with the growth opportunity, acknowledges the learning, and pivots to why you chose to return. That story is your resume brought to life. Luna: Sounds like a solid plan. Thanks, Lucas. Lucas: Thanks, Luna. And to our listeners: if you've boomeranged or are considering it, we hope this helps you frame your story with confidence. See you next time.