Rehiring boomerang employees seems like a great idea. Given their familiarity with your organizations, these rehires come with inherent advantages. They typically require a shorter interview process and less onboarding, making them more likely to hit the ground running and contribute from day one. They also bring an outside perspective from other workplaces that could improve your organization’s processes.
But there are additional things to consider. Both your organization and the employee have changed during their time away – is the employee capable and willing to adjust?
Rather than relying purely on recall to make judgement about potential future fit, look at prior data and actions from the potential boomerang employee. Quantum Workplace’s toolset allows you to look back in time to assess the potential of a boomerang employee and whether it makes sense to rehire them or look in a different direction.
Revisit the Exit survey.
How graceful was their exit from the company? Did you part on good terms or was it a painful process? Did they leave valuable recommendations that the company acted on?
Utilize Feedback to look forward and backward.
Forward: Ask the employee about future goals to gauge their growth since the departure. Chances are, boomerang employees aren’t applying for their former job. They’re likely looking for a new opportunity or promotion. Try to assess their skills and what they learned during their time away. If possible, contact the previous boss and learn how the employee has grown.
Backward: Some employees mix like oil and water. If the boomerang employee routinely butted heads with someone still in the organization, decide if they can coexist or if the partnership will cause problems. Perhaps the time apart will allow them to bury the hatchet and move on from previous grievances. Comments from former coworkers can shed light onto how enjoyable or difficult it was to work with the boomerang employee.
Recall previous Recognition.
Peer recognition is a great way to determine a boomerang employee’s potential. Did their teammates routinely recognize them for strong work? If not, the employee likely submitted average work or had poor relationships with coworkers.
Examine prior Goals.
How did the employee perform on prior goals and tasks? Did they typically reach their benchmarks on time? The number and difficulty of those goals can uncover how ambitious the employee was and how likely they are to make an impact.