I was laid off and now they’re offering my position back. What would you do?

I worked at a company for about 4 years after graduating college, and I was laid off about 2 months ago. I have had several interviews and gaining traction with other companies and feel like I have good opportunities coming, but haven’t landed another job yet and am awaiting answers from a few.

My predicament is that the previous employer came to me about a week ago and offered me my position back. At first I ignored their calls, but then they flat out offered me a position without speaking to me. From my understanding, I will lose my unemployment if I refuse to take the position and I called the unemployment office and they confirmed this. I am not the biggest fan of this company, I don’t like their management style and lost a lot of trust in them and overall feel like they are not advancing my career. I have an emergency fund it could essentially last a year, but I do hate to see it being drained. I do admit I could spend less. I hate the thought of having zero income coming in at all, I hate the thought that their careless decisions are impacting my career path. I could always get a position outside of my industry in the meantime and have considered it.

I could take the position and continue job seeking while there and hope for something better to come soon, or later and I know eventually it will. Or I could decline the position and lose my unemployment and hope something comes sooner and not deal with the stress of being somewhere that I don’t think I can make the best of anymore.

What would you do if you were in my position?

Edit: I also asked them for a salary increase and a starting bonus to make up for money lost between my lay off and now today (I only got two weeks severance) and was promptly told no.

Jobadvisor

This is a tough spot to be in, and it's understandable why you're feeling conflicted. Let's break down the pros and cons of each option, and then I'll tell you what I would lean towards if I were in your shoes.

Option 1: Take the Position Back

Pros:

• Immediate Income: This is the biggest advantage. You stop draining your emergency fund, and you have a steady paycheck coming in again.
• Continue Job Searching from a Position of Strength: It's often easier to find a new job when you're currently employed. You won't have the pressure of needing to find a job right now, and you can be more selective about the opportunities you pursue.
• Maintain Skills/Experience: You'll continue to gain relevant work experience in your field, which is valuable.
• Less Financial Stress: Knowing income is coming in can significantly reduce stress and improve your mental well-being.
• Unemployment Benefits: You don't lose your unemployment benefits (though they would cease as you're employed).

Cons:

• Unhappiness/Disengagement: You've clearly stated you don't like the company's management style, lost trust, and feel they aren't advancing your career. Going back could lead to a very unhappy work environment.
• Distraction from Job Search: While you can job search while employed, it can be more challenging to dedicate the necessary time and energy, especially if you're unhappy at your current role.
• Burnout: Juggling a job you dislike with an active job search can be exhausting and lead to burnout.
• Perception (Internal): There might be an internal perception within the company that you were "easy to get back," which could impact future opportunities or how you're viewed.
• No Salary Increase/Bonus: They've already shut down your requests for better compensation, which is a red flag about their willingness to value you.

Option 2: Decline the Position and Continue Job Searching

Pros:

• Freedom to Focus: You can dedicate all your time and energy to finding a job you truly want.
• Avoid Unhappiness: You won't have to deal with a work environment that you dislike and where you've lost trust.
• Control Your Career Path: You maintain control over your next career move, ensuring it aligns with your long-term goals.
• No "Going Backwards" Feeling: You avoid the feeling of having to return to a situation you'd rather leave behind.

Cons:

• Loss of Unemployment Benefits: This is a significant financial hit. You'd be relying solely on your emergency fund.
• Continued Financial Strain: Your emergency fund will continue to drain, which can be a source of anxiety.
• Pressure to Find a Job Quickly: The financial pressure will be intense, which might lead you to take a less-than-ideal job just to stop the bleeding.
• Gap on Resume (Potentially): If your job search extends, the gap on your resume might become a talking point in future interviews (though it's becoming more accepted, especially post-layoff).

What I Would Do (and Why):

Given your situation, I would lean towards taking the position back with a very clear and disciplined plan to continue aggressively job searching.

Here's why:

1. Financial Security is Paramount (Currently): While you have an emergency fund, it's designed for emergencies, not for extended periods of no income due to a choice. Draining it significantly for a principle, especially when you have a direct offer to stop the drain, is a tough pill to swallow. The stress of watching that fund diminish can be incredibly detrimental to your mental health and interview performance.
2. Strength in the Job Market: As mentioned, being currently employed generally makes you a more attractive candidate. It removes any questions about why you're not working and gives you leverage to be pickier. You can also negotiate better when you're not desperate.
3. Time is Your Friend: Taking the job back buys you time. Time to find the right next opportunity, not just any opportunity. You can afford to wait for those "good opportunities coming" to materialize.
4. Minimizing Regret: If you decline and your job search drags on for another 3-6 months (which is not uncommon), you'll likely regret losing those unemployment benefits and the income. If you take the job and find something better in a month, great! You've minimized the financial impact.
5. "Temporary" Mindset: You know this isn't your forever job. Go in with the mindset that it's a temporary stopgap. This can help you detach emotionally from the negative aspects and focus solely on your ultimate goal.

How to Make It Work if You Take the Position Back:

• Set Clear Boundaries: Do not let the dissatisfaction bleed into your job search. Treat your current job as a means to an end.
• Dedicate Job Search Time: Schedule specific times each day or week for job applications, networking, and interview prep. Treat it like a second job.
• Leverage Your Network: Quietly let your network know you're open to new opportunities.
• Don't Burn Bridges (Yet): Maintain professionalism even if you're unhappy. You never know when you might need a reference or cross paths with someone again.
• Practice Self-Care: If you're feeling stressed, ensure you're managing it effectively through exercise, hobbies, or whatever helps you decompress.
• Be Strategic with Time Off: Use vacation days for interviews or to recharge, not just to escape a bad work environment.
• Don't Disclose Your Search: Keep your job search private from your current employer.

Regarding the Salary/Bonus Rejection:

This is important information. It confirms that they're not willing to go above and beyond for you, which reinforces your initial feelings about their value of you. Use this as further motivation to find a company that will appreciate and compensate you fairly.

Ultimately, this is a personal decision. But from a strategic and financial perspective, returning to the known (even if disliked) quantity while actively working towards a better future seems like the more prudent path in your situation. Good luck!