🔄 Boomerang Jobs

Also: Career clarity template, maximizing your L&D potential + more work tea...

October 06, 2026

Hello, hello, Working Pros! 🤓 Have you heard? Amazon is reportedly looking to bring some former workers back—and it’s part of the bigger “boomerang” hiring trend. So, is your old company really your ex… or a future employer?

On the agenda:

🔄 Boomerang jobs

🧠 Career clarity [template]

📚 Human-balanced AI in L&D

📝 Editing PDF résumés safely

◉ WEEKLY GOODY
Career Clarity [template] — uncover what drives you, spot what’s missing, and reveal the insights you need for a clearer next step.
Only available to subscribers

◉ IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The Boomerang Job: Should You Go Back To Your Old Company?

Hey, career explorers! What if your next opportunity is with a company you already know? A recent Revelio Labs analysis found that former employees made up 3.4％ of U.S. new hires by the end of 2025, up from 3.1％ two years earlier. Boomerang hiring is gaining momentum—and it could be worth considering if you left on good terms.

Who makes a good boomerang candidate? — Generally, you’re in a stronger position if you left voluntarily, maintained good relationships, performed well, and gained useful experience elsewhere. Even better if the company—or your former manager—has stayed in touch.

Thinking about going back? Here’s how to do it:

Figure out what changed. Before reaching out, find out whether the role, leadership, culture, and compensation have improved since you left.
Start with your network. Reconnect with a former manager or trusted colleague before submitting a cold application. A warm conversation can reveal opportunities that aren't publicly posted.
Show what you gained. Don't pitch yourself as the person who left. Highlight the skills, achievements, and perspective you've picked up since.
Don't assume you'll be given your old package. A return is a new negotiation. Research the market and consider whether your current experience warrants a higher salary, title, or responsibilities.
Remember why you left. If burnout, poor management, or limited growth drove you out, make sure the underlying problem has really changed.

A familiar workplace can be a faster runway—but don't romanticize the comeback. Find out how you can contribute as a promising re-hire and see if the new culture will suit you.

👉 More about boomerang jobs »

◉ TOGETHER WITH - iSpring

The Human Side of AI

AI can generate, analyze, and automate, but L&D is ultimately about people. Join us for iSpring AI Days on October 28th, a free online conference exploring how to use AI to expand what L&D professionals can do without losing the creativity, judgment, empathy, and expertise that make learning experiences truly meaningful. 

◉ TODAY’S TASK
Refresh Your Career Backup Plan 🔎 — Update your résumé, LinkedIn profile, and document the problems you’ve solved lately. A slow job market is a good reason to prepare—not panic.

◉ SPEEDY SURVEY - Latest community poll

What would make you consider a boomerang job?

LAST WEEK’S POLL:

See our guide to The Basics of Professional Networking »

◉ THE CAREER SIGNAL

“Business skills are hiding in almost every job posting.”

Business-operations skills appeared in more than 70％ of U.S. job postings analyzed by Indeed, making them more widespread than any other broad skill category.

→ Your key takeaway: If you're unsure what skill to build next, learn how the business you’re in works—budgeting, project management, process improvement, analysis, or operations can travel surprisingly well between jobs.

◉ THE WORK PULSE - Headlines to take note of

🤖 Amazon’s AI Spies — The Real News

What’s unfolding: Amazon is reportedly using AI to analyze worker data and predict potential organizing activity.
Why it matters: Workplace AI may extend beyond productivity into employee monitoring. Know what data your employer collects and how it’s used.

🌱 Wellbeing Up, Financial Worries Persist — BusinessWire

What’s unfolding: Alight’s 2026 study finds employee wellbeing improving, but many workers remain worried about savings and healthcare expenses.
Why it matters: AFinancial stress can influence career decisions. Review your benefits and financial safety net before making a move.

🧭 AI May Force 11M Job Changes — Moneycontrol

What’s unfolding: McKinsey estimates about 11M U.S. workers may need to switch occupations by 2035 as AI reshapes demand.
Why it matters: The bigger risk may be skills gaps. Start building AI-complementary skills before your role changes.

◉ TOOL TO TRY

Meet the tool: Gamma

What it does: Generates polished presentations, documents, and webpages from simple prompts.
Who should care: Sales, HR, marketing, operations, managers, and client-facing professionals.
Time to learn: Under an hour.

Need to Update Your PDF Résumé? Don’t Let the Formatting Break

Need to change your job title, contact details, or a few lines on your résumé—but worried you'll mess up the formatting? Editing a PDF can quickly turn into a headache, especially when fonts shift, columns move, or another page suddenly appears. This guide walks you through the safest ways to edit a PDF résumé, whether you need a quick correction, a major rewrite, or even need to work with a scanned copy.

📌 Update your résumé without breaking it »

	HRAddictJoin 10,000+ HR professionals for free access to actionable insights, the latest trends, and valuable resources to strengthen your workforce—delivered three times a week.

Find Your Best Direction: The Career Clarity Snapshot [template]

Not sure what you really want from your next career move? This one-page Career Clarity Snapshot helps you uncover what drives you and spot what’s missing, so you can reveal insights that you can turn into a clearer next step.

Download link available to email subscribers

◉ REFERRAL CORNER

Only visible to subscribers in mailbox.

📑 Tax Form Changes When You Go Independent

🩺 Growing Your Own Medical Practice

👨‍💻 Where Do Code-Writing AIs Leave Software Devs?

📬 Missed the previous issue on ‘The Referral Comeback’? Read it »

—Created with care by Vivienne Ravana

P.S. Explore your L&D capabilities with human-centered AI use. Join iSpring’s free online conference.