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From Great Resignation to Great Realization:
​​​​​Boomerang job trend remains strong as workers
return to their previous employers



This article is part of a series that explores a hiring trend out of the Great Resignation — the rise of the boomerang employee. These are employees who left a company but after further consideration, return. In the series, RBCers share their decisions to come back and the new skills and deeper perspective they bring with them.
Forget the “Great Resignation,” workers today are embracing the “Great Realization” – an appreciation for a job they left. A worldwide survey from early 2023 says four out of 10 people who quit their jobs during the pandemic now say they were better off at their previous company. And many of them are taking action – almost a quarter who quit have since returned to their old employers.

Tara Media is one of them. She worked at RBC for three and a half years in Operational Risk Unit with the Enterprise Business Continuity Management team, starting in 2018. As part of the team, she monitored and reported on RBC’s readiness in case of a disruption, such as a payment outage or natural disaster. Tara says although strong leaders and continual learning made work fulfilling, there was something missing.

“I was hitting a milestone birthday,” she explains, “and I wanted to try something new and take the next step in my career, so I took the leap into consulting in April of 2022,” she explains.
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Photo: A worldwide survey from early 2023 says four out of 10 people who quit their jobs during
the pandemic now say they were better off at their previous company. Tara is one of them.

It wasn’t easy leaving RBC but she said goodbye with fond memories of her work and colleagues.

Her new role was a promotion, but she quickly realized being a consultant wasn’t the same as her experience at RBC.

“I knew within a month that being a consultant wasn’t for me,” Tara reflects, “so I reached out to my former RBC colleagues about a role in Operational Resilience and I decided to apply.”

Applying was the easy part. Tara admits she had to also be humble and transparent with leaders about why she had left and why she wanted to return.

“I should’ve been more open and shared my career aspirations with them,” Tara says. “I wish I would’ve realized then that RBC leaders encourage frank conversations about skills and career growth.”

Those tough conversations were worth it. She returned to RBC in January of 2023 as Director of Operational Resilience in Canadian Banking. Tara was only away from RBC for eight months, but it was enough time to reflect on what she learned.

“It was the wrong decision, but I don’t think it was a mistake,” she says. “I learned about where I want to be, what I don’t want to be, and who I want to work with. There’s greatness here. Ultimately my experience elsewhere gave me time to realize RBC is where I can make a difference and continue to live up to the values and behaviours that leaders model themselves after.”

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A word from our lawyers

This article offers general information only and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subject matter discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or its affiliates.

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