I quit my job in January with no backup plan. It wasn’t planned or ideal, I understand. I just felt like I had no other choice at the time. I was miserable. It’s a small company, only like 40\~ people, so upper management is very involved. I worked directly under the owner and CFO. I won’t go into specifics of why I left. But the environment was toxic, I would genuinely have nightmares about this place three times a week. My mental and physical health were both taking a toll. I left in the middle of work one day and sent an email to management explaining how I felt and informing them I wouldn’t be returning. Bridge burned. Or, so I thought.
Since then I’ve had a few interviews and done some side gigs to keep up money, but it was rough and inconsistent. I haven’t been able to get hired on anywhere. November arrives and I can’t pay rent. I have the first 15 days of the month to send it without penalty, but no clue how I’m going to make up the difference. Then my first manager there, who I actually liked, calls me. He asks if there’s any way I’d be willing to come back. I head down to the office and talk to him and the CEO about it.
We work some things out, they send me a contract and tell me I can start Monday. I am absolutely dreading it. A place I never imagined I’d return to. I’m like in tears tonight because I just don’t want to go back there. Tomorrow feels like it’s going to be hell on Earth. Especially if I come into contact with the owner and CFO. I don’t know what I’d say to them. (Especially because I’ve heard from my old manager that they kept talking shit about me after I quit and all about how they should’ve “fired me sooner.”)
Currently I’ve only signed a 3 month contract, not full time employment, which makes it feel a bit easier. But everyone I know is telling me not to do it. It just feels like I have no other choice.