How do I ask for my old job back after I've been laid off at the new job?

Question

4 months ago, I switched from a large consulting company to a small one, in hopes of having a better work environment. The small company was bought out last week and I was laid off. How do I approach going back to my old job?

I left my old company on very good terms and my old manager told me to contact her should I ever consider heading back... I can't meet up with my old manager because we're located at different HQs.

Answer 1

Treat it just like any other job application. Write a really impressive cover letter detailing why you would like to return and how it would benefit the company - things like how your already trained in their process, how things were run blah blah blah.

If you can call your old manager maybe she can't help you get the job directly but she should hopefully let you use her as a reference.

Answer 2

I would say to call the old manager even if you are at different HQs because she may still be able to pull strings.  Just work on how to answer to this in a job interview, because it will probably come up.  You will be a desireable candidate because of the lack of training that you will require, but they won't want someone who they feel will have an eye out for something better all of the time.  I would tell them that my time away has made me appreciate company A all the more, that I missed working there after the job switch, etc.