What is being a boomerang colleague good for?

The value of boomerang employees in IT: a strategic advantage

In IT, hiring and retaining skilled talent remains a critical challenge for many companies. One of the emerging trends that organizations are increasingly embracing is the reemployment of former employees—commonly referred to as “boomerang employees.” These individuals, having left the company for various reasons, return after a period of working elsewhere, bringing with them both familiarity and fresh perspectives. For IT companies, where adaptability, innovation, and efficiency are paramount, rehiring former talent can offer significant strategic advantages. We will explore the benefits of welcoming boomerang employees back into the fold.

Familiarity with company culture

One of the most immediate advantages of hiring a boomerang employee is their pre-existing knowledge of the company’s culture. In the IT industry, where company culture often plays a significant role in collaboration and innovation, this familiarity is a valuable asset. Returning employees already understand the internal dynamics, organizational structure, and the often nuanced expectations of their roles.

Unlike new hires who may require extensive training on company policies, values, and procedures, boomerang employees can quickly re-engage with teams and adapt to the internal environment. This knowledge allows them to contribute from day one with a clear understanding of how things work, how decisions are made, and the expectations for communication and collaboration. For IT firms that rely heavily on teamwork for product development and technical problem-solving, having someone who understands the company’s culture helps maintain project momentum without the delays typical of a standard onboarding process.

Fresh perspectives from external experiences

While the familiarity with company culture is important, perhaps an even more valuable asset that boomerang employees bring to the table is their external experience. Having worked for other companies, often in different IT environments, these employees return with new perspectives and fresh insights. They’ve seen how other companies address similar technical challenges, which tools they use to streamline operations, and which strategies have worked or failed.

For an IT company, this can be a game-changer. The tech industry thrives on innovation, and sometimes the best ideas come from cross-pollination of knowledge from different organizations. Boomerang employees can offer suggestions for improving internal processes, optimizing software development lifecycles, or introducing new methodologies that the company may not have considered before. Their ability to compare and contrast different IT environments can lead to the discovery of efficiencies that weren’t previously apparent. This outside perspective can be invaluable in driving the company forward, allowing it to remain competitive and adaptive in a fast-evolving market.

Transformation of external knowledge into internal expertise

In addition to bringing a fresh perspective, boomerang employees also serve as conduits for valuable external knowledge that can be transformed into internal expertise. Their exposure to different technologies, systems, and business practices enables them to offer informed suggestions on how their current employer can improve. This can be particularly useful in the IT field, where staying at the cutting edge of technology is essential for success.

For example, a boomerang employee might introduce a more efficient version control system learned at a previous job, or suggest automating certain repetitive processes with cutting-edge tools. Their deep familiarity with both the external world and the internal workings of the company allows them to tailor these suggestions to the company’s specific needs, avoiding the trial-and-error approach that often accompanies the introduction of new systems. By leveraging their external knowledge and applying it to the company’s existing infrastructure, boomerang employees can drive internal innovation more effectively than someone who lacks this dual perspective.

Reduced onboarding time and cost-efficiency

In a sector as competitive and time-sensitive as IT, reducing onboarding time is a significant advantage. One of the primary reasons IT companies are increasingly looking to rehire former employees is the drastically reduced time required to get them up to speed. Unlike new hires who require substantial onboarding—ranging from learning about company software systems to understanding the workflows and organizational tools—a boomerang employee can bypass most of these steps.

Conclusion

Boomerang employees offer a unique blend of internal familiarity and external insight, making them a valuable asset for IT companies looking to stay agile and innovative. Their understanding of the company’s culture ensures smooth reintegration, while the fresh perspectives they bring can drive new approaches to old problems. By transforming external knowledge into internal expertise, boomerang employees can help improve efficiency and catalyze innovation. Moreover, the reduced onboarding time associated with rehiring former talent allows the company to focus resources on what really matters—delivering high-quality IT solutions in an increasingly competitive market.

For IT companies aiming to stay ahead of the curve, strategically rehiring boomerang employees can be a powerful tool in maintaining both operational efficiency and forward-thinking innovation.

Listen to the episode here (Hungarian): https://www.deutschetelekomitsolutions.hu/podcasts/mire-jo-bumerang-kolleganak-lenni/