Returning to a Previous Employer? Ask yourself these questions before you negotiate salary

Before you begin negotiating salary if you’ve been called back to your old job, take some time to weigh your options carefully. How much to ask for depends on the terms and conditions of your return, why you left, and what you bring to the table this time. And if the labor market is tight – high unemployment numbers and low numbers of jobs in your field –that should be factored into how much you get paid.

Take these questions into consideration:

Why did you leave?

Determining how much your previous employer should pay you upon returning to your old job might depend on why you left the organization. If you resigned because you were seeking greener pastures or a higher salary with a new employer, you might not have the type of leverage you think.

Did you acquire more skills?

Unless you acquired new skills and qualifications, you might have to come back to your old employer at the same salary you were earning when you resigned. But if you did, begin your negotiations slightly – 2 to 5 percent for each year you were gone – higher than you were earning to account for performance and new skills.

Is my cost of living higher?

If the circumstances of your departure and your return aren't remarkable in any way, begin negotiating for your salary as you would starting any other new job. Do your research, and provided that your previous salary was consistent with the market rate, increase that salary by cost-of-living increases and compare it with your research on what you're currently worth.

Why does the company want me back?

If your previous employer wants you back and has offered to pay you far more than what you expected, exercise caution in accepting a sweetheart deal that isn't in your best interest. Ask questions about how the company arrived at the salary figure it's proposing and what its expectations are for your return. If there's anything about the salary offer that you believe is extreme, please talk about it.