Quitting with a return ticket: How "Boomerang hiring" is redrawing the career map for Generation Z

Time of India

2 days ago

Generation Z, a cohort known for dominating headlines for their unapologetic demeanour and for re-painting the corporate walls with bold hues. This generation shares gross dissimilarities with their predecessors, who often thought twice before saying no.
Here enter young professionals in the office unafraid to speak their minds, and often 'ridicule' their bosses to their face. No wonder, terms like 'loud quitting' and 'rage quitting' have caught fire in the current workplaces. However, a recent trend known as 'Boomerang hiring' may arrest these dramatic exits popularised by Generation Z.
Sure, screaming 'I QUIT' on the last day may seem like the most satisfying moment for some employees, however, it could freeze your career lifeline for years.
The long-cherished belief that quitting marks the end of the chapter is quickly losing its shine in today's corporate setup.
According to ADP payroll data, 35 percent of all new hires as of March 2025 were returning employees, individuals who had left their positions only to rejoin later. Quitting, only to return? Yes, this evolving pattern has been aptly sobriqueted as the boomerang trend.
The trends that have gained prominence among Generation Z may now falter or fade.
Burning bridges with colleagues and managers, no matter how tempting it may seem, is never a wise idea. Doing so could silently narrow the gates of future opportunities.
The comeback curve
While initial jobless claims stay close to lows and unemployment stands just above 4 percent, there is a surprising upward trend in returning workers. According to ADP payroll data, boomerang hires now make up 31% of all new hires on average, rising to 35% in March 2025.
In the information sector, nearly two-thirds of new hires were former employees, a twofold increase from last year.
The return has its reasons
Boomerang hiring surged initially out of necessity in 2020 when companies rehired laid-off workers after pandemic shutdowns. But today, it's not driven by crisis, it's driven by strategy.
In an increasingly cautious hiring environment, almost 60% of companies now prefer hiring returning employees, according to media reports.
Even in India, the trend has made waves. Several domestic companies have reported 100% success rates with boomerang hires, suggesting this isn't just a Western phenomenon—it's a global recalibration of how value is measured in talent. Why? Because boomerang employees come equipped with context: They understand internal systems, align faster with culture, and require less time to get productive.
What Generation Z must know
For a generation that claps and champions purpose over performance, boomerang hiring bestows a middle ground.
It allows for exploration without burning bridges, and for return without regret.
Here's what Gen Z professionals should take away:
Exits are the new entrances
: Leaving with grace, clarity, and professionalism keeps doors open, because re-entry is now a real career path.
Returning isn't regressing
: Coming back is no longer seen as backtracking, it's a smart, strategic move that signals self-awareness and adaptability.
Experience matters, even if it's circular
: Former employees returning with external insights bring dual value—operational familiarity and broader industry perspective.
Safe ground can be smart ground
: In a market with limited mobility and economic uncertainty, familiar workspaces can offer more opportunity than unknown ones.
Generation Z has entered the workforce as it is undergoing massive changes. With artificial intelligence penetrating and disrupting obsolete jobs, leading to layoffs and slow growth, Gen Z's career map is no longer a linear climb.
Not just a trend—A strategic evolution
The idea of returning to the old cubicle once was a subject of mockery. It carried a stigma and implied failure, desperation, or indecision. However, in today's economy, it refers something entirely paradoxical: Clarity and ambition. It demonstrates a professional who is confident enough to leave, wise enough to explore, and mature enough to return.
The cyclical career, long considered unconventional, is becoming a defining feature of modern work. Boomerang hires aren't anomalies anymore, they're strategic assets.
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