There is another reason to never burn your bridges when you leave your company - You may want to go back one day.  And furthermore, the company may actually want you back!

Employers are doing more to create a new type of alumni program.  Not the type you probably already know about where graduates from the same college join together to help recruit more employees from their alma mater.  This is the alumni program that HR offices are building where the "alumni" are actually former employees.

In a recent publication from the Society for HR Management, one article says that Deloitte calls these types of alumni, "Colleagues for Life".  Some other companies call these former workers "Boomerang Employees" or "Comeback Colleagues" because they leave, and the company is hoping they will come back.

With a tight job market where the unemployment rate is close to 4%, talent is sometimes hard to find and organizations are getting creative about where they source new employees.

Value of Alumni Programs

Here is the value companies are touting for participating in these new alumni programs:

• 87% allow these alumni to access company news and information

• 84% offer networking opportunities

• 80% invite alumni to special events

• 54% are offering alumni career development and continuing education

• 12% are offering groups for professional and personal interests

So if you are thinking about making a career move, think about a company where you may have already worked. They may want you back.