Pros
The compensation was solid, management was genuinely supportive, and I had the kind of colleagues and team dynamic that most people spend their entire careers hoping to find.
Kontras
I made the difficult decision to leave my position to care for a seriously ill family member, a choice I don't regret, but one I wish I had navigated differently. In hindsight, pursuing a formal sabbatical would have been the wiser path, as it would have preserved my seniority and kept the door open for my return.
Once my caregiving responsibilities concluded, I applied to return to the company four times. Each attempt was declined, with the consistent message that I would not be considered for any position. What made this particularly difficult to process was the contrast with my track record there. Strong performance reviews, positive relationships across the team, and a genuine commitment to the role. My former manager once said I would run into a burning building for a customer, which I've always taken as a reflection of how much I cared about the work and the people I served.
It's a disappointing outcome, but ultimately a valuable lesson in understanding the long-term implications of how we exit, not just how we perform while we're there.