“Workplace boomeranging”, as they call it, can happen for a number of reasons, in any company—and Arcanys is no exception. You see, over the years, we’ve seen people who decided to leave their job. It happens. But when former colleagues (who also happen to be awesome talents) come knocking at our door again, we’re happy to welcome them back. Case in point, we got together with Junny, Vince, and Tiu—three comeback teammates who agreed to give us a bit of their time for a short chat.

Everyone has a unique story.

Junny, a QA engineer through and through and member of the PaymentLogic team, was one of the pioneering test engineers here in Arcanys when he joined us in 2013. Vince started as a mobile developer for Arcanys in 2016, with a focus on iOS apps. He's now doing web development and is learning Angular among other things. As for our cool guitar-playing dude, Tiu, he's always been a hardcore Android developer, way before he joined Arcanys in 2016. Interestingly, when asked what (or who) brought them to Arcanys, in the first place, they more or less had the same answer—it was through a friend or colleague.

A while ago, they left Arcanys to try their luck in a different place, or just to grab new opportunities. But today, we’re thrilled to count these three among us again. What happened, you ask? Why did they leave and what made them come back? Oh yeah, we asked them, and here's what they have to say.

What happened when you left Arcanys?

Junny: I left Arcanys in 2016 because I wanted to try my luck as a freelancer test engineer. Unfortunately, it wasn't purely full-time. So it was more part-time-ish freelancing... because most of the jobs I had were part-time. Then I found a job in another company in Cebu.

Vince: I quit in April 2017 to support our family business.

Tiu: Just last year, in January 2018. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and look for a different opportunity.

What made you decide to come back to Arcanys?

Junny: It was when I was at that previous company... people started panicking. A lot of people were also searching for other jobs then. Right now that company is sort of getting back on their feet again. But at that time, I had the feeling that it wasn’t the right fit for me.

Tiu: I noticed how Arcanys was growing bigger and bigger each day. I thought it would be great if I can be a part of it once again.

Anything you missed when you left us?

Junny: The freebies... mostly the lunches. Most companies don't have that, and the lunches here are good! Plus, we have other food choices outside. And the prizes during events... During the last Christmas party I attended, the grand prize was a 42-inch TV!

Vince: Fun-filled learning and working with the team. Charr! ;) I also missed the healthy lunches and brewed coffee.

Tiu: Sending daily reports! Nah, just kidding. Of course, I missed my colleagues. And free food!

Anyone you missed in particular?

Junny: Friends! Actually, I didn't miss them, they missed me. :D Another thing I also missed are the “Junny clappers”––those who would cheer me when I was heading home earlier than everybody else... well, because I also arrive earlier than everybody else!

Tiu: Everybody!

Vince: Seriously? There are 2 people I miss at Arcanys, Gayle and everyone else. :D

What's different with Arcanys compared to other employers?

Junny: I've worked for a couple of other companies, and none of them did frequent free lunches or offered free food. Most of the time, the food here was the best. Joke! Overall, other companies are too strict. Arcanys has the right work-life balance.

Vince: Arcanys has a lot of benefits... and I mean A LOT! And they're sincere when it comes to the well-being of their employees.

Tiu: I think the concept of work-life balance is perfectly defined in Arcanys, and I'm not even exaggerating.

What's new at Arcanys since you got back?

Junny: Arcanys, from when I left, only had one floor. There are now two floors, and they also have a kitchen, which was wala pa siya sauna—that wasn't here before. This side of the floor (pointing to the area outside the meeting room) was vacant back then. Now it's full! I think it was by January 2014 that they moved here. I think only half of the room was full then, the other half was empty.

Vince: Very different. It still has the good stuff like before, and a whole lot more now.

Tiu: Surprisingly, they now offer a lot more benefits than before!

Anything you've learned while you were away?

Junny: A lesson I've learned, which I can relate to my motto, is to always be prepared for impermanence... because nothing is permanent. Things are always temporary, so I should be ready.

Vince: I learned different styles of discipline and professional growth by learning on my own.

Tiu: In an office job, the kind of attitude and the mentality that your CEO has matter.

Win or lose, good or bad, every experience makes you grow

Junny, Vince, and Tiu’s stories are not unique cases. We have other comeback kids and may very well have more in the future.

We’ve learned a lot over the years, too. We know happiness can’t only be measured with a paycheck. Oh yes, there’s a whole lot more to job satisfaction than that—starting with the types of software projects you work on, the management style within the company or the perks you enjoy. We always strive to create the best possible working conditions for everyone to feel accomplished. But of course, we always leave the door open to those willing to look for greener pastures.

And they should have no regrets when grabbing new opportunities. Experience matters. Valuable new knowledge, skill sets, and insights people gain from their time away will greatly serve them in both their personal and professional lives. It allows them to bring fresh perspectives to their work. And all of that benefits everyone.

Wanna apply your skills and use cutting-edge technologies in an open and positive environment just like Junny, Vince, and Tiu? Check out open job at our careers page and apply now!