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DO split on good terms. As an employee, make sure you leave in a professional way if you ever want the option of being hired back, says Fiorella Callocchia, president of consulting firm HR Impact

DO stay in touch. Pablo Fuchs, senior editor of Investment Executive, says he was able to reclaim his job at the financial service publication in large part because he kept in close contact with his former colleagues.

DO communicate. Employees and employers should hash out any grudges at the start of any reconciliation, says Rosemary Haefner, vice-president of human resources at CareerBuilder.com. It's best to deal with the elephant in the room right away.

DO set limits. Ms. Callocchia says she has encountered companies that hired back employees as many as four times. At some point, you've got to draw a line.

DO negotiate. If you're a returning employee, find out if you can get credit for past service. "Why should you start at the bottom if you've got some years in the bank?" Ms. Callocchia says.

DON'T expect everything to return to normal right away. It's like when you're rekindling a relationship, Ms. Callocchia says: There will be a warm-up period. Find out each other's expectations and what has changed since you've been apart.

DON'T return if you feel resentful. The chances of improvement are slim if you harbour bitterness about the way things ended, Ms. Haefner says.

DON'T forget how a rehiring will affect everyone else. Ms. Callocchia says employers, when rehiring someone who has quit, need to be aware of how those who've stuck it out with a company will feel and address concerns accordingly.

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