3 min. read
Sometimes you have to leave to fully appreciate what you had.
At OLX, we’re seeing a growing “boomerang effect”: talented people who explored opportunities elsewhere and chose to return – not out of necessity, but with a clearer perspective on what makes this place special.
Meet Adam, Andre, and Marcin. Their journeys away from and back to OLX offer a powerful reminder that career growth doesn’t always follow a straight line and that sometimes the best place to grow is the one you return to.
Adam’s story begins with a bold assumption.
After five years at OLX, where he built his career moving from administration into recruitment, he left in 2021 convinced that almost any opportunity would be an upgrade.
“I really believed that almost anywhere else would be better than OLX,” he admits.
But reality turned out differently.
“Not every company has this kind of culture or really takes care of people. I had to leave to realize what I was missing.”
Three years later, Adam returned to OLX in February 2025 — this time as a Senior Recruiter.
His time away gave him something he didn’t expect: perspective. The respect, support, and growth opportunities he had once taken for granted turned out to be far less common than he thought.
Andre’s decision to leave wasn’t about dissatisfaction — it was about curiosity.
“I wanted to see how other companies work, how different teams think, and what problems look like outside our bubble.”
For Andre, exploring other environments became a deliberate step in his career development.
“Leaving taught me something simple but powerful: you often learn faster when you step outside your usual environment.”
The experience broadened his perspective, challenged his assumptions, and helped him better understand the type of work that truly energizes him.
When he eventually returned to OLX, it wasn’t about going back to what was familiar. It was about bringing new insights, new skills, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Marcin’s journey may be the most unexpected.
After spending 11 years at Allegro, he joined OLX and quickly made an impact —including the development of one initiative that started with revenue of 3,000 PLN and grew into a 600,000 PLN success.
But after two years, curiosity pulled him toward a new opportunity.
Almost immediately, something felt different.
“The culture didn’t fit me, but I couldn’t immediately explain what exactly was wrong.”
With the help of external coaching, Marcin eventually identified what was missing. That realization led him to reach out to his former manager at OLX.
He wasn’t applying elsewhere. He simply wanted to come back.
Marcin returned in June 2024, and soon after was promoted to Head of Goods.
“Now I feel like a true OLX ambassador,” he says. “I know from experience, not just belief, that OLX really respects its employees.”
What stood out most to Marcin weren’t only the big things — but the everyday details that shape the employee experience.
Things like:
“These things sound small, but they’re not,” he explains. “They add up to how you feel every day. On Sunday evening, I’m not stressed about work. I actually enjoy coming to the office.”
Our boomerang employees also offer some practical advice for anyone thinking about their next career move.
Thinking about leaving?
That’s not a failure — it’s often part of growth.
Seeing other environments can clarify what actually matters to you (and what doesn’t).
Feeling stuck where you are?
Before you make a move, check what’s still possible here.
Sometimes it’s not about changing companies — it’s about changing scope, challenges, or direction.
Already left and having doubts?
That happens more often than people admit.
Going back isn’t a step backwards — it’s a conscious choice, made with better information.
At OLX, we don’t see careers as linear — and we don’t expect loyalty to mean staying forever. We believe in something simpler: people should go where they learn, grow, and do meaningful work. Sometimes that means leaving. And sometimes — with more perspective, not less — it means coming back.
When people return, it tells us something we can’t measure in engagement surveys: they’ve seen other cultures, other ways of working… and still choose this one. And that choice carries weight. Because the strongest cultures aren’t the ones people never leave. They’re the ones people choose — again.
Whether it’s your first chapter or a return journey, visit careers.olx.com to see our current opportunities.
