Well, don't worry too much.
"When the economy slows down, it creates anxiety," admits Paul Richardson, a managing director at Korn/Ferry International, a leading job search firm. "We see executives trying to come back to mainstream companies after leaving dot-coms. But the good news is there are plenty of companies looking for strong employees."
But what if you left the safe haven of a stable job to work at a dot-com or two? Will the old stalwarts take you back?
Chances are they will, Richardson says. "Firms are cutting employees more slack. The fact is, you may be a better employee because of your dot-com experience. You tried to make something out of nothing, and you probably learned things you wouldn't have learned in your old job."
Richardson cautions that companies will shy away from applicants who took numerous risks without success. "They'll probably question your judgment. Companies want to see that you had a stable, successful career before you left for the dot-coms. You stayed at one or two companies for a few years, and you earned some promotions."
