Last month, we talked about what to do if you're burdened with a bad boss, and obviously one option is to leave. Whether you're already gone, or planning to leave ASAP, you'll be faced with the same challenge: what to say about it.
Choose Your Words Carefully
Regardless of your reason for leaving, you'll hear the question, "Why do you want to leave/did you leave your job?" This is not the time to vent about how your boss makes your life a living hell. Resist the impulse to tell the whole truth. Or even part of the truth.
No matter how careful you are, it will sound negative - and that will sour the interview immediately. You need to be positive and upbeat. Couch your answer in terms of wanting a new challenge or more responsibility. Or a chance to learn new skills or follow emerging technologies. Don't come any closer to your real thoughts than saying your current/previous position didn't measure up to the way it was initially described when you took it.
But … even taking this route can open up some difficult areas. After all, if your last job didn't measure up, why wouldn't this one possibly be a disappointment as well? If you go this way, be prepared to assure the interviewer that this situation is different and why. Explain how the lessons you learned from that experience have prepared you to be a better employee.
Creative Speaking
Don't breathe easy, you're not out of the woods yet. A savvy interviewer (and yes, there still are some) will pick up a trail that needs to be pursued. It may not be the very next point, but it will come along shortly - how did/do you get along with your coworkers? What about your supervisor?
The simple answer is that you got along just fine - though this little white lie may trip you up when you're asked to give a reference from that last position. It's a better idea to say that, though it was a difficult environment, you were able to work effectively as a team member to accomplish all of your tasks.
Another way interviewers come at this is: "tell me about a situation where you had a conflict with a supervisor/coworker and how you were able to resolve it." Just like the typical "tell me about yourself" question you hear, you'll need to prepare a succinct response ahead of time and rehearse your delivery so that it comes out smoothly.
Briefly, you mention the underlying reason for the disagreement, and then concentrate on how you dealt with it. Fight the urge to launch into full storytelling mode and avoid any trace of sarcasm or righteous indignation - they're the kiss of death in an interview. Your goal is to sound professional, reasonable and above all, successful as a problem solver.
Here's an example: You were assigned to a project that got out of control and the panicked project manager attacked the team - you included - even though you weren't accountable for the problem.
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Don't say:
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"I was on a team where the project manager really screwed up and blamed everybody, even me, though I had nothing to do with creating the problem. I made sure that I kept the right records and sent documentation to all of the higher-ups, so they knew it wasn't my fault at all."
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Do say:
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"My last project had some major problems. The project manager couldn't correct them and panicked, which made the situation worse. I concentrated on defining and documenting several of the problems and then brainstormed with other team members to suggest fixes. We presented our ideas to the project manager so that she could use them to address the situation. Ultimately, it didn't save the project, but I know I did all I could to help."
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Fired?
Maybe you were let go from your last job. As painful as that was, now you face the additional stress of having to explain the situation … in a way that doesn't destroy your chances for this new opportunity.
The good news is that being let go doesn't have the stigma it once had. You just need to be very careful about the way you choose to express yourself. You don't need to use the words "fired" or "terminated." You can't sound bitter. Just be very matter-of-fact about what happened.
And keep your statement short. If you ramble on, you're more likely to say something you'll regret. If the interviewer wants to know more, he/she will ask.
Let go of any fear or embarrassment you're carrying around. Remember, you've got lots of company these days. (Maybe even the interviewer sitting across from you.) Assume a positive attitude and psych up beforehand. Repeat to yourself that it was your old company's loss and the new company's prospective gain. Then act that way during the interview.
The Company Went Belly-Up
Again, no disgrace in today's marketplace. In fact, you might be able to count on the sympathy vote if you came from Arthur Andersen or Enron. Barring that, just give a brief explanation of the demise. Spend more time explaining what you were able to learn and accomplish during your tenure there.
If you were a short-timer at a company that failed, don't overanalyze. Just state the facts about how you were hired right before the end came. You're likely to get sympathy here too.
References
Especially if you're leaving a job on less than the best of terms, you'll need a strategy for providing effective references. It's not a good idea to let the raving lunatic, oops, I mean boss, know how you really feel about him and then use him as a reference.
A lot of people have misconceptions about providing references. First of all, you can substitute another manager who's familiar with your performance for your direct supervisor. There's no rule that says you must cite your direct supervisor. After all, what if that person is no longer with the company? (This is also a compelling reason for keeping in touch with former supervisors and co-workers. You are going to need them some day.)
You can also tell prospective employers that you don't want your current employer to be contacted, because your search is confidential (obviously, this won't work if you're not presently employed.) Employers will respect this request, especially in the early stages of the interviewing process. However, once an offer is made, some companies will check references, on the assumption that you will be giving notice.
Be aware that many companies have specific policies about providing references. Due to the precedents set by employment case law, it's common practice to only confirm the dates of employment of a former employee. That's it. No final job title, no salary info, no specific performance data.
But before you get all excited about dodging a bullet, there is one more thing. Most companies will give a yes or no answer to the question, "Would you rehire this individual?" And a negative response is probably enough to turn off prospective employers. So it pays to leave on good terms, no matter how bad it seemed to you.
More
There are other negative situations that I didn't have space to cover, like dealing with a criminal background. If you have specific questions, please feel free to email them to me at Jamie@JobCircle.com. I'll be happy to respond to you confidentially.
Next month, I'll be covering a topic of increasing importance - Security Clearances for IT Professionals. If this has come up for you, drop me a line and let me know about your experiences. Until then, stay cool. Literally.
Enjoy this article? Read more of JobCircle.com's Career Coach articles.
Jamie Fabian spent more than 15 years as a human resources executive before changing careers to become a senior project manager for a growing IT consulting company. Now in management consulting for a large Pharma company, Jamie would like to be seen as a hybrid of Tom Peters, Tom Jackson, and Tom Wolfe, but spends too much time working, driving carpool and watching mindless TV to write more than this column. You can contact Jamie with questions and comments at jamie@jobcircle.com.
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