How would you field this interview question?
Discussion
About 7 years ago I joined a company (as an employee) and then left after about 8 months - my choice. The job is listed on my CV. All my other employements before or since have each been for 3-6 years.
The reason I decided to leave the company was that the CEO was basically a bully (and he behaved like that to pretty much everyone).
When quizzed about why I spent such a short time at that company what's the best tack to take? Do I try and be diplomatic and say something like the job didn't turn out as expected? If this response gets quizzed even further, how best to respond? Or just be matter of fact about it - but that could imply not being discrete in the future.
The reason I decided to leave the company was that the CEO was basically a bully (and he behaved like that to pretty much everyone).
When quizzed about why I spent such a short time at that company what's the best tack to take? Do I try and be diplomatic and say something like the job didn't turn out as expected? If this response gets quizzed even further, how best to respond? Or just be matter of fact about it - but that could imply not being discrete in the future.
Hmmm, interviewers don't like you giving ex bosses a slagging, so maybe not the truth as a whole.
Maybe say you did not agree with his business ethics and you could not see eye to eye over certain issues.
And then have an example ready where you managed to save 15 orphans from a burning building.
Maybe say you did not agree with his business ethics and you could not see eye to eye over certain issues.
And then have an example ready where you managed to save 15 orphans from a burning building.
be honest BUT transmit your message in a positive way!
When I interview people for the first time (I usually do 2 interviews and I am VERY direct) my first (and sometimes only) question is . . . "why are you sitting here today???" (bearing in mind I am a HeadHunter and dont find people jobs) if they start with I hate my boss - my job sucks - my dog died yesterday etc - thats the end of the interview - PERIOD!
Nobody wants someone working for them who moans, cant be positive, hasnt done their homework/prep for why they have the privilege of sitting "there" in the first place and nobody likes people who tell silly stories about past employers either!
All IMHO!
khushy
When I interview people for the first time (I usually do 2 interviews and I am VERY direct) my first (and sometimes only) question is . . . "why are you sitting here today???" (bearing in mind I am a HeadHunter and dont find people jobs) if they start with I hate my boss - my job sucks - my dog died yesterday etc - thats the end of the interview - PERIOD!
Nobody wants someone working for them who moans, cant be positive, hasnt done their homework/prep for why they have the privilege of sitting "there" in the first place and nobody likes people who tell silly stories about past employers either!
All IMHO!
khushy
Edited by khushy on Thursday 15th September 20:14
I landed myself in this sort of situation when applying for my current job. "Tell me about how you have handled a difficult situation at work" and the only thing in my head was one of the top bods at my old place. I went for an honest "I can see the difficulties of their position and the pressures that they had to deal with but I felt that they were not giving sufficient consideration to my input on some process improvements".
Translated : micromanaging yes man who required his signature on every single purchase order for IT equipment for a company of 4000 people. Your mouse is broken? sorry we arent allowed to keep spares, youll have to fill in this form, give it to me, I send it to admin bod who hands it to yes man who says 'this form is for a mouse that costs £4, we can get another of the unreliable s
t ones that break frequently for £3. Amend and resubmit your form'. 2 weeks later you get the new mouse and find that the person who needed it has quit because of the ridiculous admin processes preventing them doing any work. Happened 6-7 times during my time there, and thats just the ones i heard of.
apparently I'm still pissed off about it too
back to the point, it did make new job a bit nervous that I couldnt get on with people but they went by how I came across in the interview and hired me.
Translated : micromanaging yes man who required his signature on every single purchase order for IT equipment for a company of 4000 people. Your mouse is broken? sorry we arent allowed to keep spares, youll have to fill in this form, give it to me, I send it to admin bod who hands it to yes man who says 'this form is for a mouse that costs £4, we can get another of the unreliable s
t ones that break frequently for £3. Amend and resubmit your form'. 2 weeks later you get the new mouse and find that the person who needed it has quit because of the ridiculous admin processes preventing them doing any work. Happened 6-7 times during my time there, and thats just the ones i heard of.apparently I'm still pissed off about it too
back to the point, it did make new job a bit nervous that I couldnt get on with people but they went by how I came across in the interview and hired me.
SteveS Cup said:
Definitely be honest... It was 7 years ago, it shouldn't be an issue.
When I say honest, say it in a diplomatic way... "we didn't agree on management style" blah blah... sounds better than "he was a bully so I left".
^ ThisWhen I say honest, say it in a diplomatic way... "we didn't agree on management style" blah blah... sounds better than "he was a bully so I left".
Be honest about it but if you don't fancy that then "the job wasn't as described so I chose to leave for something more suited to me skillset" is the way to go..
I had a 2 month job once. I seemed to have been victimised from Day one. I wasn't sure if they made a mistake of employing me but they attempted to give me a verbal warning on the first week for something I wasn't sure of what I done.
I left and just put down I was contracting. I lied but it doesn't make my skillset any different.
I left and just put down I was contracting. I lied but it doesn't make my skillset any different.
Scott330ci said:
I had a 2 month job once. I seemed to have been victimised from Day one. I wasn't sure if they made a mistake of employing me but they attempted to give me a verbal warning on the first week for something I wasn't sure of what I done.
I left and just put down I was contracting. I lied but it doesn't make my skillset any different.
Well techncially it was a short term contract!I left and just put down I was contracting. I lied but it doesn't make my skillset any different.
Slurms said:
SteveS Cup said:
Definitely be honest... It was 7 years ago, it shouldn't be an issue.
When I say honest, say it in a diplomatic way... "we didn't agree on management style" blah blah... sounds better than "he was a bully so I left".
^ ThisWhen I say honest, say it in a diplomatic way... "we didn't agree on management style" blah blah... sounds better than "he was a bully so I left".
Be honest about it but if you don't fancy that then "the job wasn't as described so I chose to leave for something more suited to me skillset" is the way to go..
I agree that it shouldn't be an issue, but I had an interview recently where I was surprised that the interviewer went back to it 3 or 4 times.
i'd take it off personally something 7 yrs ago - ask yourself if it gives you an aspect of your skillset that your more recent jobs dont eg did that job use ms office rather tha google docs (crap example i know)
i did a cv trainin course provided by my employer and the guy was like unless that job years ago gives a fresh angle to your career leave it off if you dont need to prove yourself to your new prospective emplyers.
i did a cv trainin course provided by my employer and the guy was like unless that job years ago gives a fresh angle to your career leave it off if you dont need to prove yourself to your new prospective emplyers.
Puggit said:
I agree with being honest.
With some interview questions (the kind you're not expecting, unlike your's) I often say "ooh, that's tricky - can we come back to that later?". Interviewer always says yes, and then forgets to go back
Just hope they aren't doing a tick sheet for the answers and that failure to answer isn't enough for you to be rejected.With some interview questions (the kind you're not expecting, unlike your's) I often say "ooh, that's tricky - can we come back to that later?". Interviewer always says yes, and then forgets to go back
Engineer1 said:
Puggit said:
I agree with being honest.
With some interview questions (the kind you're not expecting, unlike your's) I often say "ooh, that's tricky - can we come back to that later?". Interviewer always says yes, and then forgets to go back
Just hope they aren't doing a tick sheet for the answers and that failure to answer isn't enough for you to be rejected.With some interview questions (the kind you're not expecting, unlike your's) I often say "ooh, that's tricky - can we come back to that later?". Interviewer always says yes, and then forgets to go back
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