best way to answer this

[Brad Storch]

hi all

I've signed up using an alter ego to my regular PH login because I've possibly given away info on my job in the past and would rather not have that linked to this thread, please.

I'm applying for a new job. It is on the face of it, the perfect job for me.

It will mean leaving the company I have been with for over 15 years, pretty much the only company I've ever worked for since I finished uni.

Here's the tricky bit which I would appreciate guidance on from the PH collective who have possibly done this before:

Until about 5 years ago, I worked in the job advertised, but about 1 level below, and had worked there for 10+ years in various roles working my way up. At that point, 5 or so years ago, my role was made redundant. Now, it wasn't really made redundant, but my true perception and I have never had a straight answer on this from anyone, is that the representative of our client took a dislike to me after I called them out on a bad decision which had negative consequences - but they wanted to save face to their senior managers and I, amongst others, was the fall guy. I don't know how far that particular client rep's influence went within their company and if there remains any negativity towards me, I hope not, as I had a very positive experience with eveyone else, but I worry.

my company showed that they still had faith in me and a new role was found for me off site in a related field, and I remain there currently and am no longer based at the client site where I had been for my whole career up until then.

In the last 5 years, that client rep is no longer with the client, and also, my current company did not secure the business following a retender. So whilst the TUPE process applied to all exisiting staff, I remain where I am. But I want to go back. The new job, one-ish level above is very appealing and I believe I would be the ideal candidate.

How though, do I explain to this new company, the reason for me moving away from the business 5 years ago, considering how much I loved working at that client site and the business sector within it? I don't know if they know anything of me by reputation, I certainly know that I remain friends with a lot of the staff who are still on site and meet with them semi-frequently. But I don't want to appear to be contrary to the belief of working in partnership with the client - a very important tenet of the new role - whilst explaining that the previous client was a massive egotist who failed themselves at making good relationships with those of us who worked at their behest.

I apologise if that is rambling - I will answer questions if that can help but I appreciate any advice given. And if you think you know which regular PH'er I am, again I appreciate that not being spelt out for all to see.

[Gargamel]

The less you say the better.

The phrase you are looking for is 'creative differences' everyone in the room will know what you mean, and you won't need to spell it out.

If pushed just say, you really enjoyed the work, loved the people etc, but felt it was time to move on and explore a new opportunity, especially as there were a few differences of opinion.

I think you are worrying about nothing, its over five years ago, and whlst it probably feels really important to you, no one else cares and even the other chap has probably forgotten all about it !

[Steven_RW]

I'd not get into that discussion at all and haven't asked anyone something similar when interviewing. With so many restructures and changes in business nowadays, all driven by multiple different reasons, I'd not see it as unusual.

[Happy Jim]

"The business had a restructuring event and I took the opportunity of redundancy to explore a new challenge".


After 5 years it will either be totally water under the bridge, or someone will harbour a grudge - if it's the latter it doesn't matter what your answer is.

Jim

[Brad Storch]

Thank you guys, for your responses, the kind of reasoned answer I was hoping for.

I guess yes, I am worried that someone holds a grudge against me. I was 100% right to call this person out on the error they were making, and as they say, the proof was in the pudding. But what I don't know is how much influence they had within the client's own business. They themselves left within a year of my moving on, was this because they finally had their comeuppance, I don't know, or they just moved on. Its difficult when everyone has to play their cards close to their chest, but even though other people within the client business were difficult to deal with, they were not unpleasant to deal with and could be managed by actually doing the job, and reasoned answers to questions were welcomed.

All the reasoning I've seen in other threads - HappyJim you made some excellent points in another thread which I am very much taking on board - is what I hope to be judged on because I believe that I am probably amongst the most experienced people in this particular field, if not the most of the likely pool of applicants. Let's see

[vaud]

The company may have kept your name on file.

Post exit interview we certainly used to keep a record and a simple "would you consider rehiring this person Y/N". Not sure if we still do.