“Why are you leaving your job?”
March 30, 2019 1:39 AM Subscribe
A few weeks ago I posted an anonymous Ask about my office. Things have gotten worse, and I’ve started applying for—and getting interviews for—other jobs. How do I explain why I’m leaving this job?
I was hired for a permanent position at a nonprofit a few months ago. The work environment has not been ideal; I had an anxiety attack in a meeting I initiated with my boss about the lack of training.
In that time, my boss had the most senior coworker train me. She has resisted reasonable requests I’ve made (such as scheduling time to go over my work instead of just dropping by my desk whenever and emailing feedback instead of reading it out loud). She has also copied the entire department on her feedback to me (to the point where my coworkers have asked me why they got emails addressed to me); made gross transphobic statements out loud when ostensibly training me; and coercing me into disclosing my disabilities and loudly discussing them in the presence of my coworkers. When I brought the transphobic statements to the attention of the department head, she said that the woman who’s training me gets “snippy” when she’s frustrated. (I’ve been keeping notes with dates and times on my phone and I forwarded the emails to my personal email address.)
I’ve started applying for other work, and I landed a phone interview with another nonprofit in a different field. I know they’re going to ask why I’m leaving this job. All the answers that crossed my mind seem like they’re badmouthing my employers. How can I answer honestly without speaking ill of my current office?
I was hired for a permanent position at a nonprofit a few months ago. The work environment has not been ideal; I had an anxiety attack in a meeting I initiated with my boss about the lack of training.
In that time, my boss had the most senior coworker train me. She has resisted reasonable requests I’ve made (such as scheduling time to go over my work instead of just dropping by my desk whenever and emailing feedback instead of reading it out loud). She has also copied the entire department on her feedback to me (to the point where my coworkers have asked me why they got emails addressed to me); made gross transphobic statements out loud when ostensibly training me; and coercing me into disclosing my disabilities and loudly discussing them in the presence of my coworkers. When I brought the transphobic statements to the attention of the department head, she said that the woman who’s training me gets “snippy” when she’s frustrated. (I’ve been keeping notes with dates and times on my phone and I forwarded the emails to my personal email address.)
I’ve started applying for other work, and I landed a phone interview with another nonprofit in a different field. I know they’re going to ask why I’m leaving this job. All the answers that crossed my mind seem like they’re badmouthing my employers. How can I answer honestly without speaking ill of my current office?
How can I answer honestly without speaking ill of my current office?
"I'm looking for an environment with more structured training and a better cultural fit, plus I'm really exited about this opportunity with your organization."
Most of us have had jobs that are a bad fit, or poor cultural fits. I know it's common wisdom that you're not supposed to say anything negative about your previous jobs, but honestly I've been on both ends of the hiring conversation where the rule was "broken" and I've been hired or the interviewee was.
Don't go overboard with it, of course, but letting on gently that simply found the organization's structure and culture to be a bad match shouldn't kill your chances with employers that are a good fit. Sorry the job is not working well for you.
posted by jzb at 3:44 AM on March 30, 2019 [20 favorites]
"I'm looking for an environment with more structured training and a better cultural fit, plus I'm really exited about this opportunity with your organization."
Most of us have had jobs that are a bad fit, or poor cultural fits. I know it's common wisdom that you're not supposed to say anything negative about your previous jobs, but honestly I've been on both ends of the hiring conversation where the rule was "broken" and I've been hired or the interviewee was.
Don't go overboard with it, of course, but letting on gently that simply found the organization's structure and culture to be a bad match shouldn't kill your chances with employers that are a good fit. Sorry the job is not working well for you.
posted by jzb at 3:44 AM on March 30, 2019 [20 favorites]
"I'm very excited for this opportunity" and "That organization wasn't a great fit".
It's how you say "Christ, those people were fucking assholes" in business speak. Everyone knows what it means, but it doesn't label you a complainer or ne'er-do-well , just someone a) smart enough to see the writing on the wall and move along and b) wise enough to not say "Christ, those people were fucking assholes" out loud.
posted by so fucking future at 8:18 AM on March 30, 2019 [15 favorites]
It's how you say "Christ, those people were fucking assholes" in business speak. Everyone knows what it means, but it doesn't label you a complainer or ne'er-do-well , just someone a) smart enough to see the writing on the wall and move along and b) wise enough to not say "Christ, those people were fucking assholes" out loud.
posted by so fucking future at 8:18 AM on March 30, 2019 [15 favorites]
Another option not mentioned:
"The job didn't turn out to be what I'd expected" (maybe it had a much higher level of routine admin work than you expected, and you're over-qualified).
But definitely, you want to give the idea that you're interested in their job, and ideally have some good reasons for wanting to work with them.
I do a little hiring, and I wouldn't be too worried about you leaving one job quite quickly, as long as it wasn't a pattern. If you were leaving every job in less than two years I might start to wonder if you'd do that to me, too.
posted by Pink Frost at 1:23 PM on March 30, 2019 [3 favorites]
"The job didn't turn out to be what I'd expected" (maybe it had a much higher level of routine admin work than you expected, and you're over-qualified).
But definitely, you want to give the idea that you're interested in their job, and ideally have some good reasons for wanting to work with them.
I do a little hiring, and I wouldn't be too worried about you leaving one job quite quickly, as long as it wasn't a pattern. If you were leaving every job in less than two years I might start to wonder if you'd do that to me, too.
posted by Pink Frost at 1:23 PM on March 30, 2019 [3 favorites]
You’re not running away from the old job, you’re running toward the new one.
“I’m really excited about [NEW ORGANIZATION’S BIG PROJECT]. I think it will really change the space in [NEW ORGANIZATION’S FIELD] by improving blah blah blah....”
“Okay, but why are you leaving [OLD ORGANIZATION]?”
“Because they’re not doing what you’re doing. I want to be part of this.”
posted by Etrigan at 2:35 PM on March 30, 2019 [2 favorites]
“I’m really excited about [NEW ORGANIZATION’S BIG PROJECT]. I think it will really change the space in [NEW ORGANIZATION’S FIELD] by improving blah blah blah....”
“Okay, but why are you leaving [OLD ORGANIZATION]?”
“Because they’re not doing what you’re doing. I want to be part of this.”
posted by Etrigan at 2:35 PM on March 30, 2019 [2 favorites]
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From what I can gather about less regulated employment markets, you don't want to flag yourself as a complainer, sadly.
But wow you have a lot to complain about. I am gobsmacked.
posted by freethefeet at 2:21 AM on March 30, 2019 [6 favorites]