Purely hypothetical, but if you have left a job

[Doc_Lobster]

because of a terrible boss, what did you tell potential employers about why you left?

[wrathofkuus]

I made it all about the science, and talked about what kind of areas I was interested in pursuing rather than what I wanted to stop pursuing, if that makes sense.

[fuckyourcouch]

That the position and company were not in line with my goals and desires.

This has happened to me a ridiculous number of times and only once did the truth come out - because my horrible boss was a former employee of my new boss. My new boss knew EXACTLY what I was alluding to from first hand experience.

[Doc_Lobster]

Dec 18, 2012 23:56:50 GMT -5 wrathofkuus said:

I made it all about the science, and talked about what kind of areas I was interested in pursuing rather than what I wanted to stop pursuing, if that makes sense.

This would work. The job I am doing is in line with my phd work, but it is for a different application and I think it would be believable if I said I wanted to get back to my old area of research. Good thinking.

[gault]

Yeah, talk more about your job growth and where you want to aspire to be in 5 years. I did that to get my current (and also shitty) job. lol

[birdistheword]

I have only been in this position once, but I didn't really have to say much to the people I was interviewing with. My horrible boss was a bigwig in town, so people knew who he was and what a tyrant he was. I think everyone who interviewed me said something along the lines of "I see you work at ________. Sooo...um...how is it working with _________?" I still tried to keep it professional and just said that I wanted to move on because I wasn't in the field I was ultimately interested in, there was no opportunity to move up (which was true), etc. No badmouthing the boss, no matter what.

[mrsjuleshs]

Agree with the others. I am looking due to a HORRIBLE coworker who know one wants to put in check. I am making it out that it is not in line with my career track and that I feel that my skills can be used for much more than my current job allows.

[silva]

oh no.

[Doc_Lobster]

Dec 19, 2012 0:15:22 GMT -5 silva said:

oh no.

Nothing is certain, but I am trying to be prepared because she sucks a bag of dicks.

[silva]

I thought you were getting away from her or your boss was making efforts to keep her in line. I'm sorry.

[CheshireGrin]

I made it about looking for new opportunity and experience, educational opportunities, all that jazz.

Luckily, when I left my last job, my new director knew my old director very well and knew exactly why I was leaving, LOL.

[Doc_Lobster]

Dec 19, 2012 0:17:54 GMT -5 silva said:

I thought you were getting away from her or your boss was making efforts to keep her in line. I'm sorry.

That was only temporary. The two awesome bosses have been protecting me from her thus far, but they are officially retiring and she is taking over full control in January. And she has made it plain that she is just biding her time and that things are going to CHANGE. Worried.

[silva]

dude! So, that is official that she is in charge come jan. man.

[Doc_Lobster]

Yep. I was holding out hope that they would stick around until summer, but no.

[Deleted]

I blame everything on salary, situation, good fit, etc. But I wait tables and wipe baby asses so don't take my advice.

[Deleted]

When I interviewed for the job I have now, I simply said that I was ready for a change because my previous job was my first career job. I also said that I didn't get paid enough for what I was doing. I was mostly honest about it but I didn't say it was because the IT people where treated like crap and lack of management. I'm so much happier now at my new job :-)

[penelope]

I have always heard that you should never bad mouth a previous employer, so I have simply said that I was looking for new areas to grow, learn, and be challenged.

[lightbulbsun]

Luckily for me I was going from a 2 hour each way commute to a 10 minute commute, so I said that was my big issue. It was definitely one of the reasons I wanted a new job, but mainly I hated the company/people I was working with.

[juliahenry]

Focus on positives and opportunities, not on negatives. In other words, talk about what you hope to be able to do in the new position, not about what you hated about the old.

Good luck!

[jaylea]

I just said it wasn't a great fit. It wasn't even the boss, it was the president, who was a loose cannon and kept everyone in the office on edge.

[ECB]

Yes, I did. I worked in HR and the person who I did my exit interview w/ was already fully aware of the issues w/ my boss - so there was no surprise.

BUT it doesn't do any good.

[Deleted]

Dec 19, 2012 9:39:46 GMT -5 ECB said:

Yes, I did. I worked in HR and the person who I did my exit interview w/ was already fully aware of the issues w/ my boss - so there was no surprise.

BUT it doesn't do any good.

This. I know a few people who attempted to say something hoping to save those who were left grief but nothing ever changes. So it's not worth it for you professionally to say anything.

Really what they're looking to find out is if you'll be getting more money, more flexibility, what kind of benefits/compensation the other companies are offering that they haven't looked at or been able to convince management they should consider offering if retention is a concern.

The only person I was ever honest with was a recruiter. I refused to apply at a company a former boss was at because he was that bad and I knew it would ultimately be a bad experience to work for him again. So she provided me with lots of other options.

[malibu]

Luckily, the only job I had in which the boss was horrible closed down, so I had the excuse that the company closed.