When Your Boss is Your Reason for Leaving Your Job Interviews

When Your Boss is Your Reason for Leaving Your Job â€" Interviews One of my resume clients (lets call him/her Pat) reported to the CEO of a start-up business unit of a Fortune 500 company. Pat grew the business units sales so effectively that the CEO felt threatened. As the relationship deteriorated, the CEOs behavior became Pats reason for leaving the company.Reason for Leaving Is a Popular Interview QuestionAs we all know, Why are you leaving your job? is one of the most popular interview questions.When I recruited, my first interview with viable candidates covered their entire education and work history. I asked:Why they chose their school(s).What made them pick their major(s).Why they took each of their jobs.Their reason for leaving each of their jobs.As we walked through their professional lives, I looked for patterns and specific red flags. I didnt care too much if a candidate had run into one boss they didnt like. However, if I saw a pattern of negative resignations, firings, or other problems, I rarely advanced the person to the next round of structured, behavior-based interviews.Interestingly, those first interviews ruled out about 50% of the people who had appealing resumes.Prepare for These QuestionsThus, Pat would benefit from preparing to answer these questions for each job s/he has had:Why did you take this job?Why did you leave this job?Because answers to the second question can be deal-killers, you need to be ready!How to Answer, Whats Your Reason for Leaving Your Job?Pat and I batted this question around for a while and then I suggested that I crowdsource some ideas on LinkedIn. Pat loved that idea, so I asked for help.If youre not a member of a job club, remember that LinkedIn can be a wonderful, helpful resource for you.We got great ideas and good reasons for leaving:Tell the TruthSeveral people suggested mentioning the problem in a tactful manner. Pat and I had discussed this, but it didnt feel quite right. Annette Richmond, a resume writer, pointed out that when you volunteer anything negative, the interv iewer might wonder:What youll say about them when you leave their company.If youre a complainer (and who wants to work with that person?). Step Around the Elephant in the RoomOther people suggested tactfully skirting your real reason for leaving. Andy Foote, a LinkedIn coach, suggested the following:Though I havehad many successes at X Companyto take my career to the next level, I need to move to an organization which provides different challenges and opportunities.As a former recruiter, that answer would have made me wonder if the candidate was leaving something out. While I would have received their tactfulness positively, I would also have made a note to ask each of their references why they were leaving.Thus, if you use the tactful type of answer, line up your references, including your boss, to give the same answer for your departure that youve given.BTW, whether you resign or get fired, its always a good idea to talk with HR and your boss about how they will handle reference c alls about you.If the Potential Employer Presses You for DetailsHeather Flanagan, a consultant who facilitates large, global collaborative efforts, mentioned that your body language needs to match your words.If it doesnt, and youve given a tactful answer, a recruiter or hiring manager might press you for details.That could sound like, I understand youre looking for an opportunity to grow, and we would offer you career growth, but is there anything else driving your departure from X Company?If Pressed About Your Reason for Leaving, How to RespondNow that youve been pressed, you can say, My boss and I worked together successfully for several years, but a few things shifted recently. That, coupled with my desire for the types of challenges and career path your job offers, brought me here today. Then smile and say nothing.If the interviewer continues to probe, add, I hope youll let me omit the finer details. (Thanks to community manager, Elad Yakobowicz, for that language.)Tell a Truthf ul, Data-Based Story Add a PitchDal Jeanis, a data consultant, added powerful quantitative data and much of the following language to this response:I tripled the businesss sales in the last X months and trained my successor. Because I report to the CEO, who plans to stay put, I have limited opportunity for growth. I will leave on good terms, but I am looking for my next challenge.(segue to pitch)What fascinates me about this role is the opportunity to work for a company that (describe how your skillset can be used and what can be accomplished).AppreciationI want to thank everyone who generously contributed their ideas and interview tips to support Pats job interviews. S/he sends thanks as well. Whether you left your last job, or it left you, talking about reasons for leaving previous jobs is tough for most job seekers.Image: Jérôme Rommé 2019, Donna Svei. All rights reserved.Donna SveiDonna Svei, an executive resume writer and former C-level executive, retained search consultant , and CPA, writes all of AvidCareerists posts. She has written for and been quoted by leading business, general, and career media outlets, including Forbes, Mashable, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, Business Insider, Lifehacker, Ask.com, Social Media Today, IT World, SmartBrief, Payscale, Business News Daily, and the Muse. Let her background and experience inform your job search strategy and decision making.Learn more about Donnas executive resume writing service or email Donna for more information. Interviews â€" Questions (3 Posts)