Showing posts with label job termination - quit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label job termination - quit. Show all posts
Monday, September 21, 2009
I Quit My Job. Can I Erase a Bad Job Reference?
The job market is turbulent. Employers and employees are stressed, and it's showing in their professional -- and unprofessional -- behaviors. Unfortunately, it's often the job seeker who suffers the most, ending up with a bad job reference when employer and employee part company. Can you erase bad job references from your record? That's what the following job seeker would like to do. Continue reading...
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Five-Month Gap in Employment
Question
I worked at a company for 5 years, left for 5 months, and then returned to the same company. On my resume I have listed just years, thus leaving out the 5-month gap (because the gap happened within the same year). Continue reading...
I worked at a company for 5 years, left for 5 months, and then returned to the same company. On my resume I have listed just years, thus leaving out the 5-month gap (because the gap happened within the same year). Continue reading...
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Job Hopper's Resume
Question
I recently quit a job after 3 months of employment because I felt it was unprofessional. I do not want to put this on my resume as it adds to the many short-term jobs already listed. None of the jobs pertinent to my job field (administrative assistant) lasted longer than 8 months. I have a few about 6 months long, one 8-month position, and the aforementioned 3-month stint. With the exception of the last job, it was not my fault that I was let go. I quit a part-time job, was laid off due to a slow market, fired after a car accident and again, quit the most recent job. I want my resume to stand out, Continue reading...
I recently quit a job after 3 months of employment because I felt it was unprofessional. I do not want to put this on my resume as it adds to the many short-term jobs already listed. None of the jobs pertinent to my job field (administrative assistant) lasted longer than 8 months. I have a few about 6 months long, one 8-month position, and the aforementioned 3-month stint. With the exception of the last job, it was not my fault that I was let go. I quit a part-time job, was laid off due to a slow market, fired after a car accident and again, quit the most recent job. I want my resume to stand out, Continue reading...
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Charged for Physical After Quitting Job
Question
I took a job at a company in January as a security system technician. I have nine years in this field, so I know what I'm doing. I accepted this job on the premise that I would be given plenty of overtime and a pay raise after 60 days. There were also two other companies that I was accepted to. I took the drug test, physical, and they did the background check, then I began work.
Well, there was no raise, even after repeated visits directly to the owner's office. On top of that, I was lucky to get eight hours a day, let alone any overtime. The company had a terribly slow workload, and I was never made aware of this.
Naturally, I began looking for a more lucrative job, which I found in June. I didn't work out a notice, which is actually pretty common in the security business. When I received my final pay stub in the mail, I found out that they had deducted $145.00 for the physical that I was required to have prior to employment. Nowhere did I sign any document stating that I was financially responsible for a mandatory physical, nor was I ever told that I would have to pay for it if I ever quit my job.
My basic question is: can they do this legally, and if not, what are my next steps? I talked to a former employee who had over $500 held from his final check, listed on his stub as 'insurance', which was deducted from every check in the first place. I want to know what these guys are up to, and if there's anything I can do to get my money. Thanks, and I look forward to your reply.
Ed
Answer
by Alexander Kjerulf, Chief Happiness Officer
Dear Ed
I agree totally with you that this company has treated you unfairly, and I commend you for going out and finding yourself a better job. That's the way to do it: Fix it where you are or move on to a better place.
As for the $145, here's my advice to you: Ask the company if this is a mistake, and if so, ask for your money back.
And here's the crucial part: If they refuse, just let it go! I have no idea whether what they've done is legal or not, but I can tell you that the fight to get that money back may drag out and cause you a lot of frustration. It's not worth it over a piddling $145.
You could, of course, take a stand over the principle of it, but in my experience, you'd do better to just forget about it, move on and enjoy your new job.
This advice relies on one of those skills we don't often focus on or learn: The skill of letting go. Without this skill, we're forced to fight every battle, to address every injustice, and to right every wrong ever done us, which can get pretty exhausting in the end.
I took a job at a company in January as a security system technician. I have nine years in this field, so I know what I'm doing. I accepted this job on the premise that I would be given plenty of overtime and a pay raise after 60 days. There were also two other companies that I was accepted to. I took the drug test, physical, and they did the background check, then I began work.
Well, there was no raise, even after repeated visits directly to the owner's office. On top of that, I was lucky to get eight hours a day, let alone any overtime. The company had a terribly slow workload, and I was never made aware of this.
Naturally, I began looking for a more lucrative job, which I found in June. I didn't work out a notice, which is actually pretty common in the security business. When I received my final pay stub in the mail, I found out that they had deducted $145.00 for the physical that I was required to have prior to employment. Nowhere did I sign any document stating that I was financially responsible for a mandatory physical, nor was I ever told that I would have to pay for it if I ever quit my job.
My basic question is: can they do this legally, and if not, what are my next steps? I talked to a former employee who had over $500 held from his final check, listed on his stub as 'insurance', which was deducted from every check in the first place. I want to know what these guys are up to, and if there's anything I can do to get my money. Thanks, and I look forward to your reply.
Ed
Answer
by Alexander Kjerulf, Chief Happiness Officer
Dear Ed
I agree totally with you that this company has treated you unfairly, and I commend you for going out and finding yourself a better job. That's the way to do it: Fix it where you are or move on to a better place.
As for the $145, here's my advice to you: Ask the company if this is a mistake, and if so, ask for your money back.
And here's the crucial part: If they refuse, just let it go! I have no idea whether what they've done is legal or not, but I can tell you that the fight to get that money back may drag out and cause you a lot of frustration. It's not worth it over a piddling $145.
You could, of course, take a stand over the principle of it, but in my experience, you'd do better to just forget about it, move on and enjoy your new job.
This advice relies on one of those skills we don't often focus on or learn: The skill of letting go. Without this skill, we're forced to fight every battle, to address every injustice, and to right every wrong ever done us, which can get pretty exhausting in the end.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Talk about Quitting Your Job
Question
The job that I had was terrible after a few manager changes. I was tired of being constantly picked on when others were doing the same things. I would get in trouble and they would be let slide. I finally got fed up with it one day and just walked out.
Now I am looking for employment in the same line of work that I did at that job. I am worried that it will come back to bite me. What do I put on the application for my reason for leaving that job? I am also worried how to explain walking out and I do not want to bad mouth that company to the new potential employer. How do I approach that when asked in the interview?
Really need your help in Michigan
Answer
by Marc Effron, VP, Talent Management, Avon Products
For the application and interviewing process, the best policy is to be honest and to keep the discussion positive. Although you left because you felt there was unequal treatment, the consequence of that unequal treatment is what you should focus on. Did you feel that you wouldn’t be able to advance in that job or learn new skills because of that treatment? Would you not be able to get a fair salary/wage increase because of it? This should be what you put down on the application and can discuss in the interview.
Also, it will help greatly if you got along with your other managers and can explain that you were very happy at that job until the current manager started. We’ve all had a bad manager and your interviewer will hopefully understand that your quitting was just a reaction to the new manager.
In the interview, do not say that you were “constantly picked on” or that others were treated better than you were. This might be true, but it could cause the interviewer to feel that you would be a difficult employee if you were hired.
About walking off the job, there’s no easy explanation for that. On both the application and in the interview, keep your answers short, clear and direct when asked about the situation.
Be sure to practice those difficult answers in advance so you’re confident and calm when you’re asked. Always focus your answers on how you can serve this new company and how excited you are about the opportunity.
I hope that helps and good luck!
Marc Effron is Vice President, Talent Management for Avon Products. He has authored two books (including Leading the Way and numerous articles about leadership. He is a frequent speaker at industry events.
Susan Ireland’s Two Cents
From How to Quit Your Job:
The post moves into a full article by Elise Waxman from FastCompany.com, in which Elise describes scenarios of two job quitters, why they quit, and how they handled their departures.
The job that I had was terrible after a few manager changes. I was tired of being constantly picked on when others were doing the same things. I would get in trouble and they would be let slide. I finally got fed up with it one day and just walked out.
Now I am looking for employment in the same line of work that I did at that job. I am worried that it will come back to bite me. What do I put on the application for my reason for leaving that job? I am also worried how to explain walking out and I do not want to bad mouth that company to the new potential employer. How do I approach that when asked in the interview?
Really need your help in Michigan
Answer
by Marc Effron, VP, Talent Management, Avon Products
For the application and interviewing process, the best policy is to be honest and to keep the discussion positive. Although you left because you felt there was unequal treatment, the consequence of that unequal treatment is what you should focus on. Did you feel that you wouldn’t be able to advance in that job or learn new skills because of that treatment? Would you not be able to get a fair salary/wage increase because of it? This should be what you put down on the application and can discuss in the interview.
Also, it will help greatly if you got along with your other managers and can explain that you were very happy at that job until the current manager started. We’ve all had a bad manager and your interviewer will hopefully understand that your quitting was just a reaction to the new manager.
In the interview, do not say that you were “constantly picked on” or that others were treated better than you were. This might be true, but it could cause the interviewer to feel that you would be a difficult employee if you were hired.
About walking off the job, there’s no easy explanation for that. On both the application and in the interview, keep your answers short, clear and direct when asked about the situation.
Be sure to practice those difficult answers in advance so you’re confident and calm when you’re asked. Always focus your answers on how you can serve this new company and how excited you are about the opportunity.
I hope that helps and good luck!
Marc Effron is Vice President, Talent Management for Avon Products. He has authored two books (including Leading the Way and numerous articles about leadership. He is a frequent speaker at industry events.
Susan Ireland’s Two Cents
From How to Quit Your Job:
You spend at least a third of your time — and maybe much more — at work, so it’s time to learn the difference between a job you ride out and one you need to leave.
The post moves into a full article by Elise Waxman from FastCompany.com, in which Elise describes scenarios of two job quitters, why they quit, and how they handled their departures.
Find high quality Hispanic jobs at LatPro.com.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Boss’s Personal Life is Ruining my Job
Question
I'm in a very big dilemma and request absolute anonymity due to the fact that there is actually a publication ban on the ongoing legal matter with my boss.
My situation is this: I'm an Executive Assistant to a Vice President of a high profile public company. We have worked together for six years and although we get along great, he is very moody and we have had the odd run-in over the years. About a year ago he confided in me that his ex-partner (he's gay) and he had split up and that he sensed things were going to get nasty. Well, they got nasty all right. My boss has a child through a mutual friend of his and his ex-partner. The ex-partner is going after joint custody of the child and has also been blackmailing my boss by threatening to expose him in the company, the papers, etc that he is gay.
I have tried to be supportive, but feel that I've been put in a position whereby I can't say no to my boss. I have been asked to attend court with him, accompany him on the drop-offs and pick-ups of his child when the other party gets visitation, field calls from his ex-partner, photocopy legal documents well into the evening hours, etc. It has made it difficult to focus on my own job and, furthermore, he is taking all of his stress out on me. He snaps at me constantly, slams the door and doesn't talk to me for days on end. I don't feel I can go to our Human Resources department because I don't want to reveal too much of what is going on, although everyone realizes something is going on because my boss, usually a very well-dressed individual, has let himself go, doesn't focus in meetings, etc. The long and short is that no one knows he's gay let alone what is going on in his personal life.
How do I handle this? I've tried to talk to him about the way he treats me and he just snaps at me that it's in my head, which it clearly isn't. I fear he's going to fire me and I would like to know if what he has put me through in the past year will pull any weight as far as getting a good severance package. I know that he can't fire me without cause, but I think what he's trying to do is make me miserable so I'll quit because he fears that I know too much now and doesn't want to risk keeping me. Do I quit or do I tough it out and wait to see what he does? If I do quit, should I quit due to what he's put me through the last year and consult a lawyer?
Help!
--- Anonymous
Answer
by Jeanne Knight, JCTC, CCMC, Career and Job Search Coach
How difficult it must be for you to watch your boss’s behavior change before your eyes. It sounds like you had a nice relationship with him until his personal life soured, and then his behavior changed and he’s been taking his stress out on you. You are definitely in a tough spot and I’m afraid to say there’s no easy solution. The fact that you have tried talking to your boss and he has not validated your feelings or apologized for his behavior tells me that the situation will not change anytime in the near future. This means you have just a few choices.
One option is to try talking to him again, but to wait until a time when he appears calm and rational. Timing is everything, and picking a time when he seems relaxed, in an amicable mood, and open to a professional conversation will increase your chances of him truly hearing how difficult the situation is for you. You don’t want to speak to him in an accusing manner, for that will only cause him to be defensive. Instead, share with him how badly you feel for what he is going through and then explain that there have been times when you have felt uncomfortable with the interactions between the two of you and that you miss the way the two of you interacted in the past. Be very specific about what you’d like changed, for example, saying something like, “I understand how stressful your situation must be for you, but sometimes I feel that you snap at me for no reason and I find that really uncomfortable. I’m happy to talk anytime you’d like, but I really need to not be snapped at in order to get my work done.”
If talking to him doesn’t seem feasible, then you need to decide if this is a job you want to stay in, as I suspect his behavior will not change, which could put your job at risk. It’s always best to leave a job before being terminated, even if severance is part of the termination package. Leaving on your own gives you a sense of empowerment that can be lost if you leave because you’ve been asked to.
If he does fire you, then getting a severance package may be difficult because you’ve not made Human Resources aware of the difficulty of your situation. They will have a tendency to hear only his side of the story, and by then it may be too late to share your side and receive severance. So I would seriously consider moving on to a situation that is interesting and challenging, with a manager who treats you professionally and with the respect you deserve.
This is the one aspect of the situation that you have control over, so I urge you to take advantage of that. Update your resume so that it reflects your greatest skills, experience and accomplishments, and then start applying to positions you would find interesting. Do that now while you’re still employed and your self-esteem is still intact. If asked why you’re leaving, you can simply state that you’ve been with your present employer for a long time and it’s time for a change… you’re seeking new challenges and growth opportunities in a different environment.
Since you can’t change your boss’s behavior, the best strategy is to take advantage of what you do have control of. Try talking to him again if that makes sense. Otherwise, your best bet may be to move on to a position that you feel comfortable in and can thrive at. Good luck to you!
Jeanne Knight is a certified Career Coach/Resume Expert who helps senior professionals and executives navigate career transitions. She offers career and job search coaching as well as resume writing services. She is also the creator of “10 Steps To Interviewing With Confidence”, a 60-minute DVD program that offers a step-by-step process for succeeding on interviews.
Susan Ireland’s Two Cents
Once you’ve found your next job, you’ll be in a good position to leave the one you currently have (and your boss and his problems). William Nichols says:
I'm in a very big dilemma and request absolute anonymity due to the fact that there is actually a publication ban on the ongoing legal matter with my boss.
My situation is this: I'm an Executive Assistant to a Vice President of a high profile public company. We have worked together for six years and although we get along great, he is very moody and we have had the odd run-in over the years. About a year ago he confided in me that his ex-partner (he's gay) and he had split up and that he sensed things were going to get nasty. Well, they got nasty all right. My boss has a child through a mutual friend of his and his ex-partner. The ex-partner is going after joint custody of the child and has also been blackmailing my boss by threatening to expose him in the company, the papers, etc that he is gay.
I have tried to be supportive, but feel that I've been put in a position whereby I can't say no to my boss. I have been asked to attend court with him, accompany him on the drop-offs and pick-ups of his child when the other party gets visitation, field calls from his ex-partner, photocopy legal documents well into the evening hours, etc. It has made it difficult to focus on my own job and, furthermore, he is taking all of his stress out on me. He snaps at me constantly, slams the door and doesn't talk to me for days on end. I don't feel I can go to our Human Resources department because I don't want to reveal too much of what is going on, although everyone realizes something is going on because my boss, usually a very well-dressed individual, has let himself go, doesn't focus in meetings, etc. The long and short is that no one knows he's gay let alone what is going on in his personal life.
How do I handle this? I've tried to talk to him about the way he treats me and he just snaps at me that it's in my head, which it clearly isn't. I fear he's going to fire me and I would like to know if what he has put me through in the past year will pull any weight as far as getting a good severance package. I know that he can't fire me without cause, but I think what he's trying to do is make me miserable so I'll quit because he fears that I know too much now and doesn't want to risk keeping me. Do I quit or do I tough it out and wait to see what he does? If I do quit, should I quit due to what he's put me through the last year and consult a lawyer?
Help!
--- Anonymous
Answer
by Jeanne Knight, JCTC, CCMC, Career and Job Search Coach
How difficult it must be for you to watch your boss’s behavior change before your eyes. It sounds like you had a nice relationship with him until his personal life soured, and then his behavior changed and he’s been taking his stress out on you. You are definitely in a tough spot and I’m afraid to say there’s no easy solution. The fact that you have tried talking to your boss and he has not validated your feelings or apologized for his behavior tells me that the situation will not change anytime in the near future. This means you have just a few choices.
One option is to try talking to him again, but to wait until a time when he appears calm and rational. Timing is everything, and picking a time when he seems relaxed, in an amicable mood, and open to a professional conversation will increase your chances of him truly hearing how difficult the situation is for you. You don’t want to speak to him in an accusing manner, for that will only cause him to be defensive. Instead, share with him how badly you feel for what he is going through and then explain that there have been times when you have felt uncomfortable with the interactions between the two of you and that you miss the way the two of you interacted in the past. Be very specific about what you’d like changed, for example, saying something like, “I understand how stressful your situation must be for you, but sometimes I feel that you snap at me for no reason and I find that really uncomfortable. I’m happy to talk anytime you’d like, but I really need to not be snapped at in order to get my work done.”
If talking to him doesn’t seem feasible, then you need to decide if this is a job you want to stay in, as I suspect his behavior will not change, which could put your job at risk. It’s always best to leave a job before being terminated, even if severance is part of the termination package. Leaving on your own gives you a sense of empowerment that can be lost if you leave because you’ve been asked to.
If he does fire you, then getting a severance package may be difficult because you’ve not made Human Resources aware of the difficulty of your situation. They will have a tendency to hear only his side of the story, and by then it may be too late to share your side and receive severance. So I would seriously consider moving on to a situation that is interesting and challenging, with a manager who treats you professionally and with the respect you deserve.
This is the one aspect of the situation that you have control over, so I urge you to take advantage of that. Update your resume so that it reflects your greatest skills, experience and accomplishments, and then start applying to positions you would find interesting. Do that now while you’re still employed and your self-esteem is still intact. If asked why you’re leaving, you can simply state that you’ve been with your present employer for a long time and it’s time for a change… you’re seeking new challenges and growth opportunities in a different environment.
Since you can’t change your boss’s behavior, the best strategy is to take advantage of what you do have control of. Try talking to him again if that makes sense. Otherwise, your best bet may be to move on to a position that you feel comfortable in and can thrive at. Good luck to you!
Jeanne Knight is a certified Career Coach/Resume Expert who helps senior professionals and executives navigate career transitions. She offers career and job search coaching as well as resume writing services. She is also the creator of “10 Steps To Interviewing With Confidence”, a 60-minute DVD program that offers a step-by-step process for succeeding on interviews.
Susan Ireland’s Two Cents
Once you’ve found your next job, you’ll be in a good position to leave the one you currently have (and your boss and his problems). William Nichols says:
Though you may have fantasized about telling your present boss to take this job and, well, you know how the song goes, there is a right way and a wrong way to quit a joband just up and quitting in a bout of anger is definitely the wrong way. The right method of quitting a job means formally resigning from your position.In his post, Proper Technique for Quitting a Job, Nichols goes on to explain exactly how to make the break.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Bad Boss, Bad Reference
Question
I am currently employed in a job where my boss is sure to give me a terrible reference due to the fact that we have had personality conflicts all along the way. I do not respect her or the vile things she has done to me and to other coworkers (I truly believe she is unbalanced, quite honestly----for one, she lies, without batting a lash, about the most outlandish things) and I am afraid that I will never get a good reference out of her.
Furthermore, she is the person to talk to about job references about me...no other manager/authority will intervene. The common remedy for this situation is usually: "Oh, by law, so-and-so will not give you a bad reference because she cannot say anything damning about you for fear of being sued." Trust me, this woman can put across her poison to any potential employer to let them know what she really thinks of me without getting herself into legal trouble. I've seen her knife others in a similar fashion.
I have just graduated from Howard University with a BA Degree in Arts Management and she is the most prominent obstacle to my escaping from this horrible situation and into a dream job.
I repeat, no good or neutral reference to be had from this woman. What possible remedy can there be for me??
Answer
by Alexander Kjerulf, Chief Happiness Officer
Oh man, that sucks! When a person is both messing up your work life and happens to be the gatekeeper preventing you from seeking new employment – that's a really tough situation.
Here's my advice: Get out of there anyway. Now. Today. Don't wait to find a new job, just quit.
I agree that this will make finding your next job more difficult – but this is unlikely to change any time soon. Her review will be just as vile in 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. Get out of Dodge now, while you still have some energy, sanity and optimism left.
Here are a few ideas when you're looking for your next job:
Can you get away with not mentioning your employment at this company? You're a recent graduate, after all. Maybe it won't look so strange on your resume to simply leave out this job.
Alternatively, can you get 3 or 4 references from other people in your current workplace? From other bosses, co-workers – possibly even customers. These should be glowingly positive. You can then use these references to offset her bad one.
Finally, you could simply explain the situation to future employers. Interpersonal conflicts are nothing new, and you're hardly the first person who doesn't get along with a boss. If you choose to do it this way, make sure to say nothing negative about your old boss. Not one word. Simply say that you didn't have great chemistry.
The important thing is for you to get away from her. The sooner the better!
I am currently employed in a job where my boss is sure to give me a terrible reference due to the fact that we have had personality conflicts all along the way. I do not respect her or the vile things she has done to me and to other coworkers (I truly believe she is unbalanced, quite honestly----for one, she lies, without batting a lash, about the most outlandish things) and I am afraid that I will never get a good reference out of her.
Furthermore, she is the person to talk to about job references about me...no other manager/authority will intervene. The common remedy for this situation is usually: "Oh, by law, so-and-so will not give you a bad reference because she cannot say anything damning about you for fear of being sued." Trust me, this woman can put across her poison to any potential employer to let them know what she really thinks of me without getting herself into legal trouble. I've seen her knife others in a similar fashion.
I have just graduated from Howard University with a BA Degree in Arts Management and she is the most prominent obstacle to my escaping from this horrible situation and into a dream job.
I repeat, no good or neutral reference to be had from this woman. What possible remedy can there be for me??
Answer
by Alexander Kjerulf, Chief Happiness Officer
Oh man, that sucks! When a person is both messing up your work life and happens to be the gatekeeper preventing you from seeking new employment – that's a really tough situation.
Here's my advice: Get out of there anyway. Now. Today. Don't wait to find a new job, just quit.
I agree that this will make finding your next job more difficult – but this is unlikely to change any time soon. Her review will be just as vile in 6 months, 1 year or 5 years. Get out of Dodge now, while you still have some energy, sanity and optimism left.
Here are a few ideas when you're looking for your next job:
Can you get away with not mentioning your employment at this company? You're a recent graduate, after all. Maybe it won't look so strange on your resume to simply leave out this job.
Alternatively, can you get 3 or 4 references from other people in your current workplace? From other bosses, co-workers – possibly even customers. These should be glowingly positive. You can then use these references to offset her bad one.
Finally, you could simply explain the situation to future employers. Interpersonal conflicts are nothing new, and you're hardly the first person who doesn't get along with a boss. If you choose to do it this way, make sure to say nothing negative about your old boss. Not one word. Simply say that you didn't have great chemistry.
The important thing is for you to get away from her. The sooner the better!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Workplace Gone Sour… Time to Quit
Question
I faced lots of problems in my last job, As I came from a different country, the people I worked with used to laugh at my accent and took advantage of my being nice to them. I was always asked to do many tasks that were not in my job description. The situation was so unfair and I was so upset I left the job and came home.
Now I am looking for work, but the main problem I am facing is that employers ask the reason for leaving my last job. I tried to be honest a few times but it didn't work so I have to be smart and reply tactfully.
What is the best answer in this situation?
Thanks
D.
U.K
Answer
by Richard Yadon, CPC, President/CEO, HealthCareerProfessionals
Your reason for your departure is completely rational and understandable. No one wants to, or should, work in a disrespectful and hostile environment. If you tried to resolve the problems through the correct channels and nothing changed, you were probably correct to leave.
Although your reason for leaving is understandable, how you explain it to prospective employers will make all the difference in their response. For instance, if you say something like, "Everyone at my last job ridiculed me, made fun of my accent, and treated me unfairly." it can sound like you have an "everyone's against me" attitude. While the statement may be true, few employers are going to believe that everyone was after you.
When asked why you left your last job, say something like this:
"Mr. /Ms. Prospective employer (use their real name, of course), have you ever worked in a place where a few unhappy and bitter people spoiled the atmosphere for everyone else? That was the situation at my last place of employment. After a time they made it such an unpleasant place to be, I didn’t want to be around them for 8 to 10 hours a day. So I made the decision to find a more positive place to work, which is why I'm so excited about the opportunity to work with you."
You'll want to rework this to fit your personality. The point is to come across with as someone who has a positive outlook and confidence in his personal values. Employers will respect this – at least the employer's you'd want to work for.
Susan Ireland's Two Cents
The Big Dip: Ten Questions with Seth Godin is an interview by Guy Kawasaki about “the topics of perseverance and quitting.” The interview is not specifically about careers, but I think this brief excerpt is relevant to our post:
I faced lots of problems in my last job, As I came from a different country, the people I worked with used to laugh at my accent and took advantage of my being nice to them. I was always asked to do many tasks that were not in my job description. The situation was so unfair and I was so upset I left the job and came home.
Now I am looking for work, but the main problem I am facing is that employers ask the reason for leaving my last job. I tried to be honest a few times but it didn't work so I have to be smart and reply tactfully.
What is the best answer in this situation?
Thanks
D.
U.K
Answer
by Richard Yadon, CPC, President/CEO, HealthCareerProfessionals
Your reason for your departure is completely rational and understandable. No one wants to, or should, work in a disrespectful and hostile environment. If you tried to resolve the problems through the correct channels and nothing changed, you were probably correct to leave.
Although your reason for leaving is understandable, how you explain it to prospective employers will make all the difference in their response. For instance, if you say something like, "Everyone at my last job ridiculed me, made fun of my accent, and treated me unfairly." it can sound like you have an "everyone's against me" attitude. While the statement may be true, few employers are going to believe that everyone was after you.
When asked why you left your last job, say something like this:
"Mr. /Ms. Prospective employer (use their real name, of course), have you ever worked in a place where a few unhappy and bitter people spoiled the atmosphere for everyone else? That was the situation at my last place of employment. After a time they made it such an unpleasant place to be, I didn’t want to be around them for 8 to 10 hours a day. So I made the decision to find a more positive place to work, which is why I'm so excited about the opportunity to work with you."
You'll want to rework this to fit your personality. The point is to come across with as someone who has a positive outlook and confidence in his personal values. Employers will respect this – at least the employer's you'd want to work for.
Susan Ireland's Two Cents
The Big Dip: Ten Questions with Seth Godin is an interview by Guy Kawasaki about “the topics of perseverance and quitting.” The interview is not specifically about careers, but I think this brief excerpt is relevant to our post:
Question: Other than hindsight, how does someone know when it’s time to quit?
Answer: It’s time to quit when you secretly realize you’ve been settling for mediocrity all along. It’s time to quit when the things you’re measuring aren’t improving, and you can’t find anything better to measure.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Mom Wants Her Old Job Back
Question
I was just wondering the protocol in my situation. A couple of years ago I was expecting, I told my boss that most likely I would be quitting when my child was born. He said it was fine, he encouraged me to go ahead and get my maternity leave, and just "quit" when my maternity leave was over. He said it didn’t matter if I wanted to come back in three months, or three years, I could always come back.
Well, I called him a couple of days ago and left a message saying that I was interested in returning to work. He hasn’t called me back. What do I do now? I definitely don’t want to harass him. He was a great boss and I have a lot of respect for him. Please help.
-- Marie
Answer
by Bridget Oakes, Senior Search Consultant
Marie, great question!
First, keep in mind that your former boss is probably quite busy and simply hasn’t had the opportunity to return your call. But you should consider that there is a right way and a wrong way to approach the situation. Your boss may have told you “Three months or three years” but much can change in that time. (I assume you’ve taken the step of making sure he’s still with the company.)
Let’s look at a few scenarios to help you figure out the best approach:
If you’ve kept in close contact with your boss over the last couple of years while you were not employed, a simple “I’m ready to come back to work” might be a perfectly acceptable approach.
If you haven’t spoken to him since you left, calling him with the expectation of returning to your previous position may seem presumptuous, even rude.
If it has been more than six months since you last spoke with your former employer, I try this approach like:
“Hello Mr. Bossman (use his real name, of course), this is Marie (and your last name) calling. I know we haven’t spoken in some time, but I wanted to touch base with you because I’m exploring the possibility of returning to the workforce. I enjoyed working with you and I was hoping to discuss the possibility of retuning to work with your company.”
The beauty of this approach is that you leave his options open. “Your” old job likely belongs to someone else now, and unless he already wants to fire that person, it’s unlikely that you’ll be returning to the exact role you vacated. I would also resist the urge to remind him of the statement he made about “three months or three years;” people sometimes don’t mean exactly what they say.
If you are still struggling to get a response from him after using this last method, you may want to alter the purpose of your call, perhaps asking him to act as a reference. That might make it easier for him to give you a positive reply.
Bridget Oakes is a Senior Search Consultant with Partners in Technology. With nearly 10 years experience in executive search and recruiting, she is well equipped to provide advice and guidance to candidates searching for new careers, and welcomes the opportunity to do so through The Job Lounge.
Susan Ireland's Two Cents
Marie, please check out the following posts in The Job Lounge to learn about resources to help moms returning to the workforce.
Mom Re-Enters World of Employment
The Comeback Mom
Job Lounger, do you have a question? Email it to me and I’ll post your question and an expert’s answer here in The Job Lounge.
I was just wondering the protocol in my situation. A couple of years ago I was expecting, I told my boss that most likely I would be quitting when my child was born. He said it was fine, he encouraged me to go ahead and get my maternity leave, and just "quit" when my maternity leave was over. He said it didn’t matter if I wanted to come back in three months, or three years, I could always come back.
Well, I called him a couple of days ago and left a message saying that I was interested in returning to work. He hasn’t called me back. What do I do now? I definitely don’t want to harass him. He was a great boss and I have a lot of respect for him. Please help.
-- Marie
Answer
by Bridget Oakes, Senior Search Consultant
Marie, great question!
First, keep in mind that your former boss is probably quite busy and simply hasn’t had the opportunity to return your call. But you should consider that there is a right way and a wrong way to approach the situation. Your boss may have told you “Three months or three years” but much can change in that time. (I assume you’ve taken the step of making sure he’s still with the company.)
Let’s look at a few scenarios to help you figure out the best approach:
If you’ve kept in close contact with your boss over the last couple of years while you were not employed, a simple “I’m ready to come back to work” might be a perfectly acceptable approach.
If you haven’t spoken to him since you left, calling him with the expectation of returning to your previous position may seem presumptuous, even rude.
If it has been more than six months since you last spoke with your former employer, I try this approach like:
“Hello Mr. Bossman (use his real name, of course), this is Marie (and your last name) calling. I know we haven’t spoken in some time, but I wanted to touch base with you because I’m exploring the possibility of returning to the workforce. I enjoyed working with you and I was hoping to discuss the possibility of retuning to work with your company.”
The beauty of this approach is that you leave his options open. “Your” old job likely belongs to someone else now, and unless he already wants to fire that person, it’s unlikely that you’ll be returning to the exact role you vacated. I would also resist the urge to remind him of the statement he made about “three months or three years;” people sometimes don’t mean exactly what they say.
If you are still struggling to get a response from him after using this last method, you may want to alter the purpose of your call, perhaps asking him to act as a reference. That might make it easier for him to give you a positive reply.
Bridget Oakes is a Senior Search Consultant with Partners in Technology. With nearly 10 years experience in executive search and recruiting, she is well equipped to provide advice and guidance to candidates searching for new careers, and welcomes the opportunity to do so through The Job Lounge.
Susan Ireland's Two Cents
Marie, please check out the following posts in The Job Lounge to learn about resources to help moms returning to the workforce.
Mom Re-Enters World of Employment
The Comeback Mom
Job Lounger, do you have a question? Email it to me and I’ll post your question and an expert’s answer here in The Job Lounge.
Monday, January 15, 2007
How to Leave a Job
Question
I've been working at my current job for 2.5 years during which time I was promoted (I started right out of college). For various reasons - personal as well I'm interested in a new professional challenge - I have decided to relocate from NY to DC.
How do I approach my employer with this information knowing that I will also be asking her to be a reference? And does my resume absolutely have to be 1 page or can I squeeze it to 1.5 pages? -- Renee-Lauren
Answer by Roberta Rosen, Career Coach
I’ll answer your resume question first. I suggest you read over your 1.5 pages with a very critical eye. Ask yourself, “Is everything I’ve included important to help convince my next employer that I can do the job well?” If anything in your resume doesn’t pass this test, take it out. As Susan Ireland says, “Your resume is about your future not your past.” If everything on your resume is necessary to make your case, then two pages will be fine.
Now for your question about how to tell your employer that you want to leave. If you are planning to go to a different company that’s located in D.C., then you needn’t tell your boss until you get the new job and are ready to give your two-week notice.
If, however, you are leaving for another branch of your current employer’s, which is located in D.C., then you might tell your supervisor you’ve enjoyed working for her but would like to move to another city for a new position and a new challenge. Tipping her off ahead of time will show that you are someone who deals with change and growth in an honest and forthright manner. This is a very positive trait in today’s job market where change is common but not always embraced easily.
Job Loungers, do you have a question? Email it to me and I’ll post your question and my answer here in The Job Lounge.
I've been working at my current job for 2.5 years during which time I was promoted (I started right out of college). For various reasons - personal as well I'm interested in a new professional challenge - I have decided to relocate from NY to DC.
How do I approach my employer with this information knowing that I will also be asking her to be a reference? And does my resume absolutely have to be 1 page or can I squeeze it to 1.5 pages? -- Renee-Lauren
Answer by Roberta Rosen, Career Coach
I’ll answer your resume question first. I suggest you read over your 1.5 pages with a very critical eye. Ask yourself, “Is everything I’ve included important to help convince my next employer that I can do the job well?” If anything in your resume doesn’t pass this test, take it out. As Susan Ireland says, “Your resume is about your future not your past.” If everything on your resume is necessary to make your case, then two pages will be fine.
Now for your question about how to tell your employer that you want to leave. If you are planning to go to a different company that’s located in D.C., then you needn’t tell your boss until you get the new job and are ready to give your two-week notice.
If, however, you are leaving for another branch of your current employer’s, which is located in D.C., then you might tell your supervisor you’ve enjoyed working for her but would like to move to another city for a new position and a new challenge. Tipping her off ahead of time will show that you are someone who deals with change and growth in an honest and forthright manner. This is a very positive trait in today’s job market where change is common but not always embraced easily.
Job Loungers, do you have a question? Email it to me and I’ll post your question and my answer here in The Job Lounge.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
I Quit!
Question
I wanted some advice on how to quit a job gracefully due to a rough commute and work that does not involve anything I'm interested in. Any advice for me? -- JJRC
Answer
JJRC, because it’s so close to the end of the year, please try to hang in there until at least January 1st. That way you can write 2007 as the ending date when you list that job in the Work History of your resume.
And if you can stand it, stay on that job while you look for something you will like. Once you have a firm job offer in hand, explain to your current employer that you have been offered a job that you simply can’t turn down because… (something like: The new job is more in line with your true career goal of…whatever profession you want to follow).
When the time comes to give notice to your employer, here are my guidelines:
- Give your notice in writing so you have plenty of time to edit your thoughts and be sure you don’t say something negative by mistake.
- Don’t lie.
- Don’t say any more than you absolutely have to in order to get your point across.
- Don’t burn your bridge with this employer. In fact, thank him for the opportunity of having worked under his supervision. You may need him for a reference in the future.
For more thoughts on leaving a job, check out How to Quit Your Job and Never Look Back by Bill Perry.
Job Lounger, do you have a question? Email it to me and I’ll post your question and my answer here in The Job Lounge.
Or make a comment about this post by clicking the Comments link right below this post.
I wanted some advice on how to quit a job gracefully due to a rough commute and work that does not involve anything I'm interested in. Any advice for me? -- JJRC
Answer
JJRC, because it’s so close to the end of the year, please try to hang in there until at least January 1st. That way you can write 2007 as the ending date when you list that job in the Work History of your resume.
And if you can stand it, stay on that job while you look for something you will like. Once you have a firm job offer in hand, explain to your current employer that you have been offered a job that you simply can’t turn down because… (something like: The new job is more in line with your true career goal of…whatever profession you want to follow).
When the time comes to give notice to your employer, here are my guidelines:
- Give your notice in writing so you have plenty of time to edit your thoughts and be sure you don’t say something negative by mistake.
- Don’t lie.
- Don’t say any more than you absolutely have to in order to get your point across.
- Don’t burn your bridge with this employer. In fact, thank him for the opportunity of having worked under his supervision. You may need him for a reference in the future.
For more thoughts on leaving a job, check out How to Quit Your Job and Never Look Back by Bill Perry.
Job Lounger, do you have a question? Email it to me and I’ll post your question and my answer here in The Job Lounge.
Or make a comment about this post by clicking the Comments link right below this post.
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