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Time for the STW Hive mind to work it's magic...
My GF changed jobs recently. Unfortunately her new job isn't working out as her boss is a complete bully and it turns out that HR failed to mention that she is the 4th person in that role in the last year (the previous three all quit, almost certainly for the same reason). All her colleagues (at the new place) have told her about her boss, whose reputation is legendary and have basically said 'get out as soon as you can'. Even her male team members have been reduced to tears by the boss and pretty much everyone in the department lives in fear of him.
Anyway, she is applying for other jobs and wants out asap, so what should she say when asked why she's leaving a Blue-chip company after only 3 months in the role? The company is very prestigious and most people in the industry would be happy to work there (for a non bullying boss).
Does one just say, 'my boss was a bully', or do you just say 'didn't like the culture' or lie and say 'the role wasn't as advertised'?
option number 2 (the culture one).... then in the interview she can answer the inevitable "how have you dealt with conflict" question by detailed her structured approach to dealing with the problem, which has culminated in her leaving.
Dave
If she's hot she could tell the interviewer that she slept with her last boss...that should get her the job.
Alternatively she could just tell the truth...after she started she discovered that 4 people had had the job but left in the last year as the boss is a tyrant. Perhaps end by saying that she performs best in a role where there is a culture of mutual respect and cooperation between her and her manager. You could say that she recognised that this individual has been able to behave like that for a while and it wasn't going to change, she felt that her best option was to leave.
McHamish - nice answer - I think the Truth is always the best option (as you can't get caught out by it)
just to clarify, I wasn't suggesting you lie. I find the best thing to do is to put a very political answer in any application and in communications with HR (they might not like you saying it was because of the boss), but then in the actual interview you can discuss it and explain the situation.
job applications / interviews always have 2 stages in my experience:
1. Get past the HR droids;
2. Talk to the real people and show them you know your onions.
Dave
just leave it off her cv?
I don't think you can leave it off as if they take up a reference from the previous employer it will have the end date and then they'll want to know why you failed to mention you'd been unemployed for the last 3 months....
By the time the whole process rolls around, ad, applic, interview etc it will be more like 6 months anyway, which looks more respectable.
+1 for the truth but keep it short and stick to verifable facts not opinion, followed up by something really sooky, sorry I mean positive, like "and I saw what a fantastic opportunity this job presented to work in a field I am good in etc etc"
Preparation is everything, your gf will score better in the interview if she has an answer prepped and feel more confident.
P.S I think the HR bod code for "boss is an asshole" is "personality clash"
It's way more than personality clash - if she taped some of the conversation she could sue for constructive dismissal / shame them in the press / get her boss fired; however none of that ss not good for career prospects, so a swift job change is the preferred option....
Never ceases to amaze me how companies can keep shifting the problem of a bullying boss onto the people they bully.
How the hell is that sustainable and why the hell should your GF end up bearing the brunt? Get her to make a complaint and get this **** sorted out. She would be doing the company a favour.
Other than that, what to say is a tough one but it's not inconceivable that she could alter her CV so as not to reflect the move. If it's less than one year, you can easily get around it by simply putting years down not months on your CV like so:
2000-2001: Account Manager; Biggie Chips PLC
2001-2005: Account Director; Abc PLC
and so on.
Yep fully agree - it's outrageous - but sadly not uncommon, however you need a lot of guts / energy to push through these things to get a boss fired and the risk is all stacked against you.
Even if you succeed, you'll be labled a trouble maker for life so a 3-6 month salary payout for constructive dismissal won't pay the bills for very long when no one else in the industry will touch you.....
Footflaps name and shame a couple of months after your GF has new job. Some of us may do business with the company and could serve up a cold dish of revenge!
Just a follow up, GF just resigned today and has been put on gardening leave and starts a new job in 6 weeks time. She was expecting a pay cut (anything to get away from her current employer) but in the end was offered a 10% pay rise, so it all turned out well in the end, even if it was a tough few months working for a bully.
Good work!