If you've had to leave a job because of a horrible and incompetent manager...

[UserThenLotsOfNumbers]

...what did you put on future job application forms as your "reason for leaving"?
Obviously I wouldn't put the real reason, just curious how others have dealt with this.

I realise there are options to deal with this situation, not looking for advice on that as I've decided I need to leave and am in a position to do so. Management appear to back up the manager. Several people have already left because of this manager and they do nothing about it.

Thanks!

Just something positive about the job I was applying for.

Something about the job I was applying for, or ‘career progression’.

On a form I would put “resignation” because that is all it is.

Thank you - yes that's along the lines I was thinking - seeking a new opportunity.

My last day in this god forsaken job is Friday and I start my new role on Monday.

I said something about how I'd enjoyed and grown in my job and felt the time was right to take on new challenges. I figured that saying "because I might actually punch my manager in the neck" wouldn't get me far!

better job (ie the one you're applying for) came up, or commute was a nightmare (I've used this one).

Further career
More opportunities
Seeking new challenges

Thank you - all excellent suggestions. Do prospective employers ever question why you've left a job before you've got another one though?

If the job you're applying for is a promotion, say "career progression". If job is at same level, sat "seeking fresh challenges". If you're stepping down a level, maybe "excited by return to hands-on role" or something of that ilk?

I think many employers would read volumes into the fact that you left without another job to go to, but definitely don’t say anything negative about your manager or why you left.

Sorry, meant to say if pressed at interview you could say something along the lines of how you wanted to take some time to focus on future direction and make yourself immediately available to any potential opportunity? They’ll see straight through it but respect you for not slagging people off!

Hmm...what sort of thing would be read into it do you think? If you've worked somewhere 5+ years?
This was why I was wondering about making something up (I know) about a career break to focus on ? For example. Sorry should have put this in my OP.

To retrain for better career opportunities

Have you already left the job without a job to go to? That really changes what you can put in the box. If you’ve already left you can hardly put career development!

No I haven't left yet. I have applied for another internal role for which I have an interview on Thursday. Obviously my ideal outcome would be to get this job, but there's nothing much else internal on the horizon and not sure how much longer I stand working in this office. I don't have financial worries so could afford to be out of work for a few months, but I'd likely do temp work whilst looking for something permanent.

I quit a full time job partly because of awful management. Then sought (and got)a part time one. I said i wanted a better work/life balance and more time to spend with my kids.

Thanks Esmerelda (and glad you escaped!)

If it's sideways move in the same company, I would maybe go for something along the lines of ' I've always wanted to explore the other aspects of this company, and feel like a change to learn new skills, and i can bring what I've learnt in my current department to my new role'.

Best not to mention it. If they fired you, don't use them as a reference if possible. If you left, state that you just didn't find that line of work fulfilling anymore or you took 6 months off to travel/help raise kids/some other load of hooyey xD

About 5 or 6 years ago I quit because of a bully dep manager and no support from hr and then about a year ago I was targeted by a member of staff from day one (think floor walker sort of position so no real power but...) and she wrote me a bad review in my probationary time so when they were downsizing they let me go.

Both horrible situations, luckily both jobs were short lived (< 3 months) so didnt have to worry about cv gaps but they both knocked my confidence something awful meaning that it took me longer to job hunt again so the second time I made a point of doing some volunteer work between jobs so that I would have a more recent reference and to help build my confidence back up.

Don't let these shitty people get you down. Best of luck in your new position! Hope there aren't any w*nkers this time round xx

If it's internal surely they'll know the dickhead in question? And therefore the reason why you want to leave

Something short and vague - seeking new opportunities sounds about right.

Ooh, are you me? I did a sideways move and explained it to my new employer by saying on the application that I had done what I had set out to do and felt in need of a new challenge and that I wanted to return to the county of the new job, I missed it and the green fields and needed to breathe.

Good luck, OP, I had a truly shit time with my former manager who is frankly an inexperienced and incompetent idiot. It’s embarassing how awful she was. She’s still impacting on my poor team who I had to leave.