To fudge the reasons I left my job

[Libertymae]

After 18 months in a job I loved, my line manager took against me and made my life hell. (Think total change of attitude towards me, constant criticism and exclusion from meetings & projects.) I did everything I could to resolve the situation - including speaking to HR - but it was unresolvable. After three months of hell, stress & extreme anxiety, I handed in my notice & am now looking for another job. I left at the beginning of December.

I’ve got a second interview next week (had my first in November while I was still working) & don’t know what to say about why I’ve left without having another job to go to. I don’t want to lie but don’t want to say I was bullied in case it raises red flags for them. AIBU to give a different reason? And what reason would be appropriate to give?

I'd say something along the lines of wanting a fresh start/new challenge

100% Fudge it.

The overlap is so small if they don't already know I wouldn't mention it and wait for the offer.
If it does come up some dressed up version of "2020 was a year of real change and reflection for me. I loved my role but had outgrown it and knew i needed a change of direction. I decided to commit to that and handed my notice in so i could fully persue a new direction in making teapots/a more challenging role designing teapots instead of making them"

I think it depends what industry you are in what advice i would give on what to say.

Definitely fudge it, my line manager was a bitch might not go down well xxx

Thank you - great suggestion @SimplyRadishing. It’s a marketing role in the healthcare industry.

Blame it on lack of opportunities to progress the way you wanted to.

Nobody ever leaves a job that’s great do they? I’ve always said some nonsense like “I would like a new challenge” as you can’t tell the truth.

Lack of progression.

Covid made me rethink my life

I'd say I was looking for a new challenge and fancied a break (and was lucky enough to be able to take one - make it all positive

Fudge it! Don’t tell the truth, Bai f bullied doesn’t sound good. It either makes them think you might be difficult and blaming someone else or you’re weak for being bullied and putting up with it. And I say that s someone who had a manager who made my worklife a misery for years. People don’t want to hear it.
Tell them you were bored, not challenged. There was a lack of opportunity and you decided not to hang around seeing as you’re so fabulous you knew you wouldn’t be out of work very long.
I did genuinely leave a job I really liked because of lack of progression opportunities.

You can make yourself sound brave, positive and outgoing handing in your notice without having some thing else lined up. And actually - you’ve been proved right, haven’t you? You’re already half way to a new job... plus they dont have to wait for you. Which would be a plus to most employers

I agree with @Guineapig99 and @SimplyRadishing. Similar situation for me, I left before I told the directors what I really thought of them and their company. Had an interview a few weeks after and causally explained at the right moment (didn’t make a big deal) that I had left that role. I didn’t tell them at the beginning of the interview, rather waited until the standard ‘tell us about your role and how XY and Z are applicable to this role’. I casually explained basically said I was not being challenged and wanted to commit myself fully to job hunting. I rehearsed what I was going to say to the letter as I’m a bugger for trying to fill an awkward silence.

I was hired and the interviewer whose my line manager said they admired my honestly (oh the irony!) and we’re impressed I had the confidence and courage to take the leap of faith in myself.

I’d recommend practicing what you’re going to say and be confident in yourself. They clearly already see something in you if they’re inviting you back.

Just remember that no one leaves a job they’re happy and satisfied with, everyone has a reason for looking at another role/company whether that’s for negative or positive reasons. So they’ll be fine with the fact you’ve jumped ship and they get to have you.

Could you say your contract came to an end or there was a voluntary redundancy offer so you decided to take it because you were thinking of a change (but then note you only got Statutory payment so they don’t think you are rolling in some big payout and so can be low balled with a salary offer)

Definitely agree with the previous posters about ensuring the reason for leaving comes across as positive. I was once in the position where my immediate manager and I applied for the same job and I was concerned that I may be given a negative reference. Good luck with the job hunting/interviews

Thanks everyone. I've been really worrying about this and about what to say, so your advice is much appreciated.

@Wibblewobble99

I agree with *@Guineapig99 and @SimplyRadishing*. Similar situation for me, I left before I told the directors what I really thought of them and their company. Had an interview a few weeks after and causally explained at the right moment (didn’t make a big deal) that I had left that role. I didn’t tell them at the beginning of the interview, rather waited until the standard ‘tell us about your role and how XY and Z are applicable to this role’. I casually explained basically said I was not being challenged and wanted to commit myself fully to job hunting. I rehearsed what I was going to say to the letter as I’m a bugger for trying to fill an awkward silence.

I was hired and the interviewer whose my line manager said they admired my honestly (oh the irony!) and we’re impressed I had the confidence and courage to take the leap of faith in myself.

I’d recommend practicing what you’re going to say and be confident in yourself. They clearly already see something in you if they’re inviting you back.

Absolutely fudge it. Great advice here

I imagine it's a pretty common occurrence so I wouldn't worry about it. We once hired a really awful man at my workplace. He used to go out on the piss on a Friday night and turn up to work on the Saturday reeking of stale booze and then spent the shift shirking work, taking frequent smoke breaks and telling everyone what they were doing wrong including his superiors! One morning, he reduced another staff member to tears and was rude to a customer within the first hour of showing up (late). I had a quiet word with him and politely asked him to go home as he wasn't in a fit state to work. He then started shouting and swearing at me in a busy shop full of customers! I'm guessing he wasn't honest with the school he now works at about his reasons for leaving the job, I certainly wouldn't want to leave him in charge of a child!

Fudge it -absolutely I think Rausins comment was great.

Do NOT say you needed a break!

Good luck!!

You work in marketing? Surely this is bread and butter. Your reference will only say the dates you worked. Spin a story with a layer of truth in it. Certainly do not give any hint you are difficult

Omg EVERYONE lies at least a little about why they left. Just say something general about progression/opportunities/challenges.

Absolutely fudge it and absolutely practice what you’re going to say first. I wouldn’t say that a contract ended or you took voluntary redundancy unless you actually did, as these things could be cross-referenced with your previous employer. If they think you’ve been untruthful about one thing then they could question whatever else you’ve said - keep it non-specific.

This is what I did when I left a job about 20 years ago - I’d actually left because my boss was unhinged and a bully; she realised I was good at my job and she was being shown up, so she invented lies that she reported to HR leading to me being disciplined and offered a lesser position. The whole set up was completely bizarre as HR never even asked for my point of view, just made accusations and issued a written warning, so I told them to shove their job and left (which Pyscho Boss was really pissed off about apparently ). When I applied for a new job I said my old company relocated, which they did... six months after I walked out!

Don't say anything that is a lie and could be verified as such.