Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell the truth at job interview - arsehole work colleague

32 replies

KeyboardWarriorWoman · 04/05/2023 13:28

Resigned from last job a few months ago due to over a year of putting up with a horrendously lazy, disruptive colleague. Management didn't want to deal with her and made excuses for her.

I was taking on most of the work load, which was very heavy, despite being part time to her full time! She'd leave work for me despite the role being shared. Constantly pretending the work was too hard, or her internet was slow/system crashed (fully remote role). She was constantly disrupting me calling me on Teams to ask stupid questions and harassing me to switch to full time so she could go part time.

Last straw was management finally agreeing to investigate and coming back 4 weeks later saying we were doing the same amount of work but not taking into account my hours!

It was massively affecting my MH as I'd dread logging on. I resigned and raised a grievance which was later upheld and it was admitted that I was actually doing double the work she was! I got an apology and an assurance my reference would not be affected.

I was relieved to leave as could not work with her any longer. She got what she wanted though which was my part time role.

Anyway been applying for jobs for the last two months and had quite a few interviews but not successful, always 'difficult decision, between you and another candidate but we chose them'

I have been answering the big question of why I left my last job along the lines of 'looking for a new challenge and progression' which I know sounds weak as the jobs were similar to my last role but you're not supposed to be negative about previous job are you!

I have an interview next week for a massive step up job, much higher pay, fully remote which is what I need, over 1000 applicants for the job. I had to do an in-depth 3 hour assessment and they were only moving the top 5 to interview of which I'm one so I have a good chance right?

I don't want them to be suspicious of why I left my last job without another one to go to as I think other interviewers may have been.

Will I harm my chances if I tell the truth about issue with colleague? Obviously in a professional way. Really don't want to muck it up!

OP posts:
tenbob · 04/05/2023 13:31

You can’t tell the actual truth, it will bore them and make you sound petty

Can you make something up about the role? It no longer suited me to be part/full time, the role changed from/to being fully remote so it felt like the right time for a new challenge

swanling · 04/05/2023 13:36

I don't think there's a "professional" way to tell that story in an interview setting and I cannot possibly see how it would benefit you to do so.

QueenGorilla · 04/05/2023 13:36

This job is a step up though which the others weren’t. So surely you can just say that!

I really wouldn’t bring up the dispute and the grievance, although it was upheld rightly or wrongly I’d worry you were someone who had form for being in disputes.

pinksquash13 · 04/05/2023 13:39

I wouldn't. They don't know you so it could be a you problem in their mind. Let your interview and experience do the talking.

takealettermsjones · 04/05/2023 13:41

I think I'd say something like, "I feel like I achieved a lot in my last role, and then in [month] the nature of the role changed. I took that as an opportunity to pause and think about the next thing I wanted in my career. When I saw this job advert I was excited about X and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity for me to develop my Y skills..." etc.

FunnyFox · 04/05/2023 13:42

would stick with the line you've taken. No matter how you frame it, saying anything about your former colleague or your former employer in these circumstances will come across negatively and is more likely to cause a potential employer to have reservations as they will only be hearing your side of the story and they may wonder if there's more to it or a different angle, and they might see you as potential trouble, however unfair that is.

It's perfectly reasonable to say you wanted a different challenge, a change of scene etc. If they ask, give them that response and then move on with the interview.

As regards the reference from your previous job, I'm not an HR professional but my understanding is that most references now just confirm dates of employment and what the job title was. They are generally objective, not subjective (probably to reduce the risk of an ex employee complaining or suing for libel of some sort if they think a reference is unfair) and will not go into any detail about your performance - although a referee might give more colour and context if they have a verbal discussion with the new employer.

Good luck sign your job hunt. If you are getting interviews that's really positive and you will definitely find another role soon.

FunnyFox · 04/05/2023 13:43

With not sign. Grrrr

ComtesseDeSpair · 04/05/2023 13:43

takealettermsjones · 04/05/2023 13:41

I think I'd say something like, "I feel like I achieved a lot in my last role, and then in [month] the nature of the role changed. I took that as an opportunity to pause and think about the next thing I wanted in my career. When I saw this job advert I was excited about X and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity for me to develop my Y skills..." etc.

I agree, this is a great response.

Never give a potential employer reason to question whether you’ve found workplace relationships difficult because you’re difficult to work with or blame others when things don’t go well.

Gymtastic · 04/05/2023 13:44

I really don’t think saying you had to do more than your fair share of work will go in your favour at all.

Justcallmebebes · 04/05/2023 13:45

No definitely not. Never go into an interview and speak negatively about your current role, boss or colleagues. The interview panel only have your side of the story and it may put it in their minds that you are the problem.

Can you say you wanted an easier commute, or that you see more opportunities for advancement in the new company?

SweetSakura · 04/05/2023 13:48

I wouldn't try and tell this story at interview, no. Ask a hiring manager there are parts of it that would ring potential alarm bells for me

DietCokeUser · 04/05/2023 13:49

takealettermsjones · 04/05/2023 13:41

I think I'd say something like, "I feel like I achieved a lot in my last role, and then in [month] the nature of the role changed. I took that as an opportunity to pause and think about the next thing I wanted in my career. When I saw this job advert I was excited about X and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity for me to develop my Y skills..." etc.

I don’t think you’ll do much better than this. It’s a really tricky one as employers know people don’t tend to leave without another job except when things have gone wrong, but it’s hard to explain what went wrong without raising questions about your ability to work with others, handle conflict etc, even if that’s unfair.

PeterRabbitIsNotHere · 04/05/2023 13:50

As I was reading your post I was thinking, I'd be interested to hear the other side of this story. There's always two sides and I can't imagine a part timer doing more work than a full timer.
I'm a recruiter and have interviewed 100s of people. I wouldn't tell your story, you won't look good whatever the truth is.
Work on the question of why you want to move from part to full time. This would be my biggest red flag.

InSpainTheRain · 04/05/2023 14:00

No you can't sat that without sounding petty and a potential troublemaker. What @takealettermsjones said is perfect though.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 04/05/2023 14:06

As an interviewer I don’t want to hear why you are running away from your old job, I want to hear why you are running towards my job.

if you were to tell me your coworker story here’s what would be going through my head, in no particular order.

1- Hmm 2 sides to every story. Wonder how accurate this version is
2- Not able to resolve conflict with peers
3- Left old job without anything lined up due to a coworker…

Here’s what I want to hear

1- Why you think you’d be a good fit for this role
2- What was it about the role that interests or excites you
3- Are you planning to grow with the organization

batsandeggs · 04/05/2023 14:08

Please don’t do this.

Whichwhatnow · 04/05/2023 14:25

Hmm I wouldn't I think. I did leave a job at the end of my three month probation period once and was honest about why in a couple of subsequent interviews (it was a terrible, terrible company and my line manager was awful to me) as it was obviously questioned why I'd left so soon. I don't think I would have if I'd stuck it for a year as that's a more reasonable amount of time to decide a role isn't for you for various reasons.

I didn't find it was an issue but that might also be because that particular company had a very bad rep in the industry for their working culture, so generally people were understanding of me not wanting to stay there!

NowZeusHasLainWithLeda · 04/05/2023 14:26

saltinesandcoffeecups · 04/05/2023 14:06

As an interviewer I don’t want to hear why you are running away from your old job, I want to hear why you are running towards my job.

if you were to tell me your coworker story here’s what would be going through my head, in no particular order.

1- Hmm 2 sides to every story. Wonder how accurate this version is
2- Not able to resolve conflict with peers
3- Left old job without anything lined up due to a coworker…

Here’s what I want to hear

1- Why you think you’d be a good fit for this role
2- What was it about the role that interests or excites you
3- Are you planning to grow with the organization

This.
You're aiming for a fresh start. Leave your baggage behind you.

Mortimercat · 04/05/2023 14:38

I would concur with everybody else, there is no way this is going to work well for you. I would be wondering what the other side is, I’d be conscious of the fact that you are the one that left and the other worker stayed and finally I would question your judgement in raising it at interview anyway.

GenAndWine · 04/05/2023 14:42

I think you’re being asked because you left without somewhere to go. I’d keep it brief and bright and move onto why you want that particular role.

So, ‘I had a health issue and needed to take time to recover. That’s now fully resolved and I’m excited about blah blah blah focus on potential job’ would be truthful (as you left because your mental health was suffering). Some managers might be concerned about the health situation but it’s not exactly an uncommon situation.

Or if you did anything exciting with your time while not employed ‘I’m passionate about thing and had an opportunity to do related thing. I recognise I’m lucky that I was able to take some time for myself and I’m ready to get back to work with a renewed sense of energy for blah blah blah focus on potential job.’

wheresit · 04/05/2023 14:42

God no, never.

FlamingoQueen · 04/05/2023 14:49

I would say that you are ready for a new challenge and that your new company offers that for you (with examples if poss). Good luck. Please let us know how you get on.

ActDottie · 04/05/2023 15:09

Don’t say the actual reason you will look petty, say looking for new challenge that’s absolutely fine to say. It’s not like that question is the be all and end all and the interviewers will be far more interested in your answers to the competency based questions.

xogossipgirlxo · 04/05/2023 15:13

Don't. You should rather say why you want this new job, even if new challenges etc. sound cheesy.

Wexone · 04/05/2023 15:28

as someone who left a job for similar reasons i go with what @takealettermsjones said. I went to a recruitment agency and paid them do practice interviews and overhaul my CV as i was so beaten by my last role but needed a new job in order to get my confidence back. no negatives, keep positive, why you want to join the company etc .