Interview Panellist from Former Role

[greengoose21]

I'm about to apply for a job with an organisation near where I live, and I have a strong feeling that the interview panel will include a senior person from my former employer.

This person was fully aware of the situation which caused me to leave.

In summary; Bullying, resulting in me being off for a long time with depression, and allowing bully manager to come up with trumped up disciplinary allegations that were spread around the grapevine to ruin my reputation.

The potential interview panel member was senior to the bully - and one of the people that just sweeps stuff under the table and supports the status quo.

How would I manage it at the interview? How could I explain questions about 'why you left your last job' and things like that.

Is it even worth bothering to apply - I feel sick at the thought, though it's a really good job.

Tbh I wouldn't apply.

I'm sorry you went through crap at work. I think it's probably worth going ahead with an application as you're not 100% sure this senior person is on the panel. You can always turn it down if you get that far.

However, if the senior person has left the old company and got another job with your potential new company, there are two ways you could look at it. One, they do know under which circumstances you left - and they might just remember the 'bad' stuff about you, even though it wasn't your fault, which might make for an uncomfortable position for you. On the other hand, they know they treated you badly so it might be an uncomfortable position for them! They won't necessarily want someone who knows their weaknesses already.

But then again, if the new company has the same sort of management structure and style as the old one, would you want to work there anyway?

Difficult one certainly. I really feel for you.

And why did you leave? How about honesty - unhappy in the role, but life has been brilliant since then and now you're more than ready for a new challenge blah blah. So acknowledge it was not right for you, but focus on how the present and the future are your focus.

Good luck!

To many focuses...

Don't be put off. For a start, you don't know that the former colleague will be on the panel. Secondly, if he's the type to sweep things under the carpet like you say then he seems unlikely to make a fuss or be confrontational about it. It is always worth applying, nothing ventured and all that!

As far as handling questions about leaving your job, you don't need to be too specific (personally I would steer clear of mentioning bullying). I would say something like it was time for a change and pick something positive about the new company to compare it too, I.e. "I wanted to get involved in more work as this is what I enjoy" ( ideally being something you would do at the new company and not at the old company!)

Good luck!

Thanks for the responses everyone.

The closing date is noon tomorrow, so I will see how bold I feel in the morning.