Leaving role after only short time - how to explain in job application?

[thatcoldfeeling]

Am going to have to be fairly vague in terms of sectors, I would hate to be outed.

A few months ago I moved to a role in another sector. I thought I would really like it but in a number of ways it has not worked out. I am seeking to return to my old sector, in fact my (very large) previous employer in a different department. There are a number of reasons for this and I am wondering if anyone has any advice on what would be best received as the foregrounded reason for my desire to return so quickly? The actual reasons being:

• I genuinely miss my old employment environment and everything that goes with it.
• I think I have learned some really useful skills in the short time I have been elsewhere that I could put to better use with my old employer than my current employer (however I haven't had much chance to use them really!)
• My current employer is chaotic, overdemanding, and with way less job satisfaction than I imagined.

If you were looking over an application for someone returning to an organisation after a very short time elsewhere, would you even care? And if so...what reasons would you want to hear?

Al comments very much welcomed.

Hmm - how many months is a 'few' - is it likely to be c.6 months by the time you are applying for jobs as that's actually not too bad. In this new 'generation Y' era lots of people change jobs very frequently, and it's not as much of a concern as it used to be when expectations were more that you would stay for years and years with a single company. Particularly if you have demonstrated plenty of longevity in previous roles.

On your actual application form/CV I think you don't need to give too much of a reason for leaving your current role - simply say something like 'looking to return to X sector' or similar. Then in your interview if asked I would give an answer based on your first two bullet points - you have enjoyed/learnt ABC things from your current role but for XYZ reasons you want to return to your old sector. Definitely do not slag off your current employer or say the work is chaotic as that sounds a bit like you are making excuses for not coping and/or haven't got on personally with the people/managers in your new job - not saying that's really the case at all but how it could potentially be interpreted by a new employer.

As a recruiter I would probably be reading between the lines a bit - my main worry would be that you'd failed your probation, had a major falling out with your manager, client or colleague and/or weren't coping with the workload in the new role (no employer is likely to think their role is 'easier' or 'less demanding' than a comparable role in a related sector even if that is likely to be the case in reality - so don't imply you want an easier life or anything like that).

But providing I could be assured that none of that was the case and you genuinely had just made a mistake in choosing to change sectors, and you were suitable for the role in all other ways, it wouldn't put me off particularly so don't worry too much ... the worst thing you can do is work this up into such an issue in your mind that it affects your confidence at interview as if you are doubting yourself that may put doubts into the mind of the interviewer, so just have a fairly breezy answer/reason prepared and then focus on selling yourself in other areas and it will be fine

Good luck!

Why did you leave in the first place? You need to have a short narrative that explains that part too.

For example. My sister left admin for care work then went back to admin. Her narrative is: After caring for terminally ill mother she wanted to help other people in the same way. Unfortunately she missed the sense teamwork in her old environment, and hated that she couldn’t properly care for the people she worked with because of various issues with the care system. Ultimately she wanted to return to team based admin work and fufills her desire to care for others by working in an admin post that helps people with benefits, etc.

You need a narrative that makes sense of both the decision to leave and the decision to return.

Thanks both, that is really useful. It has been just under three months
The reason I left in the first place was because I had been wondering for a while about life outside the sector I had been in so long, and I thought if I don't give it a go I will always wonder, so I gave it a go. I have been absolutely horrified at myself really, it has so completely not worked for me.
My new employer has actually been really complementary about all I have done and how I have settled in (because they don't see the sobbing after I leave work!). I will build some of the positive feedback into my application!

I’ve put “temping” or “fixed term contract” on my CV. They were meant to be permenent roles! It’s never been questioned.

Is there no way you could stick it out for another few months? 3 months really is no time at all & you'll still be settling in. 6 months is a much more acceptable length of time. Saying you've learnt a lot in such a short period wouldn't really ring true to a future employer IMHO.

I recently took a new job that turned out to be a mistake for various reasons and I left. I decided to be completely honest about my reason for leaving with new employers, which was basically that the role was a step down and I was given much less autonomy than I anticipated. It wasn't a problem! Most people understood and whilst I have not got the right job yet I have got through to second stage a few times plus an offer which I declined so I don't think it's put people off too much.

I think you can get away with it once in an otherwise stable CV, I was worried it would put people off but it doesn't seem to have done so yet.

I know it is really not very long but I have felt like this from the end of week one and it hasn't improved. A few ups and downs but overall I am really not happy there. There is one massive problem there that I can't mention as it will potentially identify the organisation, but basically it is a totally chaotic fuck up on their part which just really worries me in terms of their stability, even though they are established it is a worry.

I have submitted my application, I generally avoided making too much of it and focused on other things while making sure I wasn't vague enough to seem suspicious and justified my reason for looking to return...will see what happens...