There is a job I know I can do.
A rarely advertised traineeship in a lucrative industry, with plenty of scope for career progression.
It's not a pharmacy role, but it's one I've done before.
That's the problem. I've been a trainee in this role before.
The boss was a screaming nightmare to work for and managed to bully the team leaders into supporting her.
If I went to my team leader with a problem, it was as if I was talking to the Nightmare Boss (NB) as everything was fed back to her.
I left after sending an ill advised email which acted as my resignation. In it was a line which stated that I didn't want to be in the industry any longer.
The rest of the email makes it abundantly clear that it was under her leadership, but all the spiteful cow had to do, was repeat that one line in any reference (also expressing her 'surprise' at my applying for roles in the industry) and she consequently bollocksed two job offers shortly after I left her department.
It's currently 6 years later.
She's gained a reputation as a completely batshit wackjob who has since left the industry, but the team leaders who supported her are still in post.
I have had other posts within the same employer (different departments) and they were all happy with my work.
There is now a traineeship within another employer.
I can do it and I need the money. However, even though I have six years worth of references from other managers, the industry where this traineeship is based is very small.
Everyone knows everyone else, as there are often conferences, training courses, seminars and workshops - the risk of the employer I'm applying to, ringing up the current manager where I used to work and asking about me is pretty high.
Do I apply? What do I say about how I left? How do I counter what either one of the team leaders say about me?