Interview Questions

[dr.mel_PT]

I'm looking for a new job. Long story short, I got a huge paycut last year and while we have been astronomically over budget for the past 8 months, the company refuses to reinstate our pay! On top of that, they threw another job title on me, so now I'm doing the work of 3 people for $10K less than I started at. I'm living paycheck to paycheck, will start with student loans since I'm going to Grad school in the fall, and I just can't work for this joke of a paycheck. Rather than wait around to get the pay I deserve, I'm being proactive and looking for a new job.

The question I'm dreading on interview is "Why did you decide to leave your current employer?" I can't say "They take advantage of me and pay me crap" but those are the reasons. How can I eloquently tell them why I'm leaving?

 

[janie1234]

I always go with the standard "I'm really looking into trying different experiences and I think every company has something new to offer. I've researched your company (which make sure you do) and I think I can be an asset to the team and can learn a lot from you." You never want to go off sounding negative about your previous job. That is a red flag to the interviewer that something is wrong.
Trust me I understand how you feel. My husband had a 10% cut in pay which is a lot. All managers have a freeze on paid time off benefits, and he is working all that more harder because a ton of managers were let go. They also raised our medical and dental $150 more. In this economy though I tell him to stick with it. He has been with the company for 7 years and they are actually really good to him. I know it seems like they are picking on you because of the cuts and additional work but if your situation is anything like my husbands they wouldn't do it unless they had to. These are tuff times and a lot of people of feeling the pinch. Think it through don't trade one bad situation for a worse one esp. if you have the luxury of job stability. Nowadays that is worth a lot.

 

[Lastchance09]

What janie said. And also add that you are looking for more responsibility (I know you have a lot, but companies eat that up) and would prefer a company that offers more growth/room to advance.


wouldn't it be nice if we could be honest in interviews?

"why do you want to work for our company?" duh! you're hiring.

"where do you see yourself in 5 years?" "what is your greatest weakness?" - I mean the amount of bs that you have to come up with just wears me out.

 

[janie1234]

- I mean the amount of bs that you have to come up with just wears me out.

Ugh agreed. Sometimes I don't really think it is fair because some people are really affected by nerves. The way I've conquered that is by just telling myself "They are the ones that are looking for someone, . .they need ME." It has given me confidence in the past. I feel that you have to be yourself to a certain extent because these are the people that you'll be working with for 8 hours a day. If you can't get along with your boss or whoever is interviewing you, . .you'll end up being stuck in the same position that you were in the begining.

 

[Jonezie]

Melissa...PLEASE watch Office Space before you go to your interview. Even if you've already seen it! You'll feel empowered to be hilariously honest...and probably get every job you interview for!

Keep us posted! All the best...

Jonezie

 

[Shadowpup]

I really feel for you ... what a rotten situation and it's great you're being proactive ... so please don't take this as a criticism ... but if your main reason for leaving your current job for a new employer is for a higher salary, it will come out in the interview if you get an interviewer with any level of perception, no matter what you say.

What I think would help you the most is to really focus on what you want out of your career, rather than how to describe why you are leaving. There are any number of books that can help you do this, and you may already have done it.

The advantage of focusing on what you want to do is that you will either discover you are in the right place already (probably not), or you will have big-picture reason for why you want the new job. For instance, you may discover that you can only reach some particular goal by joining the new organization. Then the answer to the "why are you leaving" question becomes "this is what I want from my career, and your organization is the right place because ... and this is what I can do for you if you hire me."


People who are "leaving of" a place come off differently from people who are "drawn to" a place in an interview. People who are truly seeking new opportunities that fit the job opening are easily recognized and much more likely to get the job. It is a matter of attitude. I am regularly involved in a few permanent hires and internship decisions, maybe half a dozen a year, as primary hiring manager for positions from student interns to senior scientists who will work in my lab, but also have been involved at all levels, even up to the CEO level. People who try to snow a good interviewer who really cares about the position they are trying to fill are normally easy to spot and do not get an offer. We have very low turnover in high turnover field, in part because of the care we take in filling slots. That's including before the downturn.

Not saying all interviewers are going to be perceptive or care, of course! Many will be rotten. But hopefully your new position will be with a company that cares, and such companies will be more apt to hire you if you're truly passionate about what you can do with/for them.