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Jobs – and the relationships we have with our employers – can go south for any number of reasons. These may include bad management, an unsustainable business model, erratic schedule or no work-life balance, non-inclusive culture, payroll issues, no room for personal and professional growth, does not promote from within, or operates in an immoral or illegal way. It is normal and healthy to move on from toxic work environments and find a better match.
Then comes the hard part. Opportunities to trash your company to others, say on a job interview, will be plenty, and the temptation to vent your frustrations will be like a Siren's song. When you’re in an interview for what could be a much better opportunity, how do you describe your awful job without coming off as a disgruntled employee, even if it is a raging dumpster fire?
Stay positive. You know your job is awful, and terrible, and miserable. You know you're overworked, underpaid, and can do a better job than half the executives. You know your talents are going to waste, and your company doesn't deserve your brilliance. But when a potential employer gives you a chance to vent, bite your tongue and resist the urge to air your grievances. You will come across as a disgruntled employee with a bad attitude. If you trash your current employer in an interview, you can be sure this new employer will be worried about you doing the same to them. Avoid it with the simple directive to stay positive.
Understand the dynamics in the room. If you already have a job and are seeking a new one, the people interviewing you intuitively know that you have reasons for looking for moving on from your current position. They don't know the reason, and it may be a line of questioning during the interview. Don't take the bait if an interviewer goads you in the direction of going negative on your current employer. It could be a simple as "I hear it's a nightmare over there. What's been your experience?" The question may be curiosity or it may be a test. Take the high road – put on your public relations hat and consider following the tips below.
Reframe negatives as challenges. If you are skilled at reframing negatives as challenges, you will sail through your interview, and it will help you land the job. How a person approaches unsavory situations says a lot about their character. Complaining about something without improving it, or attempting to improve it, is just complaining. Take this real-world interview question: "Describe a situation in your current job where you disagreed with management and how you resolved it." Tough one, right? How you decide to answer this type of question is just as important as what you answer. There is a lot of room here to go negative. Instead, you could reframe the "disagreement" as a different approach, and describe the outcome as a "partnership" instead of a "resolution." Ideally, you tie the event to a demonstrable and positive business result (such as acquiring twenty new clients in the first quarter, exceeding projections).
Flip the script. You get to choose whether to situations at your job as either a crisis or an opportunity. Consider these examples:
· "Lack of infrastructure and systems" could be an "opportunity to build systems."
· "Weak management" could be an "opportunity to carve out your job role."
· "Ignorant fools who don't know what they're doing" could be an "opportunity to introduce industry best practices."
· "Don't pay us on time" could be an "opportunity to improve resource management."
· "Sexist, racist, toxic, bullies" could be an "opportunity to develop interpersonal relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders."
If flipping the script sounds like the kind of doublespeak you'd read in a George Orwell novel, it kind of is, but it works. You’ll demonstrate a positive, solutions-oriented outlook.
Show demonstrable results. Same as any resume or job interview, show a measurable impact. If you work at a great company that sets its employees up for success, your track record of boosting sales, let's say, may not have the wallop you think. However, if you work somewhere that has a poor reputation, your achievements may stand out. Document your achievements and collect as many metrics as possible.
Prep your references. Your professional references have more freedom than you do to discuss work environments and challenges, especially in a job interview. If a potential employer contacts your references, a more candid conversation about your current employer and your role there may result. However, there is still a script. It may be inappropriate for you to surface the extra challenges of a bad job in a job interview, but it's okay territory for a professional reference - to a point. It can benefit how you are perceived, but if your reference goes on a negative rant, your talents and qualifications will get lost. Before interviewing, it's in your best interests to talk to your references and align your approach.
Don't burn bridges. So, let’s say you get the new position with a better company, and your old thankless, exploitative, toxic job is over. It was terrible, and it may take a year or two before you look back at the experience and understand how it helped you in some way. As you're on your way out the door, don't contribute to the bad work environment. If you do accept a new job, give proper professional notice. Do your best work until the moment they hand you your final paycheck. And foster collaborative relationships with your coworkers so that everyone will remember the positive aspects of working together.
Philip Roufail contributed to this article.
Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.
