How To Talk Positively About A Negative Job Experience

In a positive twist, how do you convey your reasons for wanting to leave your current job because of the negative traits present? – ivy

You don’t have to love everything about your current job. It’s no surprise to potential employers that there are aspects of a candidate’s current job that are subpar. Therefore, the candidate seeks or agrees to an exploratory interview or calls the recruiter back. However, no employer wants to feel like you’re just looking at them because you want to get away from where you are.

The “positive twist” Ivy is asking for is simply a rephrasing of what you don’t like about your current job into what you want in your next job. Talk about what you’re looking for, not what you’re running from. Here are 5 common job complaints and how you can put a positive spin on them that will help your candidacy move forward:

1 – If you think you are underpaid

Never talk about compensation as a reason for wanting to leave your current job. It just makes you sound like money is a prime motive, which is a short-sighted way of managing your career. Of course, money is a motivator, and you can and should bargain for what you earn once an employer expresses interest in hiring you. However, the driving motive should be career related.

Employers want ambitious employees with long-term ambitions. Emphasize how broad your area of ​​responsibility is and how you would like a similar or even bigger role. This sets the level of your role, which indirectly sets the expectation of compensation. You can also highlight specific wins and their impact on the bottom line. This brings money into the conversation, but in terms of the value you would bring, which indirectly sets a reward expectation as well.

2 — When you don’t like your boss

When asked to describe your boss, don’t talk about what drives you crazy and pretend it’s okay. That’s just a lie, and you might wear more of it in your next role. Instead, think of one small specific thing they’re doing that’s okay, and then quickly steer the conversation back to the task at hand. For example, if you have a micromanager, for interview purposes, this is someone who gives detailed instructions or asks exactly what they want or provides continuous feedback. If you have a screamer, they are passionate. If you got an idiot, they’re hands off. Then talk about your ideal work environment and go back to interviewing with the best case, not the worst.

Many interviewers don’t ask for your boss, so definitely don’t offer it. Even if you’re asked about it, it’s usually done to get a sense of the current environment you’re in. It may be related to how you want to be managed. It might be a trick question to see if you’re getting negative — and the kind of person who talks behind other people’s backs. The only positive way to spin that question when it hits your hot button is to be quick, friendly, and focused on the next question.

3 – If you disagree with the company’s direction or are concerned about its business prospects

You don’t want to go into too much detail when the company isn’t doing well, because you might reveal confidential information. If you are unsure, assume all financial details and other figures are confidential. Instead, you can point to the broader industry or general economy as a reason to listen to other opportunities.

What if the economy is strong, your industry is growing, and even your company has had positive media coverage, but you don’t have confidence in leadership or strategic direction? In a strong market, keep your motives general. You are open to possibilities because you like to hear what else is out there. They recognize that business can change quickly, so they like to keep their options open. You’ve experienced situations where conditions changed unexpectedly (you don’t have to state that this situation describes where you are), so you want to be prepared.

4 — When you feel badly treated

A project went worse than expected and your boss blamed you. A recent reorganization means you now have less desirable tasks to complete than others in your party. They once had resources that are now being taken away. There are many legitimate reasons an employee may feel offended, frustrated, or annoyed.

However, your prospective employer can’t help you with any of these things, so there’s no point in going through an upsetting experience in an interview. If you’re worried about blaming one boss for another, or doing tasks you don’t really want, or think you only have the resources to let them take over, then schedule time to seek a thorough due -Diligence review once you have received an offer and know who your new boss is, what the job role should be and what resources should be available to you. Until then, find another reason that motivates your move and don’t discuss issues specific to your old business with potential new ones.

5 — When you want to do something different and never want your current role again

Don’t get defensive when you get calls for the same old jobs you don’t want anymore. It makes sense for employers to target people who have done the job before. Have people you can recommend so you can build a relationship, and steer the conversation to what you’re looking for, not a diatribe about why your current role no longer suits you.

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Even if you have only had positive experiences, you will encounter the negative interviewer

It is worth learning how to deal with difficult questions, because you will encounter difficult interlocutors. Some people formulate all of their questions to put others on the defensive. What was your biggest mistake? Tell me about your least favorite boss. How do you deal with a difficult customer? The negative interviewer is trying to stress you out and bring you down. The positive twist is not letting negative interviewers or negative questions get you down, but bringing the interview back up with your ambitious talk and focus on the ideal.