"Why Are You Leaving Your Old Job?"

[vegasadmin]

Hi all.  It looks like next week will be my (and every else here) last week at this job.  The business is broke and unless the boss wins a sweepstakes this weekend, there doesn't seem to be any way to rescue it.  (If this sounds familiar to anyone, it is - we were in the same boat this time last year and really thought the shop would go under.  Things improved after the new year and it looked like the business would be saved.  This year, though, it's much worse and the things that worked last year - a layoff, cutting my hours nearly in half for three months, and a weeklong shut-down - won't do the trick this time.)

When I'm interviewing, it's easy to answer the question "why are you leaving your current position?"  "The business is closing."  My question is, if you were in my position, how would you answer if the interviewer wanted you to elaborate on that?  It hasn't happened yet, but some people are nosy and I'd like to have some answers on hand if it does happen.  The real answer is "because my boss is really stupid when it comes to managing money but he won't give up that control to anyone else, plus he sunk a lot of the shop's money into a new business of his and the shop will never get repaid, plus my boss refused to pay the Yellow Pages bill because he thought it was too high, so we had no advertising".  Obviously, that answer is completely inappropriate and won't give a favorable impression to any prospective employers and I won't be using it!

If someone asks why the business is closing, is it appropriate to say it went broke?  Is there a better way to phrase that?  Suppose an interviewer is curious as to why the business went under?  How would you address this situation if it occured?

On to better things (I hope) -

Colleen in Las Vegas
(who will really miss being in a one-person office, but won't miss a bit wondering each week where payroll will come from)

[chris68]

Colleen,

Honesty is the best policy in this one.  I would just say it was financially unstable where you currently are employed and need to have a stable company to work in, nothing wrong in that answer I think.

I could be wrong but that's what I've used in the past.

How much time do you have to hear stories I could tell ya about bad business deals.

My last employer had nightmare issues going on that I wasn't aware of until well after I left.  Such as, the President of the company was no longer acting in that facility, just in title only.  When your Accountant leaves honey its time to jump ship and QUICK!  We had other issues like misuse of employees 401(k) funds of which the SEC was going after the person funding the company at the time and he eventually killed himself over it.  Sad sad story.  But true.  Fortunately, the company survived, it has been sold under new ownership.  Apparently two brothers with lots of time and money on their hands have brought it back to where it was before I started.  I work right next door to the company I left an fortunately I still see cars in the parking lot (not as many) during the busy season which is Spring, Summer and Fall around here (wintertime construction isn't so busy for kitchens and baths).  

Sooo, the thing you have to remember is it ISN'T your faul that the company isn't doing so well and they need to hear the real reason they are closing and that it had nothing to do with your performance. Companies will understand that.  My current employer did and didn't hesitate to hire me cause they knew I needed a company that had more stable footing that I was currently in.  Five years later I'm still here and yes we've had layoffs here this year as well.

Hang in there, it can only get better.  Time to move onwards and upwards I say.

Good luck and let us know what happens.

Chris68
Deskdemon Forum Board Staff

[radaro]

In this day and age (after the dot.com crash, Enron, WorldCom, etc.) saying that your company went out of business doesn't require elaboration.  I also think it is a whole lot easier to say than, "I got fired".

[winkiebear]

I'd say stick with the "stability and security" comments, and try to phrase it in a way that you're looking to better yourself.

In the past I've told potential employers that my company has gone through a series of layoffs and the end does not seem in sight; that I need financial stability and job security.

Good luck, and keep your spirits up - you've done a great job managing to someone else's poor management skills.


winkiebear
Deskdemon Editorial Board Member

[bethalize]

Agreed. Try saying "I want a job that I can commit to, and that will commit to me too" - if you can say it with a straight face

Bethalize
Deskdemon Forum Board Staff

[jadegrniiz]

I think it's safe to say that the business is closing, but if someone wants more elaborate details, I'd hesitate to say anything more, because it might be difficult to say with a straight and indifferent tone. You might suggest it was a financial decision on the part of the owner.

If you job involves accounting in any way shape or form, skip it all together, and just leave it at the owner's decision. No need for the nosey to speculate about your accounting skills!



Jadegrniiz
Deskdemon Forum Board Staff

[countrigal]

There's always the line "the market/company was affected by the current resession (sp?)" or words to that affect.  Oftentimes that is what I hear for why a business is closing it's doors and why personnel are leaving/looking for jobs.  Either follow it or lead it with the comment about stability and such... That should hold you good in any interview.

CountriGal
Deskdemon Editorial Board Member

[vegasadmin]

Thanks, everyone; I knew I'd get great advice from all of you!

Colleen (still hanging in there!)