How do I answer the "why did you leave your last job" question at an interview?

Question

I quit my last job due to many very good reasons. The workplace was hostile - filled with catty women who said/did anything to make me uncomfortable. Also because all the other women spent a lot of time playing around all day yet I was busy and on task. The boss still kept giving ME more work and more work while the others watched television. They were also asking me to do things that were fraudulent. I spoke up about these things but it made it all WAY worse. I feel like they all forced me to quit. It truly felt planned out. Had I stayed - they would've make it even more unbearable and eventually found a lame reason to fire me - they have done this to several other women who didn't go along with their s**t in the past. So, I quit before they found a reason to fire me.

Now I am not sure how to answer the question of why I left my last position. I've read that you should never say anything bad about a past manager or company, but I feel like I should make a comment about maybe "ethical differences." I know my last employer cannot say anything bad about me for a reference, especially because they are an at-will employer (you are not required to give notice to quit) but I am sure they would say I wasn't eligible to be re-hired. That is why I want to be able to make a statement to the interviewer that would not say anything BAD but would let him know why they may say I can't work there again.

Any ideas??

Answer 1

I haven't been in the market for a long time because I'm working, but maybe you can downplay the ethical stuff.....make it like you're "looking to further yourself and better opportunities" or something on that order and throw that part in.....Good luck!!!

Answer 2

Simply put "career advancement opportunity". If you put racist, even it's true, the future employer may think you're a liability and wouldn't go near you.

Answer 3

"personal reasons" or say that they were racist.

Answer 4

say because it did not feel right i was very umcomfterable working there and it just was not the job for mee    good luck !!

Answer 5

"I felt my talents and hard work would be better suited at a new company, so I left XYZ Corporation."

Answer 6

First off, you should have let them fire you so that you could have collect unemployment while you're looking for a new job.  Or, sounds like you could have sued them too.

For your new interviews just tell them that you left for personal reasons and if they would like to check references you prefer that they call other past jobs.  That should get the message across without bad mouthing anyone.  Also, your last employer doesn't sound too ethical so they may  not abide by the law that you can't say bad things about past employees.  If you don't get the job you're applying for, I would politely inquire why, and maybe you can still find a reason to sue the bungholes!

Answer 7

When they ask you; "Why did you leave your last job?", break down in tears and say; "The workplace was hostile - filled with catty women who said/did anything to make me uncomfortable. Also because all the other women spent a lot of time playing around all day yet I was busy and on task. The boss still kept giving ME more work and more work while the others watched television. They were also asking me to do things that were fraudulent. I spoke up about these things but it made it all WAY worse. I feel like they all forced me to quit. It truly felt planned out. Had I stayed - they would've make it even more unbearable and eventually found a lame reason to fire me - they have done this to several other women who didn't go along with their s**t in the past. So, I quit before they found a reason to fire me."

You'll sound totally sane.  

Answer 8

"Why did you leave your last job?"

"Because I'm looking for a more professional environment in which I can work with a results-oriented team."

This way your intimating, suggesting, that the last work environment couldn't provide this to you. No professionalism, no team sharing, no team-produced results. Interviewers will take notice and respond to your lack of backstabbing, or mudslinging. AND, they may have even heard of your previous employer or his business (sometimes the word gets around...).

Raise your head and keep it up, you're good and whoever hires you is lucky. Let your prospective employer(s) sense this by how you carry yourself, your word choices, and tone of voice. Include pleasantness and clarity.

Very best wishes for your future financial stability and personal growth.

Answer 9

" I am seeking a position that will allow me to grow and prosper and I was not being given the chance to excell, So I am looking for employment with a more upwardly mobile and caring company"

You answer it without actually answering it, and twist it to show that you left your prior job to seek advancement or improvement.

HR people love that junk.  Shows you are ambitious.

Answer 10

just say you found the last position hostile and uncomfortable, that and you weren't getting the right amount of pay for the work you put in. (Its all about the money)

Answer 11

"ethical differences" sounds fine to me. Or just say that you are looking for a position that would be more fitting to your personality.

Answer 12

career advancement

Answer 13

Never ever say anything bad about your last job, especially if you need a reference.  

!..I wanted a better position with more money.

2  I want to climb up the ladder and I know I can be better at my job.

3. I felt I was not going any where in my positon.  

Answer 14

It depends on how long you worked there. If it's less than 6 months, then don't list it. If it's longer, then list it and arrange a reference from the past employer. If you can't get one, then explain to potential employers that it wasn't a good fit and then point out you have excellent experiences at other places with solid references.

In the second case, although you left a job on bad terms, you might still get a good reference out of them. Unless you did something serious, i.e. did something illegal or caused serious problems, the former employer may give you a reference. Just call either the former manager or HR. Say you left the job because you weren't fitting in and it was better to leave. Then ask, "I now need to find another job, is there anyway I can get a reference?" A verbal reference is really nothing and so long as you didn't PO them badly when you left, they might do it.

If not, then go with the third option and explain to potential employers it wasn't a good fit and you ahve solid references from other employers. Interviewers know everyone at some point has a bad expereince and so long as it's just one, there's no problem.

Best,

-- Liam

Answer 15

Emphasize how much you learned in your last job (how to put up with idiots-don't add that part). But...

Any of the following.

Pursuing different direction/personal development-then play up the company you're interviewing for and how it satisfies this direction/development.

The company was going a different direction than you wanted to go-emphasize how this company is going just the direction you want.

Personal situation at home-good especially if there are some life changes involved.

The reason bad-mouthing someone at the last job is bad is that the interviewer is trying to gauge how well you will fit in. And no one likes a complainer. They wonder what you will say about them when you leave.