Job interview: "Why did you quit your last job?" I can't tell them the truth (applications, degree)

[37 Pieces of Flair]

Originally Posted by Frostnip

"I decided to try my hand at freelancing, and while it's been a good experience, I've decided I prefer working as part of a team."

Or whatever. It has the benefit of being true and verifiable.

I agree with those who've said by all rights you should just be able to tell the truth, but who knows what kind of a doofus will be interviewing you?

This is the best response I've read so far.

I'm usually of the mindset that honesty is the best policy, but given the current reality that employers look for any reason to disqualify a candidate for consideration your unfortunate series of events which led to you leaving your last job would undoubtedly raise red flags for many who would be interviewing you.

[lookingforadvice20202]

So you have been unemployed for the entire year and haven't had to answer this question yet? Meaning you haven't had a single job interview?

That is correct. The reason I even ended up in this situation is because of some crazy, mind-bending things I lived through in my life that I never processed. Think uhhh ... Midnight Express + Stephen King + David Lynch + Mel Brooks.

So that's what I've been doing this whole time, spending every day writing in my journal about all the crazy stuff that was unearthed in my brain after this job happened, trying to untwist all the demented mind-games that led me into this situation, and trying to prevent myself from jumping off a bridge.

I'm feeling better now and finally making sense of it (after dedicating over 10,000 hours to this), so I'm finally ready to find a job.

[lookingforadvice20202]

"I decided to try my hand at freelancing, and while it's been a good experience, I've decided I prefer working as part of a team."

Yes, I like this one, I was at the job for 4 years and was given preferred jobs and projects (before the other stuff happened, or in the lead up to it...), so this makes sense. I think I'll try this one first, and then have sick relative/work from home indeterminate time as my B option.

[lookingforadvice20202]

The problem is the big gap with nothing to show for it. Any minimal reference checking on the part of the hiring company is going to reveal any lies. Calling the last employer could show that the job/dept was not eliminated. Asking for a reference from one of the freelance clients shows that there was no freelance work.

I do have freelance clients, and freelance work, it's just from a while ago. I have friends who own design firms and things like that who I worked with, so I might be able to cajole them into doing me a solid. Also I wouldn't list freelance clients as references because that's weird, and I've never had an employer ask about my freelance work, and this includes Fortune 300 company, Fortune 100 company, government agencies, etc.

Calling the last job they'll say I quit, which is better than being fired or laid off IMO.

[Nell Plotts]

Originally Posted by Frostnip

"I decided to try my hand at freelancing, and while it's been a good experience, I've decided I prefer working as part of a team."

Or whatever. It has the benefit of being true and verifiable.

I agree with those who've said by all rights you should just be able to tell the truth, but who knows what kind of a doofus will be interviewing you?

As a retired HR Specialist I like this the best. You can talk about the skills you used freelancing, focus on why you are the best person for the job. Don't get into a discussion about workplace issues at your former place of employment. Do you have references from your old job that don't involve your supervisor. If they insist on supervisor's name consider a project lead instead. The following is true: "I understand that corporate policy at XYZ prohibits managers/supervisors from giving references but I can provide (client, peer) contact information if you would like to talk to someone who knows my work."

There are attorneys who will take the facts you describe on contingency but you really need to focus on getting the new position. Think about others that manager may have harassed as a female->male sexual harassment is unusual.

[lookingforadvice20202]

As a retired HR Specialist I like this the best. You can talk about the skills you used freelancing, focus on why you are the best person for the job. Don't get into a discussion about workplace issues at your former place of employment. Do you have references from your old job that don't involve your supervisor. If they insist on supervisor's name consider a project lead instead. The following is true: "I understand that corporate policy at XYZ prohibits managers/supervisors from giving references but I can provide (client, peer) contact information if you would like to talk to someone who knows my work."

HR guy said he'll provide a reference, just confirming dates of employment. I have a colleague I worked well with that I might ask for a reference, she was in a role one step above me, and we came up with projects together to make our jobs more efficient. We got along fine.

There are attorneys who will take the facts you describe on contingency but you really need to focus on getting the new position. Think about others that manager may have harassed as a female->male sexual harassment is unusual.

I can't think of anyone else she may have harassed. I know there was a woman, actually, who had some strange thing going on with her. Yeah, it's something like this...

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by lookingforadvice20202

I quit my last job because I was being sexually harassed by my manager (I'm male, she's female), and she wouldn't take no for an answer. So I reported it, then I got retaliated against, and HR said "sue us or quit". So, I quit. By this point my health was in pretty bad shape since it was a pretty slow-burn retaliation, very slow, sneaky, and deliberate. Definitely not a good time.

Anything like that
best thing to do is to tell the truth .... the way a politician would say it.

You can say something like
"I felt like the company values conflicted with my values,
some unethical things that were being done in the company that I strongly disagree with and
I refuse to work in a place were ethics are not a core value
that's why I couldn't work there anymore"

If they ask you for more detail, you can say something in general like
"I'm aware of several instances were sexual harassement was allowed without being punished
I refuse to work in a place like that"

You told the truth and you made yourself look good

[ackmondual]

Originally Posted by Scooby Snacks

Any lie will do: commute too long, pay too low, too few benefits, few opportunities for advancement, wanted different job duties, etc. . . Saying any one of these in a diplomatic way can skirt the sexual harassment issue entirely while offering good reasons you're looking for another job. Just don't count on your old job giving you a good reference

Make sure it's a lie that'll hold up. If the commute's only 5 minutes, then that'll seem sketchy

[mkpunk]

Just mention the family issues. That's not false. The problem is especially for men, sexual harassment is a topic that people don't want to talk about seriously. Just look at the number of the welcoming comments we have seen on this thread for reference. You are strong for admitting this OP.

[clarksvillemom]

I would not get into any details nor say the company was unethical or anything like that. That's asking for trouble and even if true and of course companies say they want highly ethical people you don't want to come across as a tattle or holier than thou in an interview.