X-raying the reason for leaving your job
13 July 2017
With many years of recruitment experience under my belt, I am often concerned with what prospective candidates put on their CVs as their "reasons for leaving" their current job. If you are on the market, be cautious of what you are listing as your "reason for you leaving" your current position; will a future employer interpret it the way that you want it to be understood?
With this in mind, I dusted off the old X-ray machine, and decided to put my thoughts to paper and help you as a candidate to prepare and ensure that your reasons for leaving are well thought through and will be received well by a hiring manager…
- Personality clash – is the personality clashes personal or a lack of team cohesiveness? Be mindful, as too many personality clashes on your CV may be perceived as you being unable to adjust to surroundings and different people and management styles, agility is important.
- Better Career Prospects – This may be viewed as an open-ended reason, and easily portrayed as a scapegoat answer. Be prepared to further expand on your reasoning during interviews.
- Environment – It could be due to Office Ergonomics, insufficient tools to complete your job, or an onboarding culture mismatch, be specific detailing environmental incompatibility.
- Travelling – Are you required to travel nationally and or internationally, was this a job requirement set out upon position acceptance, or was it a recent requirement? Perhaps, traveling to and from work and home has started to become an issue? Keep this reason in mind when applying for a new position and ensure that you are clear about your travel availability during the interview process.
- Unstable environment – Is the company currently experiencing Mergers or Restructuring, be specific as to how the unstable environment affects you.
- Retrenchments – was it voluntary, compulsory and how many staff members were retrenched? Did you get a package, or LIFO (last in first out)?
- Reached a ceiling – This reason is similar to "better prospects" or "growth" Be specific about your reasoning and be prepared to provide further explanations during an interview
- Salary – Is your current remuneration not market-related or have you received no increases?.
- Not what I studied – Be sure to elaborate as to why did you initially accept a position, not within your related studies.
- Not what was promised in the interview – This could be related to the job description or salary, be sure to obtain as much clarity and information about a position during an interview, especially if you are not absolutely clear about the requirements.
- Dismissed – Always be as honest and upfront as possible with dismissal, provide full and factual information.
- End of Contract –Provide contact details and reasons why the position did not realize into a permanent position.
- Temp assignment – As per Contract positions, provide details of the assignment and reasons as to why the position did not materialize into a permanent position.
- New Challenge –Be specific about what challenges you are seeking. If your current employment is not more than 3 – 5 years, be prepared to explain why you require a new challenge after such a short period.
- To open your own business –Provide further explanation on the business venture and the reason you are now seeking employment.
- Company Restructure - How does the restructure affect you and what are the challenges you have experienced? What feedback was given to you by your management and HR team?
- To look after the children –Be sure to provide examples on how you have managed to keep abreast with your skills and business acumen during your time away from work.
- Lack of Technology –Be clear about your technology requirements and how your current company's lack of technology affects your ability to perform your job.
- Environment too Corporate – Is the company too structured, working hours are too long, or perhaps the Company is just too stats driven. Provide details on your reasoning and be upfront and honest on your requirements thereof.
- Unethical environment –Be specific and factual on the incidents that you deem as unethical.
- Bored - You've reached a ceiling within the Company, you need a new challenge
- Culture fit – There could be many a reason here, it could be company cultural differences, or interfering with your religious or traditional beliefs, perhaps you are expected to work overtime or expected to stay and have drinks on a Friday, ensure that you are clear during interviews.
- Partnership turning sour – Is the partnership being dissolved or is the Company in Financial difficulty.
- Criminal Records – As per Dismissal, ensure that you are open and honest regarding criminal records, be factual in your reasoning.
- The company offers no benefits – Ensure that you are clear about the types of benefits you require.
Time to re-evaluate what was your real reason for leaving your last position? Have you been upfront and totally honest when discussing your reason for leaving, with your recruitment agent or hiring manager? Your reasons for leaving need to be specific, honest, and valid. There has to be a trust relationship or they will X-ray you even further.
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