OT: Explaining why I'm leaving the company

[45K10]

I had a similar situation about seven years ago. The company I worked for took a major down turn after it was bought by a VC group and the job became so stressful and disheartening I decided to quit.

I was lucky though my wife has an excellent job with great benefits so I decided to become a stay-at-home Dad for a while. I had plans for going back to work but after taking several years off and getting older I had a really hard time finding a job. Like mentioned before the "ageism" thing is real and I had to parse down my resume just to get an interview.

Finally, I just decided to retire early and stick with being a stay-at-home Dad. I don't know how long you have until retirement but if it is less <5 years it might be best to suck it up and deal. If not, definitely a have job lined up before you quit your current job.
Good Luck! I feel for you.

[reuben]

I told the truth. The company was bought out and the new owners were driving it into the ground. No one blinked, I got multiple offers, and the old company went out of business in three years.

[marciero]

It might be different in higher ed, but I've served on many search committees and interviewed candidates with all kinds of work histories, including fully tenured professors at other institutions. We always wonder why they are leaving, but I cant recall ever directly asking. And knowing there was some friction with a supervisor or problems with their management style certainly would not have colored my view, unless it was part of a pattern seen in other parts of their background. When we have had "inside" information-for example, knowing the financial situation at their current employer, they are cutting programs, etc- it has only served to give us a sense of the likelihood of them takingthe job if we offered. There are all kinds of reasons people leave jobs, many of them personal. Sometimes a candidate will offer-maybe they have a personal geographical connection. Sometimes it comes up obliquely. We always ask why they are applying *here* for example.

Whether you are asked or you offer, I agree with Lois - you like your job, but... You say you dont need a new challenge, but certainly you can straight face "growth potential" or something similar.

Much more important than why you are leaving is why you are applying. Again, we have always asked and carefully considered why they applied here and how how their expertise and experience will fit the responsibilities. You can frame it as you werent actively searching looking but when you saw their ad you got excited about the opportunity.

[Permanent socks]

12 months ago I left my position of 12 years to pursue a new opportunity in the same field that required moving across the country. I couldn't be happier and would do it again in a heartbeat.

Similarly, the previous company was toxic and failing due to new ownership.

My move was upwards and came with more responsibilities and money. The new employer couldn't have cared less why I wanted to leave my old position.

I met their criteria, have the relevant experience and education for the new position.

Work to live, brother. Not live to work. If you feel like leaving, you probably need to look elsewhere for employment.

I'm 49 years old.

[OtayBW]

Originally Posted by Red Tornado

I've been at my current place of employment for a little over 18 years. My goal was to retire from here, however things have deteriorated to the point I may need to find something else.

I'm pulled away from my core duties so much, it has a serious negative impact on my ability to get them completed, or even started in some cases, even though I'm evaluated against them annually. My department is half the size of what is was this time last year, but expected to put out the same amount of work. Our current manager micromanages, randomly assigns work with no regard as to what we're already working on or how far behind we are, and he's on a major power trip since being hired back in. He worked at my employer once before in a different area, and was extremely disliked there, too. The last 1-2 years we've also had some turnover in our upper management and we're heading back to what I would call the 1950's/1960's style of management. Be glad you have a job, work as many hours as it takes to hit "our goals", get by with providing as little resources as possible, employee engagement or valuation - what's that? - and if you don't like it get out. We are continually amazed how things spiraled downwards so quickly, at what was once probably one of the top 25% employers in town.

I'm not looking to leave because I need a new challenge, my core job responsibilities provide that. I get along fine with my co-workers in my department, no personnel issues there. If we changed some managers, got our staffing back up to reasonable levels, and if I could spend more time on the job they hired me to do, it would all be good. There's nothing about my job itself that's a problem. The one and only reason I am considering leaving is I'm tired of working in a sh1thole.

It's been nearly 20 years since I've looked for a job, and last time around I seem to remember being told not to mention negative things about my current employer as reasons for leaving. That's understandable, but how do you handle that when that is your only reason for leaving? I can't outright lie at an interview, but I do understand being honest about my reasons could easily raise a red flag.

Hoping some in our group have successfully navigated these waters before and can provide some feedback. TIA

I feel ya. I am in the most dysfunctional job that I've ever had, largely because of the whack-o corporate culture (this is the definition of a 'ready, fire, aim' company that is run, on balance, by the least technically adept people I've ever worked with), but also because the VP/GM at my site is also an OCD micromanager, who I frankly find to be insulting much of the time. I'm only here now to collect a few more centavos before retirement, and can walk away if necessary - and I feel the need to walk away on any given day in this situation.

People don't leave bad jobs. They leave bad bosses, but remember - good people are valuable and hard to find. I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to do. IDK - it may be better for you to take action as you are, rather than sitting back and sucking up the horse crap indefinitely. I don't know that you necessarily owe anyone an explanation if you go other than what you personally wish to divulge.

[Ken Robb]

A good pal was 70 and had postponed his retirement several times at the request of his boss. When I asked when he was REALLY going to retire he said "I am now on the one-ten plan. If they piss me off one more time I will be gone in 10 days." I loved that answer---and he did it shortly thereafter.

[Davist]

I'll echo the above, I left a 22 year job because company focus changed and new management changed the direction. Boss was a micromanager and made it clear on day one, so I left. People change their boss all the time and that's a valid reason of course! It is easier to "fund" a job search while you have one but you already know that. Current company is having a hard time finding people, so I wouldn't worry too deeply about your reasons for leaving current job other than the basics you describe. It was a bit scary for me as well, but now I know it was the best course! good luck and bet on yourself!!

[jamesdak]

Originally Posted by Ken Robb

A good pal was 70 and had postponed his retirement several times at the request of his boss. When I asked when he was REALLY going to retire he said "I am now on the one-ten plan. If they piss me off one more time I will be gone in 10 days." I loved that answer---and he did it shortly thereafter.

LOL, I'm currently sitting with only 10 days of work left. I can't wait. No amount of money could ever get me to reconsider and I'm not even 60 yet. I cannot fathom working until 70 even if I loved my job.....Hope he get's pissed off soon!

[Gsinill]

Originally Posted by eddief

but the new company will ask why.

That shouldn't be an issue, really.
Why not just say that you are looking for a new challenge: "I've been with my current company for almost 20 years, in the same position for 'x', and just want to do something new where I can leverage, blah blah..."

[Hindmost]

The focus should be on what you want to do, what you can do for the new company; not how @#$%÷ your previous position became.

[redir]

Originally Posted by rccardr

Retired now, but have 40+ years experience in employment.
My best advice is find a new spot before you leave your current job.
Ageism is rampant but never mentioned; if you’re over 45 you’ll experience it.
You may find it easy to locate a new position based on skills and location, but you never really know until you look around.

This 100% and probably why my wife has not gotten a job in a year. She's stopped putting her earliest work history on her resume for that reason. She does look younger than she is but once they find out it seems to jsut turn the lights off.

[rice rocket]

I told the truth, said why I was unhappy. I was a 6 year employee at the time when I quit.

I was rehired 3 years later, with a 50% raise and flexibility to change what I wanted on my team.


The "don't tell the truth" applies maybe if you're not looking to get rehired ever? I tried to be constructive.

[Ken Robb]

Originally Posted by jamesdak

LOL, I'm currently sitting with only 10 days of work left. I can't wait. No amount of money could ever get me to reconsider and I'm not even 60 yet. I cannot fathom working until 70 even if I loved my job.....Hope he get's pissed off soon!

My pal retired 10+ years ago after the pissed him off "one more time".

[rwsaunders]

My better half has been an HR executive for the majority of her career and she sent me the list of reasons that most people leave a job/firm. Comp/benefits top the list at +/- 60% and it slides from there. The median amount of time an employee stays at a job is 4.1 years, with older (55-65) employees averaging almost 10 years and younger (25-35) employees averaging a little under 3 years, so your 18 years is commendable.

Age discrimination is very real and with most firms using LinkedIn, Indeed, etc. as application portals, the screening and interview process has become faceless. It doesn't take any skill to search a profile on LinkedIn, add up the years of work experience and do the math in terms of an applicant's age. She's seen managers run the numbers comparing salary, benefits and projected longevity and make decisions based on those factors, which really isn't kosher, but that's what happens behind the scenes.

1 Compensation and benefits
2 Company direction and stability
3 Manager relationship
4 Toxic culture
5 Flexibility
6 Career advancement
7 Entrepreneurial pursuits
8 Purpose and passion

Good luck with your change. 21 years ago, I had enough with a firm that I thought would be my home until retirement. I had invested 15 years of my career, managed the technical staff, was tied into the profit-sharing and owned a proportional segment of our HQ. Items #3 and 4 were enough to have me do a deep look into what I wanted to do for the next 20 years. The thought of working with two of the future partners almost made me puke, so I gave notice and wrapped things up. No job, just some ideas and connections in the industry.

Tough at first when you have 3 kids and you walk away from 1/2 of your income, but I was able to be part of a startup that today has 27 employees and growing. I love the work that I do and the people/clients that I work with, and I'm almost finished with the process of selling my shares to three partners, who have been with me for 15-17 years. I'm very fortunate indeed, so keep your chin up as they say and be open to new ideas and opportunities.

[donevwil]

Originally Posted by Ken Robb

A good pal was 70 and had postponed his retirement several times at the request of his boss. When I asked when he was REALLY going to retire he said "I am now on the one-ten plan. If they piss me off one more time I will be gone in 10 days." I loved that answer---and he did it shortly thereafter.

Showing this to my wife. She's so (over) committed to her job she just puts up with her selfish, demeaning boss fully knowing it's sucking the life out of her. We talk retirement, but she's struggling to commit. Maybe one-ten is the answer.