How Do I Explain This One?

[WithoutADoubt2]

I recently got a new job which pays very well but I don't like the work environment. Basically everyone in the company is very standoff-ish, people constantly argue w/each other, etc etc, and I've determined in the short time I've been here that I simply don't like the place. So I've been sending my resume to other companies and continuing to look for job. My resume doesn't list the current job, it only lists up to my previous job.

Now I have an interview with another company, which is great. But my question is, how do I explain that I have only been w/my most recent employer for only 1 month and that I'm now looking again? Basically I don't want it to look bad that I've only worked there one month. I don't want to lie, but how do I go about explaining this? Thank you.

 

[mrdenny]

I feel your pain. I had a company like that (it took me 9 months to get fed up and find another job). I just told people that the company and the environment weren't a good fit for me.

If they pressed further I told them that the corporate culture included a lack of communication between staff and with management and that I found that it was not a good working environment for me.

That satisfied most every-ones curiosity.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

http://www.mrdenny.com

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[DrJavaJoe]

Change your perspective. You already have a job so you should be interviewing companies to see if the position they are offering and the work environment is right for you. You have a good work history, you are good at what you do, you are an asset to any company that you work for, so why wouldn't they want you to work for them. The question is, do you, want to work for them? You obviously don't want to work for the same type of company that you are currently at, so this time, screen your potential employers a little better. Now with that said, what might your answer be when asked, "Why do you want to leave your current employer?" It might go something like "Well they are a good company, nice people and all, but my department seemed to have more infighting than team work and that is not the type of environment I want to spend the next 5, 10 or even 20 years in. So if I was to take this position what would the environment be like here?"


Two strings walk into a bar. The first string says to the bartender: 'Bartender, I'll have a beer. u.5n$x5t?*&4ru!2[sACC~ErJ'. The second string says: 'Pardon my friend, he isn't NULL terminated'.

 

[chiph]

I wouldn't mention it at all unless they ask. A 1 month gap in employment is easily assumed to be time spent looking for work.

If they do ask, say that you made a mistake in accepting the job there. Do not name names or otherwise bad-mouth the other company, just say that you didn't feel you could perform your best there, and leave it at that.

Chip H.


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[Zen37]

There is no shame in admitting that you made a mistake. Tell them that the job just did not turn out the way you had hoped.

I changed jobs like you once after a month, i did not put it on my resume but, when asked, i told them that the atmosphere over there just is not pleasent and the work is not as challenging as they made it out to be.

You are human and in title to make mistakes, if you admit it, it will show that you are a honest individual, true to yourself and that you take action when things aren't right. All good attributes to me.

 

[Thadeus]

I agree with most here: Be honest, but don't bad-mouth. There are polite, business-like terms you can use to explain your current environment. Write them down. Read them a few times. This way, they'll be in your head when asked and you won't look as though you are trying to explain your way out of something.

As DrJavaJoe stated, you are interviewing the company... If being honest knocks you off the list for CompanyA, you probably don't want to work in that environment either.

Whatever you choose to do, good luck in your search.

~Thadeus

 

[maxmanbug]

Whoa!! Remember that you did not make a mistake. You made the best choice that you could with the information that you were given and able to glean in an interview. I was with my last job <3 months prior to taking the job that I currently have. There was no problem (or probing) when I stated that I prefer a team environment to any other (it is true, but it didn't hurt that I knew that this company prides itself on being team oriented EVERYTHING). This time take the time to get your questions in order by learning what you can about the company and don't be afraid to ask probing questions. The last thing that you want to do is end up with another job like the current one.

 

[bassguy]

I would second that arguement,
Interview the company your going to....They need you, you have a gig.
I was blatantly misslead at my current position. It took me a couple of months to realize that.
I am not hurrying to leave even though I know I will be. I am being honest and upfront in my interviews about who I am and what I am looking for.
I am also being very probative of them.
If they do not like who I really am, and I do not like who they really are, why would I want the job?

 

[juliane26]

I agree with bassguy.

I did exactly the same like you - I left after three month because I felt bad about the company I was with. As the situation is over here in EU: one cannot be picky about a job sometimes. And as everybody has to agree: from just the interview you will never know what you get afterwards. Picking the wrong job (or having to take it) just can happen.

Well - what I believe is: just be honest, tell them the reason.

It worked for me ...

Juliane

 

[dreamere5]

I am currently in the EXACT same predicament. I have been here for one month to the day and last week my boss told me that the worst hire he ever made was a person with a similar background as mine. He never once has even offered to train me in months time, never. He told me that a good net admin can jump into any network and run with it. Sure the concepts are the same but this is a global network, much larger and way more complicated than my last. The VP's liked me, never consulted my boss until they decided to hire me, my boss is ill that they did not consult him, therefore he wants me gone to prove a point, the VP's need to let him do the hiring. It's getting ugly, I manage the IT support team, of which the 9 year vet who literally built the entire network to include all global sites quit three days after I was hired. Since he built it he saw no need to document anything, i mean anything. My boss has been here 6 years so he went through a majority of the build too, I am the first hire in 6 years!! My boss expects me to pick up where the orginal guy left off.
With no training, my boss has even lied about me to the VP trying to make me look bad so to make them look bad making their decision. I too am very unhappy here and concerned about my resume, I am making more money than I ever have, but the drama and bad vibes are a little much right now. Any suggestions?

 

[DPlank]

Documents. Document your training requests and the refusals.

If you are called to a review where your abilities are questioned, produce copies of the documents.

Alternatively, create a memo about training, and explain why you really need this training in order to be able to do the job properly, and copy the VP in on it.

Cheers,
Dave

"Yes, I'll stop finding bugs in the software - as soon as you stop writing bugs into the software." <-- Me

For all your testing needs: Forum1393

 

[longhair]

documents are an important part - from both sides...
don't just document the training refusals (negatives)...
document the positives! when you are reviewed bring a copy of your recent accomplishments and ask that it be inserted into your review. but be honest.

regards,
longhair

 

[Toshilap]

So many great advices!!!
I just got out of the same situation. I worked in a Co for a month and left. I do not mention this company just to avoid answering questions. If I had to talk I would tell nice variant of the truth. But when gap is small - why bother?
Good luck soon

 

[CajunCenturion]

==> I do not mention this company just to avoid answering questions.
What are you trying to hide?

==> If I had to talk I would tell nice variant of the truth. But when gap is small - why bother?
Once you establish that you're not telling the whole story, one will always wonder what else you're leaving out. Are you then worth the risk?

Honesty is the best policy.

--------------
Good Luck
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[Toshilap]

==> I do not mention this company just to avoid answering questions.
What are you trying to hide?
---OK, company had made a huge order swap and lost one of the major clients who supplied them with 99% of work. 3 people who were hired (me included) were laid off in 1 month. I was in FL 12 days out of a month. So what do you want me to tell my prospective employer? Why not just forget the fact being there...

==> If I had to talk I would tell nice variant of the truth. But when gap is small - why bother?
Once you establish that you're not telling the whole story, one will always wonder what else you're leaving out.

---I meant to tell nice story insted of 'Company screwed up major client' saying '...(I don't know what to say)'

Honesty IS a best policy but not everyone have talent to cover up 'ugly truth' and then people may think 'there is more to the story he is hiding something'. IMO

 

[CajunCenturion]

==> So what do you want me to tell my prospective employer?
Who don't you tell the prospective employer that "the company made a huge order swap and because of that, lost their major client who supplied them with 99% of their work. As a result, three people, myself included, had to be let go".

--------------
Good Luck
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[Toshilap]

Why not to not tell anything? Whom is it going to hurt?

 

[CajunCenturion]

Toshilap - Put yourself in the shoes of the perspective employer. How do you view the situation from that perspective?

What do you think when you see and/or want to know about a one month employment gap in the resume?

If you later find out that the candidate was employed during that month, and had intentionally omitted it, for whatever reason, from their resume, what would you then think?

--------------
Good Luck
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[Toshilap]

Allright, 'what I don't know doesn't hurt me' not working for you?
A gap on my resume looked good because I had ended 2 contracts in a year so I was looking for job! Took a break!Not a problem.

When going through 3 hours interview adding extra info is a hassle for me, I talk too much anyway. LOL

I do not suppose big bad stuff will happen over a little thing. I have different personality I guess.
Thanks for talking to me.