Job interview advice

[Exterous]

So I have an upcoming job interview and, this time, I am not sure how to answer the question 'Why are you leaving your current place of employment?'

The problem is that I actually enjoy most aspects of my job. The biggest reason I want to leave is that the company is on very shaky financial ground. We were running 3 shifts this summer but are now down to 3/4 of a shift.

Would it be appropriate to make references to my job insecurity or should I stick to the standard "looking for opportunities to grow and advance"?

Also I want to negotiate for more vacation time if the standard is 3 weeks. Any suggestions on how to do so?

Thanks guys

 

[Scarpozzi]

Tell them you got caught banging your office maid on your desk and that you were granted a grace period to find employment elsewhere.

They'll enjoy the parallel to Costanza's experience on Seinfeld, but be impressed that management gave you the latitude to move on without canning you right away. It will show them that you are well liked and a valuable employee.

Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RvNS7JfcMM

 

[CNNN]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDWBH2pku1A

 

[Insomniator]

I would say you are leaving because there won't be anyone left after your final day machine gun rampage.

That should get you the job.

 

[rcpratt]

On a more serious note, I don't think there's anything wrong with saying that your current position lacks the job security that you're looking for. But I'd also hit the "grow and advance" point.

 

[smackababy]

I would certainly express you prefer more job security than you already have.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Would it be appropriate to make references to my job insecurity or should I stick to the standard "looking for opportunities to grow and advance"?

Stick with 'looking for opportunities to grow and advance'. Keep it positive.

Shitting on your former/current employer is a trigger to some companies you are interviewing with.

You can certainly mention some challenges, and how you deal with them, etc. But, don't crap all over your fromer/current employer. You, and others, may not think this is crapping,.. but, HR/interviewers deem and see things a bit differently.

 

[BlitzPuppet]

On a more serious note, I don't think there's anything wrong with saying that your current position lacks the job security that you're looking for. But I'd also hit the "grow and advance" point.

That's what I have used in the past and it is most likely the best answer you can give.

And remember your most important key to getting hired...show up naked. They're always looking for people willing to interview in teh buff

 

[slugg]

If you get interviewed by younger people, go ahead and trash your current employer in a professional manner. They will sympathize. The older crowd doesn't like to hear about that; go with the whole "need a better opportunity" thing.

 

[smackababy]

I don't even think you should trash or bring up your employer's situations. Just state you want a position that offers more job security.

 

[rcpratt]

I don't even think you should trash or bring up your employer's situations. Just state you want a position that offers more job security.

That implies pretty strongly that the job security at his current position is lacking.

 

[sourceninja]

I always use creative differences.

It covers any situation.

 

[manimal]

keep it positive.

 

[Exterous]

Thanks guys (well a few of you )

Anyone ever negotiated for more time off?

 

[Fritzo]

Tell them you're looking for new challenges. Safe generic answer.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Another vote for a safe/generic answer. Stay positive in your responses.

 

[purbeast0]

Thanks guys (well a few of you )

Anyone ever negotiated for more time off?

i've negotiated it once, but i ended still not taking that job. they were offering me less than my current position was, and i told them that, and if they could match it. they came back saying they could.

right now i have 27 days of PTO at my current position. if i ever leave here for something else, i probably wouldn't take less than 25 days of PTO. and i would just tell them why i want 25 days because i currently have 27.

but then again, i'm not actively looking. maybe if i was actively looking because i was unhappy i would settle for less, just to get out of the bad position i was currently in.

 

[smackababy]

i've negotiated it once, but i ended still not taking that job. they were offering me less than my current position was, and i told them that, and if they could match it. they came back saying they could.

right now i have 27 days of PTO at my current position. if i ever leave here for something else, i probably wouldn't take less than 25 days of PTO.

That is just so many days! I get 15 + a personal day and I struggle to take all of them every year.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Thanks guys (well a few of you )

Anyone ever negotiated for more time off?

I would imagine it would be similar to negotiating for a higher salary. But then again, I've never tried to get more vacation.

I wouldn't ask about it up front though. You should first get to a point in the interview process that you can ask about benefits/vacation, then later if they offer you a job, that's when I would think you can come back with a different salary/vacation requirement and reasons why.

Just don't be like:

Interviewer: "We offer 3 weeks paid vacation per year".
You: "Hmm, any way you can make that 4 weeks for me?"

 

[cabri]

Many times PTO/vacation is cast in stone by company policy and based on seniority.

They may be willing to allow additional PTO that is charged off by accounting gimics

 

[Scarpozzi]

My wife negotiated a 4 day work week and follows a default schedule of paid leave per year based on how many years she's employed in her office. Negotiating a 4 day week is by far the best thing she could have ever done....she's salaried and her bonuses have been equal to the other personnel at her level....yet she's the only one doing 4 day weeks.... I told her never to leave that job unless things get really bad.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

That is just so many days! I get 15 + a personal day and I struggle to take all of them every year.

Work for any Big 4 accounting firm. You will start off with at least 25 days.


(pssst: It's because you will be working 60-80 hour work weeks, never less than 50).

 

[nickbits]

I always use creative differences.

It covers any situation.

That makes you sound hard to work with IMHO.

 

[gorcorps]

Tell them you're looking for new challenges. Safe generic answer.

(I know everyone is going to blow this off as a typical ATOT know-it-all answer, but I'm gonna try anyway)

I help interview for my company. It's not my main job but I've been trained, and they trust me making these decisions. That said, a "safe generic" answer would be attributed to a safe generic person... in other words, somebody who doesn't stand out and won't be leaving an impression. If you don't give me a good reason why you're leaving your employer, I'm assuming it's bad and you just don't want to talk about it. NEVER leave those type of assumptions up to the interviewer, give them an honest answer.

Truth be told, if somebody told me "I'm looking for new challenges" I'm going to ask "what kind of challenges are you looking for that your current employer is not able to meet?" I'm going to get specifics out of you whether you want to give them or not, it's important to me. We're pretty good at recognizing when people are just telling us what we WANT to hear, and we will drill down in order to get some real indication of who you will be as an employee. People who think interviewing is a game that requires certain "safe" answers do not get a 2nd interview.

I'm not sure where people get their information from, but there seems to be a big gap in what people think they should be doing at an interview, and what I as the interviewer am actually looking for. I strongly believe this gap is why so many people are having trouble finding work. This thread is just more fuel on that fire IMO.

In short: give me some real information that I can actually use, or don't expect me to call you back with good news

 

[BoomerD]

(I know everyone is going to blow this off as a typical ATOT know-it-all answer, but I'm gonna try anyway)

I help interview for my company. It's not my main job but I've been trained, and they trust me making these decisions. That said, a "safe generic" answer would be attributed to a safe generic person... in other words, somebody who doesn't stand out and won't be leaving an impression. If you don't give me a good reason why you're leaving your employer, I'm assuming it's bad and you just don't want to talk about it. NEVER leave those type of assumptions up to the interviewer, give them an honest answer.

Truth be told, if somebody told me "I'm looking for new challenges" I'm going to ask "what kind of challenges are you looking for that your current employer is not able to meet?" I'm going to get specifics out of you whether you want to give them or not, it's important to me. We're pretty good at recognizing when people are just telling us what we WANT to hear, and we will drill down in order to get some real indication of who you will be as an employee. People who think interviewing is a game that requires certain "safe" answers do not get a 2nd interview.

I'm not sure where people get their information from, but there seems to be a big gap in what people think they should be doing at an interview, and what I as the interviewer am actually looking for. I strongly believe this gap is why so many people are having trouble finding work. This thread is just more fuel on that fire IMO.

In short: give me some real information that I can actually use, or don't expect me to call you back with good news

We'd expect that kind of answer from someone with a "My Little Pony" avatar...