Dear Seniors and Readers
One of the most common question asked to employed candidates !!
“Why you want to leave your current company ??”
Is negative feedback about previous employer accepted by interviewers ?
Under what situations or justification can candidate speak negative truth about previous employer ?
Please present your views and opinions !!
From Kuwait, Salmiya
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30One of the most common question asked to employed candidates !!
“Why you want to leave your current company ??”
Is negative feedback about previous employer accepted by interviewers ?
Under what situations or justification can candidate speak negative truth about previous employer ?
Please present your views and opinions !!
From Kuwait, Salmiya
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Hi,
Whenever we go to any interview, this question is asked, and a common answer is that we are leaving our current company for professional growth. Our negative replies never work. I have my own opinion that when anybody is leaving a company, there is a reason - like politics, money, post matters, or people. Negative feedback is never accepted by interviewers.
From India, Pune
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Whenever we go to any interview, this question is asked, and a common answer is that we are leaving our current company for professional growth. Our negative replies never work. I have my own opinion that when anybody is leaving a company, there is a reason - like politics, money, post matters, or people. Negative feedback is never accepted by interviewers.
From India, Pune
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Well, personally, I don't think that an employee should speak anything wrong or negative about a previous employer. This will certainly impact the interview or the image of an employee. It can also raise more questions about the candidate and their professionalism.
I don't think that negative feedback about a previous employer can be accepted by any interviewer. That's what I understand, but I don't know about recruiters or interviewers and what they think.
From India, Gurgaon
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I don't think that negative feedback about a previous employer can be accepted by any interviewer. That's what I understand, but I don't know about recruiters or interviewers and what they think.
From India, Gurgaon
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Dear Anil & Readers,
"This will certainly impact the interview or the image of an employee. Additionally, this can raise more questions about the candidate and their professionalism."
If a candidate has valid reasons and logic to explain negative aspects of their previous employment, how does that cast doubt on their professionalism?
As HRs/Interviewers, should we blindly believe parroted, goody-goody, scripted, All-is-well types of answers from candidates? Aren't we missing a point here? Does accepting these overly positive responses ensure a thorough and authentic selection or validation of the candidate we are interviewing?
From Kuwait, Salmiya
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"This will certainly impact the interview or the image of an employee. Additionally, this can raise more questions about the candidate and their professionalism."
If a candidate has valid reasons and logic to explain negative aspects of their previous employment, how does that cast doubt on their professionalism?
As HRs/Interviewers, should we blindly believe parroted, goody-goody, scripted, All-is-well types of answers from candidates? Aren't we missing a point here? Does accepting these overly positive responses ensure a thorough and authentic selection or validation of the candidate we are interviewing?
From Kuwait, Salmiya
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Well, Mr. Hussain, you are right, but the thing is that none of any recruiter or interviewer wants this negative feedback from any employee about a previous employer because it threatens their self-esteem and sense of acceptance. This is certainly a big question... even I would like to see more responses by the recruiters...
From India, Gurgaon
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From India, Gurgaon
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Hi Avinash,
Unless every employee of a particular company is on the streets objecting to the company's atrocities, there is actually nothing negative about that company.
Personally, I left a lucrative job at a software company because I thought their software development and project management processes were grossly inefficient, i.e., I got bored. People could come in after 10 am and work till 10 pm. I hated it, but others loved the work environment.
It took me some time to realize that my values or the things that I value in a job, i.e., creativity, efficiency, growth, and punctuality, were not matching with the company's "practiced values."
With a sprinkle of humor, it's like a nice guy breaking up with a nice girl. Sometimes things are just not compatible. Values don't match, and the clash of beliefs on how things should work and how one should be treated leads to conflicts.
As an interviewer, if I hire a candidate who speaks something negative about their previous company, I can guarantee that they will speak something negative about my company the day they quit the job.
Hope this helps.
Avinash Tavares
Trainer & Life Coach
(Search On Cite | Search On Google)
From India, Pune
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Unless every employee of a particular company is on the streets objecting to the company's atrocities, there is actually nothing negative about that company.
Personally, I left a lucrative job at a software company because I thought their software development and project management processes were grossly inefficient, i.e., I got bored. People could come in after 10 am and work till 10 pm. I hated it, but others loved the work environment.
It took me some time to realize that my values or the things that I value in a job, i.e., creativity, efficiency, growth, and punctuality, were not matching with the company's "practiced values."
With a sprinkle of humor, it's like a nice guy breaking up with a nice girl. Sometimes things are just not compatible. Values don't match, and the clash of beliefs on how things should work and how one should be treated leads to conflicts.
As an interviewer, if I hire a candidate who speaks something negative about their previous company, I can guarantee that they will speak something negative about my company the day they quit the job.
Hope this helps.
Avinash Tavares
Trainer & Life Coach
(Search On Cite | Search On Google)
From India, Pune
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Dear Mr. Hussain,
It is not about your ex-company/employer; it is all about the people with whom you have worked. They can be your immediate superior, managers, or top management as well.
Regarding your query, it is up to the interviewer how they perceive the interviewee's response/comment. All five fingers are not the same. All organizations' culture is also not the same.
In my view, it is the responsibility of the interviewer to consider "two sides of a coin" by interpreting how "genuine" the interviewee's statement is while mapping his/her skills/competencies, etc. There are tons of instances where professional employees have been hunting for better opportunities due to various reasons, as every employee wants to excel(progress) in their professional life, provided they receive genuine support from either immediate superior or respective department managers and top management.
Did HR professionals ever try to understand/evaluate how painful or successful an employee's journey with his/her ex-employer is?
In my thread ("Do You Consider Yourself as a Leader or Follower"), you had narrated about "lack of opportunity to deliver such a role." How are you going to relate yourself to professionalism or such experience when you have a strong desire to prove your ability/skills/talent/competencies where you haven't been awarded an opportunity to perform?
- HR should accept genuine facts, a bitter truth experienced by an employee.
- HR professionals need to be more practical in life rather than expecting optimistic (positive feedback about the ex-employer) reply from the interviewee.
- I would suggest that you forget about the previous employer and focus on the interviewee so that HR can succeed in hiring a skilled applicant with a positive mental attitude.
Irrespective of the open work culture in practice, organizations will never meet employee expectations, but they always want employees to meet their standards/expectations; hence, employees are bound to speak negatively.
With profound regards
From India, Chennai
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It is not about your ex-company/employer; it is all about the people with whom you have worked. They can be your immediate superior, managers, or top management as well.
Regarding your query, it is up to the interviewer how they perceive the interviewee's response/comment. All five fingers are not the same. All organizations' culture is also not the same.
In my view, it is the responsibility of the interviewer to consider "two sides of a coin" by interpreting how "genuine" the interviewee's statement is while mapping his/her skills/competencies, etc. There are tons of instances where professional employees have been hunting for better opportunities due to various reasons, as every employee wants to excel(progress) in their professional life, provided they receive genuine support from either immediate superior or respective department managers and top management.
Did HR professionals ever try to understand/evaluate how painful or successful an employee's journey with his/her ex-employer is?
In my thread ("Do You Consider Yourself as a Leader or Follower"), you had narrated about "lack of opportunity to deliver such a role." How are you going to relate yourself to professionalism or such experience when you have a strong desire to prove your ability/skills/talent/competencies where you haven't been awarded an opportunity to perform?
- HR should accept genuine facts, a bitter truth experienced by an employee.
- HR professionals need to be more practical in life rather than expecting optimistic (positive feedback about the ex-employer) reply from the interviewee.
- I would suggest that you forget about the previous employer and focus on the interviewee so that HR can succeed in hiring a skilled applicant with a positive mental attitude.
Irrespective of the open work culture in practice, organizations will never meet employee expectations, but they always want employees to meet their standards/expectations; hence, employees are bound to speak negatively.
With profound regards
From India, Chennai
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It is a hypothetical question posed by every employer at the time of interview though all are aware about the obvious reason i.e. better prospects. Pon
From India, Lucknow
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From India, Lucknow
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Almost every single book, magazine, and newspaper article and internet page about job interviews quite clearly states - NEVER EVER badmouth your previous employers for whatever reasons.
I am surprised that anyone would even ask if this was acceptable. Your common sense would tell you it is not.
I agree that many of us have endured jobs, organizations, other staff members, and managers we loathed with a passion. Much as we want to tell the world about our frustrations, it is best not to and to move on.
So if you are asked the question, the simple answer is that you had reached a point where the job was no longer challenging you and building your skills, etc. This tells the prospective employer that you are ambitious, keen to learn, and willing to take on new challenges.
I doubt any employer who asks this stupid question expects to be told the truth. If you are working in a niche industry, it is likely that managers in other companies already know that the management in your previous company is not up to snuff anyway.
My personal view is that managers sometimes ask this question in an attempt to trap you into saying something you shouldn't, and that gives them a reason to eliminate you.
As for me, if I was interviewing and you told me bad things about your previous employer, then I would automatically dismiss your application as I would be concerned about what you would say about me and my company when you decided to move on. If you are a person who cannot keep confidences, then you are unworthy of employment.
From Australia, Melbourne
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I am surprised that anyone would even ask if this was acceptable. Your common sense would tell you it is not.
I agree that many of us have endured jobs, organizations, other staff members, and managers we loathed with a passion. Much as we want to tell the world about our frustrations, it is best not to and to move on.
So if you are asked the question, the simple answer is that you had reached a point where the job was no longer challenging you and building your skills, etc. This tells the prospective employer that you are ambitious, keen to learn, and willing to take on new challenges.
I doubt any employer who asks this stupid question expects to be told the truth. If you are working in a niche industry, it is likely that managers in other companies already know that the management in your previous company is not up to snuff anyway.
My personal view is that managers sometimes ask this question in an attempt to trap you into saying something you shouldn't, and that gives them a reason to eliminate you.
As for me, if I was interviewing and you told me bad things about your previous employer, then I would automatically dismiss your application as I would be concerned about what you would say about me and my company when you decided to move on. If you are a person who cannot keep confidences, then you are unworthy of employment.
From Australia, Melbourne
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Well I totally agree with Mr. John and Mr KHADIR..
None of single interviewer can be impressed by an applicant who slams his/her former employer because their concern possibly, about what a candidate might say about them in the future and the interviewer won’t like to hear this but actually the purpose of this question is that Interviewer want to know that a candidate really want the position being offered.
Well If I have to answer this question "why do you want to leave that job," I would like say : "I'm actually doing quite well at that job, but I feel that I can't pass up this opportunity because it would allow me to broaden my experience into [whatever it is]". Also I have learned a lot with my past employer but felt like I needed new challenges. My favorite part of the job was …….. etc. but will never say anything negative during any interview in response of this question, always positive positive positive..
From India, Gurgaon
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None of single interviewer can be impressed by an applicant who slams his/her former employer because their concern possibly, about what a candidate might say about them in the future and the interviewer won’t like to hear this but actually the purpose of this question is that Interviewer want to know that a candidate really want the position being offered.
Well If I have to answer this question "why do you want to leave that job," I would like say : "I'm actually doing quite well at that job, but I feel that I can't pass up this opportunity because it would allow me to broaden my experience into [whatever it is]". Also I have learned a lot with my past employer but felt like I needed new challenges. My favorite part of the job was …….. etc. but will never say anything negative during any interview in response of this question, always positive positive positive..
From India, Gurgaon
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