Got an interview this week!

[powderfinger]

So I scored an interview this Fri. with a respected local firm, in a sales/marketing position. I wont need to worry about my no-compete clause if hired, bc while the job is similar to mine now, it's in a totally different industry.

Now, I know I will likely be asked why I wanna leave my current position.

What is the best way to communicate that your current employer has made some horrible business decisions, settle out of court lawsuits, almost gone bankrupt, and sinking fast. I dont want to bad mouth my employer, and I refuse to bc they've been my employer for a long time, and I have no ill will against them. It's just... yeah, Im on a sinking ship. And I wanna convey this.

Sure, I will wanna let the new firm know that I am excited about an opportunity with them, but I dont want them to think im just walking away from a job for no reason.

[Lonesomedave]

i think that would be a mistake...what do you think THEY are gonna think if you do convey that to them?

hmmmm....this guy will walk away from us if we make some business decisions he does not like... ... don't go there.

instead say that you feel you've gone about as far as you can go with the present firm, and would like some fresh opportunities, new horizons....that sort of thing

don't say anything bad about your present employer...i think you will find that to your advantage in the long run.



ps-edit-- also, if you DO convey to them that you are looking for a rescue from a sinking ship, they will not only de-value you, but you will put them totally in the driver's seat...maybe not offer you as good a deal as you might have gotten otherwise....just saying

[Puarija]

+1, Dave.

You want the new employer to feel like there's some reason they need YOU, not that you need them. An employer leaving a "sinking ship" might be willing to just go ANYWHERE. You want the new employer to feel like you've carefully chosen them. Desperation isn't the kind of quality that fosters enthusiasm in an interviewer - I've interviewed people who've said to me "I'm just looking for anything at this point." Is that the kind of person you'd want to hire? No, you want to hire the candidate who seems excited about the opportunity.

It sounds like you have a good situation in that you're changing industries. It's hard to go from one car lot to another, for instance, without the new one feeling suspicious about why you're looking to leave. But changing fields, you can say, "I've achieved everything I set out to achieve in Industry X, and now I'm excited to start achieving success in Industy Y." And then you can lay on the enthusiastic remarks about whatever industry you're trying to get into.

Most interviewers will see through b.s. though, so spend some time getting familiar with the company you want to work for, and the industry. Find something you can mention that the average joe off the street (in other words, someone who ISN'T enthusiastic about the industry) wouldn't know about, or wouldn't care about. Little things like that will stand out, making you look like you really are insterested in THEM, not just interested in leaving your current job.

One of my best performing salespeople is a guy who came in to interview, told me he had dreams x,y, and z, and said that he had peaked where he was (auto sales) and felt like he could reach those goals at our company (motorcycle dealership). He had an eagerness and a sense of urgency to learn the job, and when we told him we'd call him, he said, "The sooner you call, the sooner I can start making you money." The remark could've sounded cocky, but he said it with conviction that made it sincere instead of cocky. It definitely stood out. Been looking for someone else like him ever since.

Good luck!
Jacob

[MatticusMania]

Good luck, powderfinger! I hope your interview goes well.

[MarkMgibson]

If the job is in the same industry, there's a good chance they already know what's going on with you current employers. Just give them the old line, "I'm looking for a new opportunity; a new challenge". It's hackneyed, but it's true. I have a lot of friends that change jobs from time to time, simply because they're bored with the old one. There's nothing wrong with that.

Best of luck with the interview.

[coldfoot_luke]

Don't mention getting off a sinking ship, or business going bad. Your prospective new employer might assume you are a reason the business is bad.

Just mention that management's long term plans differ from your career goals, they are going for a different market than you want to be in, etc.