How to disclose why I left a previous job?

[Anonymous]

I left my last job because my manager was an ass. He was a new hire, and had been with the company for about 3 months before he started firing senior staff. 8/10 senior staff were either fired or quit within the first six months. I got sick in the midst of all of this and was going through chemotherapy and was on steroids and all sorts of disgusting drugs. I could barely do my job. I was on part-time FMLA and didn't get the support I needed; he cut a member of my department when I was in the hospital. I returned from a 2 week hospital stay to a department in crisis and my staff were incredibly stressed out. Former boss really is THAT awful. He called a former employees potential employer and told them not to hire her. I feel he would do anything and everything in his power to harm my career. I complained to HR about him after I quit which launched a formal investigation into his workplace behavior. Other former employees have said they now have workplace PTSD because of how awful he was.

The thing is, I gave him 5 days notice when I quit. I knew he was gearing up to give me a final and third written warning. So I basically said "f it" and left for a new job. I'm worried that reputation has followed me. I was interviewed for a similar position when the hiring manger noted that he knew my previous boss. I never got a callback.

The thing is, I'm interviewing tomorrow for a similar position and I don't know how to disclose why I left my previous job. It puts me in a bad position because it's where I have the most and strongest experience. Is it appropriate to say that I "needed a change?" and disclose nothing more? I don't want this awful former boss to follow me wherever I go.

[Anonymous]

Wow. How awful. I'm sorry you had to deal with that and I hope your health has improved.

I think your phrasing of looking for a different opportunity/focus/new product to sell is perfectly fine. You don't need to disclose his treatment of you.

[Anonymous]

I left a toxic environment that was punishing me for taking FMLA leave to have chemotherapy. The final straw was having one of my staff terminated without my concurrence while I was on medical leave. The stress of the environment was affecting my recovery.

There are no employers who would hold this against you for leaving abruptly and would then take negative feedback from your employer with a grain of salt.

[Anonymous]

Why not say for medical reasons

[Anonymous]

I was in a similiar situation and i was totally honest and the job I accepted- my new boss sat there for 20 minutes and talked about all the terrible bosses he had in his career.

I was nice about it and said- well, I have been with this company for 5 years and recently a new group director came in and fired most of my team. It has been really stressful and I decided it was time to start looking at other options. I have really enjoyed the company but the saying seems to be true- people leave bosses, not companies.

[Anonymous]

Some bad advice above. Don't mention any medical issues and don't complain about a former boss. Keep it strictly job related. If you feel that you need to explain why you left that job without another one, you could also add that there were layoffs happening and you saw the writing on the wall and wanted to leave ahead of a layoff so you could fully focus on your job search or something.

[Anonymous]

I would focus on staff being laid off. Leave it vague as to whether you think you are next or whether it affected your work.

[Anonymous]

I'm in HR. We've suffered our share of turmoil in my organization due to some difficult personalities. Here is my advice. Do not mention the medical situation, It is adequate to say, "As you can see I worked at prior employer for x years. A new manager was brought in, and it wasn't a good personality fit. 8 out of ten senior staff resigned or were terminated within six months. I also chose to leave.

I'm proud of having worked with many different people of all personality types in my ten-plus years (or whatever) and I haven't experienced a situation where I chose to leave due to a personality mis-match before. I do have an excellent reference from (others in the former org who will give you a reference).

Believe me, if you are interviewing for a senior level position, the people hiring you will have seen enough sh*t shows to get what you are saying: "guy was an ass".

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone! I didn't disclose why I left. Just said that I needed a change and no more questions were asked. The interview went really well and it looks like I'll be called back for the second round. Thank you for the advice.

[Anonymous]

"There were several reorganizations, and many of my mentors left. I felt it was time I move on to new opportunities and experiences as well."

Everyone knows what it's like when things are shaken up. Just make it sound like it was a good time for you to leave.