Job application advice

[Mabozza]

Morning PH

I've applied for a role and refreshingly not recieved the standard "dear John" response that seems so common at the monent - I have been presented with more info on the role and some screening questions.

One of the screening questions the recruiter has asked is:
"What is your current situation at ACME and why are you looking to leave ?"

What would be a professional and positive response to this that will help me progress to the next stage?

The reason I ask is that given the negative culture and strange going-ons at the current company, I'm struggling to see beyond what is in front of me at the moment and having a bit of a mental block.

Some current highlights of the current employment

• Autocratic "leadership"
• No clear strategy or indeed actual leadership
• Toxic culture
• Dysfunctional siloed organisations
• poor Q1 performance (global sales) aligned to impossible targets creating a general mallaise
• recent workforce reductions, and based on Q1 perofmance possibly more to come in Q2 or Q3
• The Company presented to the public is very different in reality, lots of smoke and mirrors to try to get to IPO or further investment. I suspect they are flogging a dead horse and might get found out at somepoint.....

any sensible advice appreciated & thanks!

[jonsp]

I wouldn't say anything negative about your current employer.

Talk about your achievements/value added at Acme then say you'd like to progress your career quicker than you can at Acme. Then say why you like the potential employer and how your career objectives would tally with their business objectives.

Obviously you'd have to fill in the specifics yourself but idea is to be positive about the opportunity presented not negative about your current employer.

[Muzzer79]

jonsp said:

I wouldn't say anything negative about your current employer.

This

Focus on what you want out of the new job, rather than what's wrong with your current one.

Your response should be about the chance to make use of the opportunities that the new role brings you to develop your career (in whatever way) and the contribution you will look forward to bringing.

If you get to interview and someone specifically asks what's wrong with ACME, give a general answer about it being time to move on and try something new.

[Mabozza]

thanks folks - yes not saying anything negative is a given, thats why I was looking for suggestions on a positive spin or whats worked for folk in the past

Thanks for the suggestions so far - it is much appreciated

[rog007]

Some other things to consider when shaping your response (which you may have to expand upon at interview) as these questions may pop up in the mind of the reader:

How long have you been with your current organisation?
How long in your current role (if different from above)?
Are you/have you been subject to any disciplinary/performance management?
Are references likely to be an issue with the current organisation?
Are there any recent negative reviews for your current organisation on Glassdoor?

That’s not to say that you should overtly cover those off, but if any are applicable, one has to think carefully how one frames a response in anticipation of deeper questions at interview.

[captain_cynic]

Mabozza said:

Morning PH

I've applied for a role and refreshingly not recieved the standard "dear John" response that seems so common at the monent - I have been presented with more info on the role and some screening questions.

One of the screening questions the recruiter has asked is:
"What is your current situation at ACME and why are you looking to leave ?"

What would be a professional and positive response to this that will help me progress to the next stage?
!

My standard response for me is "I'm looking for new challenges and progress my career".

It's fluffy BS but you're talking to a recruiter so that's what you need.

What you shouldn't do is badmouth your current employer... No matter how much they deserve it.

Edited by captain_cynic on Friday 22 March 10:56

[worsy]

I've outgrown my current role and the next step up is blocked at this time.

Suggests you are ready for promotion but there is no vacancy at present.

[MBVitoria]

captain_cynic said:

Mabozza said:

Morning PH

I've applied for a role and refreshingly not recieved the standard "dear John" response that seems so common at the monent - I have been presented with more info on the role and some screening questions.

One of the screening questions the recruiter has asked is:
"What is your current situation at ACME and why are you looking to leave ?"

What would be a professional and positive response to this that will help me progress to the next stage?
!

My standard response for me is "I'm looking for new challenges and progress my career".

It's fluffy BS but you're talking to a recruiter so that's what you need.

What you shouldn't do is badmouth your current employer... No matter how much they deserve it.

Edited by captain_cynic on Friday 22 March 10:56

This. I think both sides of the interviewing table know the real reason will be along the lines of "because they're a bunch of s and are taking the piss" but we instead do this little dance and move on.

I never really pay much heed to why someone is looking to move. Their skills and experience is far more important.

[Mabozza]

captain_cynic said:

My standard response for me is "I'm looking for new challenges and progress my career".

It's fluffy BS but you're talking to a recruiter so that's what you need.

Edited by captain_cynic on Friday 22 March 10:56

thanks - this hits the nail on the head!

Thanks to all who responded, I have provided a positive response to the recruiter. I've taken onboard all the comments which have helped me shift from the negatives of the current slave drivers to prepping for any next stages and focussing on the positives of skills and experience I can offer any new employment overlords.