STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

baglady · Nine West

leaving a job I just started

lynnie · Chanel

All i can say is that stinks! I"m sorry! I think if you explained that your commute was 2 hours in each direction, your prospective employers would understand.

Andrea Julia · Coach

lynnie wrote:

All i can say is that stinks! I"m sorry! I think if you explained that your commute was 2 hours in each direction, your prospective employers would understand.

I agree. How could they not understand with the gas prices how they are today? 4 hours a day of commuting is a lot and I would imagine that the expense of that makes the pay look even worse.

NCshopper · Hermes

Okay, in order for you to do well in interviews, you're going to have to play up the positive, and downplay the negative. During your interview, don't mention your miserable salary, your annoying coworkers, or the lack of benefits. Doing so will pretty much get you cut right off the bat.

Now, in order to spin this well, I think you should be very upfront. Tell your interviewers (only if they ask) that you were looking for a job to get you through the summer, but that you're looking for something more permanent now. Explain that you've learned a lot, but that the commute is not working for you. Is your current job in the same field as the jobs you'll be applying for? If not, explain that you took the job to get through the summer, but that it's not the field you'd like to be working in.

I'd also point out that you're not the type of person to leave a job after only x months, and give examples on your resume of your dedication to past jobs/positions.

HTH!

kenzie · Chanel

Andrea Julia wrote:

lynnie wrote: All i can say is that stinks! I"m sorry! I think if you explained that your commute was 2 hours in each direction, your prospective employers would understand. I agree. How could they not understand with the gas prices how they are today? 4 hours a day of commuting is a lot and I would imagine that the expense of that makes the pay look even worse.

I agree. If asked why you are looking for another job, just stated that the commute is expensive and tiring and you would like something closer to home. They don't need to know anything else.

baglady · Nine West

Thanks for your advice. I do need to include this job, unfortunately, 'cause I want to play up the fact that I know Quark and Photoshop. But you're right, if I claim the commute is too much, which it is, hopefully they'll overlook the fact that I just started this job in the last week of August.

Christine · Coach

I'm sorry you aren't happy with your job! If you are going to use the commute as the main reason why you are looking for another job, just be ready if the interviewed says something like, "But didn't you know what the commute would be when you accepted that job?" or whatever. Just a thought...

Tara · Dooney & Bourke

We just hired someone in our group who had left her last job after only 2 weeks. She was very honest and outright that the position she accepted elsewhere was not what she had imagined. She said she was bored by the work, and wanted more of a challenge. Because she was honest, nobody thought twice about giving her an offer!