“Q: I hate my current job and I am mad to leave – but I’ve only been there six months and I am afraid it will look bad. I’ve applied for a few jobs and have an interview next week. Should I tell them I hate my job?” – IK, email.
Liam Horan, BALLINROBE Tel: 094 95 42965
A: You probably won’t need to. They’ll likely figure that you’re not leaving it because your love for it is bordering on obsessive, and has thus become a guilty pleasure you simply must forsake, writes Liam Horan, Career Coach, Sli Nua Careers.
To wring one more laboured analogy from the love arena, a career path rarely runs straight. Most people have ups and downs.
In time, we see them for what they are – the inevitable swings-and-roundabouts of a working life. Yours is in sharp relief because it’s recent, and therefore likely to capture more attention than a dismal chapter from, say, 20 years ago.
I wouldn’t be overly graphic (“I hate my boss and my colleagues and the building sucks” – no) but I wouldn’t try to hide it either (“it just hasn’t worked out like I thought it would, the role doesn’t fully suit my skills and experience” – yes).
And then get on with it: focus not on what went wrong last but what you can do for the next employer. Most of all, don’t draw them into the minutiae of why you’re leaving. That’ll raise alarm bells.
Let them know you’ve already half moved on in your own mind and you’re ready to roll again.
Listen to Liam Horan discuss this very topic with Aidan Crowley on CRCfm:
New career programme will help migrant women access career… by Liam May 26, 2023 A new career programme entitled Build Your Future: Helping Migrant Women Access Career Opportunities is being launched to assist nine migrant women and three non-migrant women in the Ballinrobe / south Mayo area to access the workforce. The programme is…
AUDIO: Firing the big shot in the application form by Liam April 21, 2023 Q: “I am filling out an application form for an Assistant Principal 11 (AP11) position in my school. I've been asked to give one example of where I showed excellence in Leading Teaching & Learning, Managing an Organisation, Leading School…
Mark Smith - away from the world of work by Liam October 20, 2021 When I’m not at the desk, I can usually be found at a sports field somewhere in Co. Mayo. If I am not coaching on the pitch, I will be supporting from the sideline. With two teenagers, there is always…
Teachers, remember to read the question by Liam July 24, 2023 Q: “I am a qualified and experienced teacher looking for a permanent teaching post. I have subbed, filled-in and temped for two years now. I know I am a good teacher; I love my job and my students, but am…
How to handle the conflict question in job interviews by Liam November 16, 2022 A question that regularly comes up in job interviews for teachers, assistant principals, deputy principals and principals is ‘how do you deal with conflict?’ It can really throw candidates so it is important to be prepared beforehand, writes Patricia Maloney,…
Tips for writing a great personal statement by Liam March 27, 2023 Start early: Give yourself enough time to research, plan and write your personal statement. This will allow you to reflect on your experiences, articulate your goals, and ensure that your statement is well-crafted. Research the programme: Before you start writing,…
