Turning a negative into a positive

[MamaM]

I am actively looking for a new job. I have only been with this company for 8 months now. How bad is it going to look? I was laid off from my previous employer after 1.5 years, 400 people were also let go. I had to find something and thought, at the time, this position was a good transition. Now, not so much. How do I approach this in my resume and hopefully, interview? Thanks.

[MamaM]

And you can see my reasons in the Volunteering as Mandatory at Work thread. Thanks.

[treehugger]

Be very, very careful about saying anything negative about current or past employers in an interview, no matter how factual. I know it's frustrating, but the harsh truth is that most potential employers will look at negative statements as damning to the interviewee. That said, you want to be as open as is practical, while giving it a positive spin. It's a hard line to walk, for sure.

The 8 months doesn't have to be a negative for a new employer, but they will definitely ask about it. I would try to address that a bit in your cover letter. Something about after a transitional position, you are now looking for a permanent career position.

Then, in the interview, mention the large-scale layoff and then the transitional nature of your next/current job. And again, stress that you are now looking for something permanent with growth opportunities (implying no opportunities for growth at current job), yadda yadda yadda. You can do it and you will find a great new job. Good luck!

Kara

[redfox]

You were laid off, you were hired, it's not a fit, and out of respect for the hospital and their good work, you know it's time for a change. That happens, and it takes time to settle in & know if it's the right place for you. You've given it a good go, and are now changing.

[SteveinMN]

treehugger offers good advice. This is by no means a fatal problem if you do your homework on how you'll answer the question -- because the question will come up.

I would simply say you were looking for a job 8-9 months ago, your current position seemed to be a good fit at the time, but now that you've started, you see it is not a good fit, and so you are looking again. Be as non-specific as you can. The interview topics should not center on your work history but on your fitness for the available position.

treehugger's comment about looking for a permanent career position is not bad, but may be a tough sell if the job you're interviewing for is very similar to your current position. After all, the prospective employer only has to call your current place of employment to verify that you are a full-time permanent employee. It's legal for them to ask and legal for your employer to answer. It's also OK to ask prospective employers not to let your current organization know you are applying.

You have discovered aspects of the job that you cannot address by yourself, that you could not have known about until you'd started working there, and that you do not feel comfortable discussing outside of your workplace. Prospective employers (good ones, anyway) will appreciate that you are not bad-mouthing a previous employer, that you are not airing another organization's dirty laundry in public, and that you have enough sense to get out after eight months when it's apparent the situation will not change without becoming much worse.

[treehugger]

Sorry, I was definitely unclear. I meant phrasing it in such a way that it was transitional for you after your layoff, not saying that it was a temp position.

Kara