Interview Question

northstar23

Hi all,

Just a question for everyone that I love responses on.

Have been in my current employment for 6 months. Without warning yesterday I was informally told by the business owner that my performance is poor, that I'm not a teamworker and that I'm too relaxed at work. When pressed for specific examples he was unable to offer any beyond minor triviality. I disagree with his assessment and having spoken to co-workers they also refute his claims.

Unfortunatly in a small business there exists little option for grievance procedure and I honestly don't know what to do. My gut instinct is to move on asap, but I'm worried that during interviews for another job I'm going to have a problem putting a positive spin on why I've left a post after 6 months. At my previous job before this I stayed 18 months. It would be wise to think that I would be unable to get a fair or useful reference from my current employer.

I'm just wondering what experiences other folk have had when searching for a new job after so little time in their current one?

starsinmycrown

Hey, i'm sorry this sounds like exactly what happened to my mate. one day he was taken into a disciplinary for similar things, although nobody had criticised him before. he had all kinds of accusations made against him that, like you, other colleagues felt were totally unfounded. Again, he was accused of intangible things like " not having the same attitude to work as when he arrived" and "being too relaxed". He asked for specific exanples and wasnt given any. he resigned and cited another member of staff as a referee, who believed the allegations were unfounded. He is now in another job.

Do you think you'll get a bad reference?

i was in a job for six weeks. it was the stuff of nightmare, no help, no training, horrible cliquey colleagues, nasty service users and no support or intervention, which culminated in my concerns about safety being vindicated when myself and another were assaulted by a service user. From my first day, i knew it was wrong, and i dreaded going into work. People never even said hello to anybody in the morning. On my lunchbreak one day, i saw a friend in tescos and he asked me if i was okay and i started crying! i walked out without giving any notice, and although my employer said they would give me a reference, (in ahem, return for my "positive" spin on my time there- as if! i won't be blackmailed!" i don't have a reference from them.

however, i recently went to an interview and got through to second stage and i put on my application form that the job wasn't for me and i was unhappy. Nothing was said about it in the interview, save for my interviewers actually putting a positive spin on it and saying " i see you have worked at most places for a while but you left this place of work after 6 weeks, but thats okay, if something isn't right for you and you feel you can do better then thats your right and no harm done." Some interviewers are okay, especially if you have another referee and a work history that does back up the fact that you can commit. EVERYBODY at some point has done a job they hated, and most people have left soon enough. we all have periods in our work history where we get into a job and realise for whatever reason, its wrong for us. i worked as a waitress at 17 once where the chef thought he was gordon ramsay and shouted at me like "bring me this f**** order!" i walked out after a week. When i explained this to my new employers, that i would not be spoken to like this, they were fine. Most people are reasonable and can see that you arent a shirker or theres something wrong with you, if you were genuinely treated badly in a place of work and left and on a positive note i'd see it as a sign of a good employer if they are prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt. My friend left dominos pizza as an area manager after only 2 months, and found a job soon after. Most people will understand. you'll be fine, good luck!

northstar23

Thanks so much for that advice... I feel a lot better.

Having conferred with my partner I've followed my gut instinct and decided to move on. In some ways I'm worried about finding a new job in the current economic climate but I have a good degree, skill set and 5 years work experience. There are so good new posts at a local company so am going to appy for them now. I believe also that the fact that I'm a lot happier after making the decision has vindicated it.

I think I'd get a bad (untrue) reference, but I'm sure my previous employer would provide an honest assessment of me as an employee as I left on good terms.

I've also joined a Union and have brushed up on my knowledge of employment law having last studied it at Uni. My employer is both irrational and hot headed so when I deliver my news I almost expect it to degenerate into abuse and possibly be told to pack my tools and be dismissed on the spot.

It goes without saying this would be met with full legal reprisals so am going to speak to my solicitor in the morning. Forewarned is forearmed, as they say.

maninthestreet

northstar23 wrote: »

Hi all,

Just a question for everyone that I love responses on.

Have been in my current employment for 6 months. Without warning yesterday I was informally told by the business owner that my performance is poor, that I'm not a teamworker and that I'm too relaxed at work. When pressed for specific examples he was unable to offer any beyond minor triviality. I disagree with his assessment and having spoken to co-workers they also refute his claims.

Unfortunatly in a small business there exists little option for grievance procedure and I honestly don't know what to do. My gut instinct is to move on asap, but I'm worried that during interviews for another job I'm going to have a problem putting a positive spin on why I've left a post after 6 months. At my previous job before this I stayed 18 months. It would be wise to think that I would be unable to get a fair or useful reference from my current employer.

I'm just wondering what experiences other folk have had when searching for a new job after so little time in their current one?

You need to respond, in writing, to these allegations, refuting them. Ask for a written response stating exactly where your job performance is not satisfactory, and what actions you need to take to improve. Any actions must be acheivable, and need to be measurable in an objective manner.

northstar23

In a traditional organisational structure I would agree with you.

However in a sole trader situation (1 boss, 4 employees) I see little value in doing this when the judgement of success / faliure depends on one person and not the traditional checks & balances approach of larger firms where the SMART policy could be emforced.

No specific allegation was made and I feel the comments were bourne of the fact that recently I have refused to work 7 days a week, have refused to carry out illegal working practices and I always take proper scheduled breaks from work. My collegues don't do this and when told to jump by our employer they say "How high?" regardless of the implications. I refuse to do this and as such I think I'm being penalised unfairly.

I've experienced no such problems in previous jobs and have a clean employment history. I also refuse to compromise my working rights and character and as such I feel I have no choice but to move on.

Oldernotwiser

When you say "move on" are you talking about starting jobhunting or giving in your notice? The latter would be a very risky strategy in the current climate, particularly with a 6 month job and a poor reference behind you.

northstar23

Starting jobhunting asap with a view to being moved by May / June. That way I can keep my powder dry and if I'm unfairly critiqued again I can at least call his bluff and say that I'm moving on shortly.

Even if I did give in my notice I'm financially sound with a decent liquid capital reserve. I'm hoping that the fact that this job would appear an anomoly in my employment history would offset any issues generated by it.

456789

I don't think it will be a problem - sometimes in life things don't work out and a reasonable person should understand that.

But I would try my best to stay in the job until you find another one as it is very very difficult to get a new job these days