What do you put down for reason for leaving a job in application form?

plzhelpmesave!

Hi

Just after quick advice please. Dh filling in an application form for a managers job. Let his last job as he hated it, was a rubbish organisation and they didn't keep any promises of promotion prospects etc.

BUT you can't put that down on a job application!! So what so you put??

Thanks

SandC

Something like 'wished to expand on the skills and experience gained by pursuing opportunities with other employers'.

Basically make it about career advancement and make it seem like he's grateful to his previous employers for the experience he gained. Always say stuff like that in interviews too.

The golden rule - never slate an ex employer. Keep schtum, even when you have got the job and are employed by them. Just use bad experiences as learning curves.

SarEl

Agreed, But whilst not wishing to be overly pedantic " he hated it, was a rubbish organisation and they didn't keep any promises of promotion prospects etc." isn't a reason for leaving - it's a personal opinion about the employer! I think they are more looking for the resigned / sacked / redundant type of explanation, because potential employer do tend to be looking not quite so much about your reasons for leaving but the manner of your leaving.

suicidebob

SandC wrote: »

Something like 'wished to expand on the skills and experience gained by pursuing opportunities with other employers'.

Basically make it about career advancement and make it seem like he's grateful to his previous employers for the experience he gained. Always say stuff like that in interviews too.

The golden rule - never slate an ex employer. Keep schtum, even when you have got the job and are employed by them. Just use bad experiences as learning curves.

Don't think the career advancement thing holds much weight when you've left to sign on the dole!

pineapple

My last job was tricky. As an agency worker I had refused to take on double the workload in a change which would also badly effect my clients. They said do it or leave. I asked them to end the contract rather than leave of my own accord and jeopardise JSA. But later came the problem of what to say to potential employers. Can't remember what I put on the forms, something like 'end of contract'. The main thing was getting to interview. At interview I came clean - but carefully. Beware of slagging off the previous employer. The way I put it was that I appreciated that they needed to cut budgets and save money but didn't feel I could downgrade the service to elderly clients/compromise my beliefs in what the job was about.
There are ways of saying everything.

Oldernotwiser

suicidebob wrote: »

Don't think the career advancement thing holds much weight when you've left to sign on the dole!

That's a good point.

OP, did he leave to take another job or did he make himself unemployed?

Uncertain

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

That's a good point.

OP, did he leave to take another job or did he make himself unemployed?

You meant "took a career break" or "a sabbatical" !!

InsideInsurance

Personally simply put the method of ending it (ie resignation, redundancy etc). Leave any discussion of motivations (which should always be put into a positive light rather than the fact you hated your boss) for interview