Recently quit my job, and wondering what to disclose on my CV for future applications

visege761

Hello everyone

Above my better judgment, I recently quit my job which I had suffered for roughly 6 months, and I don't have another job to go into. I found the atmosphere in the office and job I was working, very aggressive and hostile, and not at all conducive to working in, and it was making me even contemplate death as I was just so miserable, I had lost all spirit and energy towards life. Whilst I could stomach the fact that I hated doing all of the tasks and characteristics of the job, it was the impact of the atmosphere on me which made me leave. The boss was a very controlling and aggressive character, and I was the only member of staff who wasn't a close family friend, or immediate family, which made it even more difficult to accept the atmosphere. I thought against myself, and my will to leave the job from the first month there, and when the boss and I had a disagreement I said I had had enough of the job, and couldn't take the job anymore, and walked out. He said he would pay me until the end of the month, and that is how it ended. I'm disappointed how I acted and I pride myself on acting appropriately in life, but for the first time in my life I felt a pain in my ears as I was so fuming. All this aside, I'm asking for some advice please.

It isn't likely the boss will give me a reference, so how should I deal with this on my CV, and if it did get that far, at an interview? Do I leave the 6 month period off of my CV, or do I put that I worked at that business in my experience subsection and just leave leave off a referee from that organization, and if it came to interview just be honest that I ended up having a disagreement and left? The job wasn't in the area of work I'm interested in, and I felt I stagnated during the job as I didn't learn or build upon my skills, so I don't even know if the 6 months really show anything, rather than I was active and working. I guess they would see I've been working if they were to check, from my income/payment history, so I'm not sure what I should do. I know what I did will make it much tougher to get a job, but I hope maybe someone has had a similar experience and might be able to share how they approached it? This was only my second job after graduating as my first was a temporary 6 month contract, so I don't have two alternative vocational referees.

Thank you!

Martin

SarEl

Theer are two schools of thought around here.

One is that everyone lies on their CV, so lie away.

The second is that when you get sacked for being caught for lying on your CV you don't have anything to complain about.

I am in the second group. But I would avoid mention of disagreements or any complaints about previous employers - it may not act in your favour since the potential employer may wonder just what you will be like if you don't like them! If it cane to the worst I would simply go with something simple like the job wasn't for me and I didn't want to get stuck in a rut - I thought it was fairer all around to make a break"

MoreOn

Agreed, if they wanted you to expand you could add that sometimes the fit doesn't work and use a terrible example like if I had worked for Mr C Black and had suspicions there wouldn't be a fit... nudge nudge...

Linton

On the CV just put the company name, dates of employment and a very brief description of duties/responsibilities.

You will be asked at the interview why you left. Suggest something along the lines of a small company and everyone else was family/friend made things difficult - ie high level generalities. Dont be rude about the boss (the interviewer may know him) and dont go into details. You need to have thought through your explanation before the interview.

Dont leave the period blank or lie. A blank period will suggest prison or something else which could make potential employers wary of you. Lies are very difficult to keep up, and if found out you could be dismissed.

an9i77

OP it sounds like you at least left on speaking terms with your boss as he agreed to pay you for the rest of the month. Could you ask him to issue at least a 'tombstone reference' ie dates worked from/to, job title and that you left the job voluntarily/ resigned? Most big employers only confirm factual details on a ref these days anyway, in the private sector at least gone are the days of a reference being a sort of report about the person. This should be sufficient to pass any pre employment checks in a new job. As for the reason for leaving, I'd avoid going in to this on your cv, if you get an interview perhaps you could just say the job was not for you due to lack of career progression or something if asked.

Torry_Quine

Linton wrote: »

On the CV just put the company name, dates of employment and a very brief description of duties/responsibilities.

You will be asked at the interview why you left. Suggest something along the lines of a small company and everyone else was family/friend made things difficult - ie high level generalities. Dont be rude about the boss (the interviewer may know him) and dont go into details. You need to have thought through your explanation before the interview.

Dont leave the period blank or lie. A blank period will suggest prison or something else which could make potential employers wary of you. Lies are very difficult to keep up, and if found out you could be dismissed.

I agree. It shows that you were employed rather than as said a wonder of what you were doing.

It is always something that is asked 'why you left the last job' and many prospective employers always contact your last employer for a reference, which may be the bare details.

Uncertain

an9i77 wrote: »

Most big employers only confirm factual details on a ref these days anyway, in the private sector at least gone are the days of a reference being a sort of report about the person.

Although this is common in some areas of work it is not universal by any means. It is fine if that is the type of reference the potential employer is expecting but can cause real problems if it is misunderstood.

Evilm

Most applications I make these days require one of the referees to be the last employer. You may not be able to get around that.

I would be tempted to ask someone who runs a company and is a good friend to ask for a reference from them and see what they say.

If your work was up to standard and the only thing of note was the final discussion you had with the boss then its unlikely they will mention it on a reference anyway. If they don't want to say anything good about you they may just give you a bare bones "worked from X to Y, role A" reference and leave it at that.

If you leave it off and you end up with a job that requires full checks then you may be shown up.

I would not mention a reason unless you are asked in which case then I would use the "not the role originally advertised, not suitable for me" type reason. I'm never good on wording these things though.

dseventy

I would bite the bullett and ask to see the last employer "to finish up paperwork" under the guise of the P45 etc.

I woul ask him for a reference just confirming dates and see what he says.

As an employer I would ask about a gap in employment and would not want to be lied to.

D70

EconomicsGirl

I would put where you worked on your CV but leave all references off as it would look odd to just leave the reference for your last employer off. I don't have any references on my CV and get interviews fine. I only supply references if asked to do so - this helps me control things as well and also be able to notify the referees to expect a call which I think is polite and also means you are likely to get a more relevant reference. Your P45 would show your last employer (unless you claimed benefits).

I would never lie but I wouldn't disclose you had an argument with the employer. If asked why you left I'ld say as you didn't feel it was the career path you wanted to take you really wanted to do x (what job applying is).

I would be tempted to try and get voluntary work in the field you are interested in - maybe part-time so you can continuing looking for work. This will give you a current reference and can sometimes lead to paid employment. Even if it doesn't having something to fill the gap will help and show that you are keen to work. You could also consider doing some training if your new field requires this. I wouldn't be too hard on yourself for leaving - family firms can be difficult to work for if you're not part of the family and they are small. I hope you are feeling better now and look after yourself - if you continue to feel that depressed make sure you get help from family / doctors and take care. Its quite common when you are younger to leave jobs quickly and when you are older you can blame it on youth and its fine. Hope everything works out for you.

I often haven't had references taken up. If they do they may well ask for your current / last employer - going the voluntary route would get round that. If not I'ld discuss with your last employer if they would give you a good reference or not. If not at offer stage if last employer is requested I'ld explain then it was a small family firm and as you weren't part of the family you didn't fit in but can supply references from the job before and personal referees. I'ld say that you are keen to stay at the new company - if they get jittery which I don't think they would as long as you're honest I'ld offer to work for free for say a couple of weeks so they can see for themselves. I'm sure you will find a way round it but I'ld never lie but also never volunteer negative info about yourself.

LittleVoice

EconomicsGirl wrote: »

I would put where you worked on your CV but leave all references off as it would look odd to just leave the reference for your last employer off. I don't have any references on my CV and get interviews fine. I only supply references if asked to do so - this helps me control things as well and also be able to notify the referees to expect a call which I think is polite and also means you are likely to get a more relevant reference.

Absolutely right.

Never put contact details of individuals on your CV (other than yourself!). If you feel you really must put something about references use the phrase "References available upon request" - but I would save the space on my CV for something worthwhile to sell my skills/experience.

If you put named referees on your CV then you would need to tell your referees each time you made an application which is something very wearing to do and virtually impossible if you uploaded that CV to a jobs board. Referees should be troubled for a reference only when a job offer is about to be or has been made.