Reason for leaving....what do I say..?

LindseyM

Hi everyone, hope you are well...:)

I'm just looking for a bit of advice really. I'm in the middle of completing an applicaion form for a job I really want and that I know I am qualified for. Problem is, they ask the reasons for wanting to leave current role and I don't know what to put.

Basically, I hate my job, I work from home an an IT developer and have to travel to our client sites around the UK. This doesn't really bother me but the working from home bit is really getting me down as is the lack of support. If I got this job, I'd be taking a 4K wage drop but I've already worked out that I could afford it and the other job is five minutes down the road and would be a lot less stressful, and I've decided that my mental well-being is more important than money! :rolleyes:

Because they ask for your current salary, my mum thinks that they may see the higher wage and not even consider me for the role. So, what do I say why I want to leave - I know it's considered bad form to diss your current employers, but without me hating my current job/employers there's probably no other reason why i'd consider taking such a wage cut (or I'm assuming that's what they would think ). Also, my DD is starting school in September so I want to cut out the travelling for that reason too.

Sorry to ramble, any advice would be great! :beer:

Hapless_2

There is your reason there.

I'd be taking a 4K wage drop but I've already worked out that I could afford it and the other job is five minutes down the road and would be a lot less stressful, and I've decided that my mental well-being is more important than money

elite_2

I would certainly say about wanting to cut down on travelling, but maybe not metion that you are concerned about your mental wellbeing as this may lead them to think you may be off sick....

Standards I get is career progression, money, career change...

Savvy_Sue

Preferring to work from an office base and reduce travelling would be quite valid reasons to take a pay cut. Given that you may not be paid your travelling time then it may not be that much of a cut, IYSWIM.

I would not mention your DD at all (I never mention my children although it's pretty obvious I have them!)

Alex_of_Swansea

Trying to achieve a better work/life balance? If you're travelling all the time and this job wil mean more time at home, that seems a decent reason to me!

LindseyM

Thanks all, I put on the app "Reduction in travel" - i'll let ya know if I get an interview :fingers crossed:

Thanks again :beer:

Andy_L

Don't tell them your current salary - you're be in a stronger position when it comes to negotiating.

furbyfruitcake

:j Hi

I work closely with all types of employer daily so my advice to is never ever tell a prospective employer u hate ur current job.

Instead explain ur looking 4 new & exciting challenges as u feel ur becoming stale in ur current job.

Do not put ur current wage on the application form, as they will interview u without this info. When getting interviewed then explain clearly it may look like ur taking a 4K wage drop but in actual fact as the new job is only 5 minutes away, after accounting ur current travelling expenses ul be slightly better off.

Finally, explain the need to be close to the school, convience & acessability to home this post meets ur needs to the T.

Hope u get it!!!

Savvy_Sue

furbyfruitcake wrote: »

Finally, explain the need to be close to the school,

While I'm not disputing your expertise in this area, many mothers feel that saying explicitly that we have children puts us at a disadvantage, and unless it's relevant to the job you're applying for it's better to let the potential employer work it out. If we do not say we have children, the potential employer cannot ask.

When we apply for jobs, most of us work out beforehand whether we can meet our domestic commitments without them impinging on our performance at work. Those domestic commitments are therefore irrelevant to the potential employer.

And IMO, making too much of your domestic commitments looks slightly unprofessional. How many men make any mention of their children in cvs and application forms?

If I CHOOSE to say in an interview that one reason for applying for this job is its child-friendly hours or convenience for the school pickup, that's my choice. But it's never been on an application form or my cv.