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Here is the situation-I have an interview next week for a fantastic position. My past always comes back to bite me during interviews. I left a company with a great reputation for producing strong managers. I left because of ethics or lack thereof. We were openly told in sales meetings to use illegal bait and switch tactics. Several sales managers used the exact words "bait and switch" in sales meetings. Also we were told to ask for higher rates for services if customers lacked fluent english speaking capabilities, especially if they were foreign visitors.
I know in sales that salespeople must remain aggressive to remain successful and close by any means but I draw the line at using illegal tactics and unethical tactics. I had an enormous problem with the ethics of my former employer. This is the true reason I left my position.
Answering the question regarding why I left this position has always been a weak point of my interviewing. For obvious reasons I don't bad mouth my former employer in interviews but rather have a weak answer that doesn't disclose the real reason. I think HR managers can see through my BS as they are trained to do so. I would like to be able to mention the real reason I left, lack of ethics. How can I have an honest answer, have an appropriate and strong answer, and not bad mouth my former employer to the point where any future organization wouldn't want to hire me?
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Whether your former employer was unethical is subjective. It could be seen as refusal to follow orders, which could keep you from being hired, unless the interviewers are given some details and happen to agree with you. What will the former employer say is the reason you left if asked when references are checked? Think about that and be prepared to answer the question in a manner that will be supported by what they might say. For example, they could say that you refused to follow orders. In that case, your best answer might be that you were asked to do things that were in conflict with your ethics.
The best way to answer that question is to say that you left to seek employment that more closely aligns with your goals, and then go on to explain why this potential employer matches your goals, conveniently leaving out what was wrong with the last position.
But it sounds like you need to think a bit on what your goals are. You say your last employer had a reputation for building strong managers but you left because of ethics. Which of these is your primary career goal--ethics or gaining management skills? No, I'm not saying you can't desire both, but when you are applying for the job, you need to be more concise and specific. It sounds to me like ethics is more of a priority for you, in which case mentioning that the last employer had a reputation for strong managers is really irrelevant, at least in answering this particular question. And if ethics is your priority, then I think you do need to mention it in the interview, or you may end up working for another company with the same problem.
I agree that you need to know what your references will say about you, but that's true regardless of the circumstances. As for what your past employer will say about you (different from references), the fact that you quit rather than were fired, means that your word will be taken as more truthful than what they say.
what about discussing it from a mismatch in person-organization fit. You didn't fit well with their culture and decided it would be best for you to move on. Then discuss why you think you will like the new companies culture more. Discuss things like a commitment to excellence, the customer coming first, etc. That way you are not saying they didn't have these things outright, but you are saying you didn't feel like you fit well with the other org. and giving reasons why you think you will fit well with this one.
If you're uncomfortable citing ethics, you can say that you had philosophical differences about sales practices instead. If they ask you to explain, you can then say that you don't think it would be professionally appropriate to discuss specifics.
The best way to answer that question is to say that you left to seek employment that more closely aligns with your goals, and then go on to explain why this potential employer matches your goals, conveniently leaving out what was wrong with the last position.
But it sounds like you need to think a bit on what your goals are. You say your last employer had a reputation for building strong managers but you left because of ethics. Which of these is your primary career goal--ethics or gaining management skills? No, I'm not saying you can't desire both, but when you are applying for the job, you need to be more concise and specific. It sounds to me like ethics is more of a priority for you, in which case mentioning that the last employer had a reputation for strong managers is really irrelevant, at least in answering this particular question. And if ethics is your priority, then I think you do need to mention it in the interview, or you may end up working for another company with the same problem.
I agree that you need to know what your references will say about you, but that's true regardless of the circumstances. As for what your past employer will say about you (different from references), the fact that you quit rather than were fired, means that your word will be taken as more truthful than what they say.
I mentioned that they build strong managers just to paint a picture in this thread for other posters about my former comapny's reputation. I was a top sales performer and my long term goal is to become director level in my industry.
I am definately not a "whistleblower" type when it comes to ethics. I do draw the line at being required to and being rewarded for the performing of clearly illegal activites though. To me there is a very balck and white line that was crossed.
I am definately not a "whistleblower" type when it comes to ethics. I do draw the line at being required to and being rewarded for the performing of clearly illegal activites though. To me there is a very balck and white line that was crossed.
Yeah but it doesn't sound like your company did anything blatantly illegal. It's not illegal to charge more for based on their language skills. Language skills are not a protected class. Bait and switch can be illegal under certain circumstances but not always. Computer manufacturers for example are allowed to change internal parts in many cases to 'equivalent' products. If you know or suspect of illegal practices, you should report that to your state attorney general.
All I'm saying is, perhaps the whole ethics thing doesn't need to be mentioned in response to this question. Oftentimes there are many reasons for quitting, and if that is true in your case, perhaps you can answer the question by focusing on those other reasons.
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