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i started a new job a few months ago. there are some great things and then some overwhelming things. i'm curious why the person before me left after only a few months. is it appropriate to ask my coworker this question? i know it's nosy but i wonder if she experienced what i am experiencing.
I think it really depends on the person you're asking and how/when you ask. It's really only inappropriate if the person you're talking to feels that way...right?
Sometimes, if you ask the right questions about other things, you may be offered the answer.
Yeah, as macroy suggests, it's dependent on a few things and certain situations. But aside from that, I don't think you'll get a satisfying or accurate answer. I wouldn't expect my coworker to have a deep level of insight into why a previous employee left.
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After I was promoted to manager, I was interviewing for my own replacement and a candidate asked that. I had no problem answering. Another time it was a new position, so the answer was simply "No one had this position before, we just created it." On the other hand, if I were replacing someone that was fired for cause, the response would be vague and not very helpful, such as "the previous person is no longer employed here" with no details. If hired, they would eventually find out through the grapevine, but it's not appropriate to discuss in an interview. My suggestion is to ask in a manner that gives them an out, for example starting with "If you are comfortable with telling me..."
For future reference, I think this is a question that should be asked during the interview. "How long was the person previously doing the job with the company and why did he or she leave?"
And on that note, I think you could casually ask your manager (if your suspected issues do not include him or her) in a very casual offhanded way, "I meant to ask when I interviewed why my predecessor left the company and how long he/she was here."
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