Jason Monastra

My life and thoughts out on the web

“I hated my last boss.”
Your last boss was a miserable person whose main concern was making your life miserable. Of course you don’t have a lot of nice things to say; however, don’t mistake honesty, which is admirable, for trash-talking, which is despicable.
“If you truly did hate your last boss, I would be prepared to articulate why your last organization and relationship was not right for you,” says Greg Moran, director of industry sales and partnerships for Talent Technology Corp. “Then be prepared to explain what type of organization is right for you and what type of management style you best respond to.”

This was sent to me via email last week describing an article someone had read reference former bosses.  I do not agree with the recommendation of allowing this type of response.  Explaining the sort of org that is right for you and where you fit into that is fine, but having that as a prepared response since you dislike your boss is not the answer.  While people want to be able to say what they want, there is a more appropriate answer sometimes and that is simply to bite your tongue.

Bosses are a unique group as they control your current situation and possibly even your future.  During the interview process, references or employment checks are the last portion of the puzzle to be completed.  Candidates feel that they have wrapped the job and then say anything negative about their current employer are not in the best place.  Once the interview process is complete, the interviewing company will look to the current employer for reference, job compatibility and “off the record” comments, ones that will effect the outcome of the offer process.  I wrote earlier on not burning bridges and this is the same concept.  Don’t even pick up the match.  No matter what you say, even if it is not really negative, can effect the outcome of the process.  Remain POSITIVE at all times.  Nothing negative said will ever respond with a positive outcome for you in the interview game.

If you are looking to differentiate yourself from what your boss has done, simply emphasize your approach.  Let them know who you are and do not reflect the negative attitudes of your superior.  So if there is a call made to your boss, and there very well might be, the call can be positive and one that enlists a helpful reference vs. that of a soured supervisor. 

Let me leave you with this.  I hear often from candidates that their current employer is not listed as a reference.  Savvy recruiters and companies do not check just the given references, but seek candid information about the employee from all available sources.  They will track down the department head or VP that sits over the candidate and garner information off the record that will allow them to make the most informed decision.  Be prepared, it will happen.  People are investing in you, so they want to make sure they are getting what they are paying for.  Do not ever think that their is someone that will not be called.  Keep your guard up and you will keep those bridges connected.