Why I am leaving my current job?

[Pegasus]

Hi Newbie here.

 

Your site is a blessing !!

 

You see I have an interview tomorrow for 2 jobs with my local council for their Schools IT Support Services as Leading IT Technician Grade Sc 4/5/6 and School's IT Technician Grade Sc 2/4 both 37 hrs per week 1 year renewable contracts.

 

It's been 5 years since my last interview and I am growing confident that I will be well prepared for tomorrows selection interview with the Technical Team Leader and the Head of Schools IT Services. There are no tests involved so won't be taking my tool kit!, just a face to faces interview.

 

HOWEVER.. I am afraid I will get defensive when answering the question of why I am leaving my current job. To keep a long story long, in April 2004 a huuge american corporation acquired us resulting in all IT Support outsourced overseas .. basically my job was gone. I have remained as an employee but on the "at risk of redundancy" while I have been going cap in hand to key people putting my case forward to take me off the at risk position based on my 5 years skills/experience and feedback from the 500+ users. Over the last 18 months I had demonstrated the benefits to keep me as the local IT support person within the new IT structure aiming to win "suitable alternative employment", but the overseas remote support model remains the winner. Then came the promises of transferring under TUPE to another large american corporation that were bringing in their own contractors (3) to provide the local IT Support which I was rather excited about since I would transfer under the same terms and conditions. But no contracts have been signed and HR have changed my last day of service 6 times (always a couple of days before I am due to leave on grounds of redundancy I might add!) since they dont know who the contract will be with now, the contracts are still under negotiations, they are investigating a new contractor, not sure what my role will be ... it goes on and on ...

 

Now, let me tell you, I am like a dog with a bone .. won't give up but inevitably I have been showing signs of (dare I say it?) STRESS! .. so much so that I have lost weight, unable to sleep and depression. My GP has signed me off sick with stress and I have remained at home decorating for the last 7 weeks. I have the Union on my side pushing for my redundancy package since this has gone on long enough and am likely to get it at the end of Dec (then again I was promised this 4 times before)

 

Can you see why I am nervous about the question of why did you leave your last job?

 

I read that I should keep it simple by saying that due to the restructuring my job was made redundant but what if they probe me further?

 

Thanks in advance

[russdev]

ok first thing it happens dont worry about coming across wrong too much internal restructing, buy outs happen and happen often.

 

just say that when new onwers took over the jobs were outsurced but you were kept on to do various things etc etc and it was looking like you were going to taken of 'risk list' etc.

 

But due at moment not happening for one reason and anothier.

 

then if probe further i.e why you been of ill etc then say well i was due to transfered to new company etc but like lot of coroporate stuff kept falling through and due to various factors you became ill.

 

but only mention last bit if have to..

 

russ

[free4440273]

the sickness is going to be a problem - edited that was getting to personnel - Russ.

 

but this happened to a colleague of mine, a computer engineer in a secondary school - off for several weeks due to whatever, they eventually dumped him a week after he returned...

[ninjabeaver]

I've always told the truth in regards to moving jobs. But theres no need to go deep into details. I think your last quote about keeping it simple is spot on. Tell them that, and also that you are looking for new challenges / projects to keep you on your toes as such.

 

I believe it would also be foolish for School IT Support Services to reject such a dedicated and skilled person due to another company messing you around.

 

Good Luck.

[nawbus]

I wouldn't worry too much about illness. I was off work for 10 weeks with a bad back in my previous life as a manager in a major supermarket chain.

I applied for the job here, fully disclosed my time off and it wasn't even mentioned in my interview.

 

Good luck!

[russdev]

i am sorry but you are wrong free44440273....

 

 

i know of many place where people been off for various reasons and they have returned ok not to say dosnt happen but not all the time.

 

russ

[free4440273]

russdev, does not mean i am wrong. i am just speaking from my experience - employ someone who has been off work for 10 weeks, or someone who has an unblemished absence record (all other merits being equal)...

[russdev]

ok accept that

 

Russ

[ninjabeaver]

the sickness is going to be a problem - it shows weakness of character, unreliability, physical inertia. sorry if that sounds harsh, but this happened to a colleague of mine, a computer engineer in a secondary school - off for several weeks due to whatever, they eventually dumped him a week after he returned...

 

I don't see how it shows weakness of character. It shows someone who has so much worry and stress from a large company that sounds like it does not know how to organise a p**s up in a brewery.

 

Put yourself in that position. You have a house, a car, a wife and two children to support, probably some credit card debts to pay off and some huge corporation can't decide to keep you or not, and this has happened four or five times already.

 

I'd personally be sick to the stomach with worry and fear. That would lead to lack of sleep and eventually I'd be too stressed to work, and certainly become ill.

 

Don't take this as a flame against you 4440273 as it's not, it's just my POV, as your post is yours.

[free4440273]

sorry if the original post was too personal...

[free4440273]

ninja - see the above please [and feel free to flame - i could not care less].

[Pegasus]

Cheers for the replies ..

 

I think I will go with the brief response that due to the restructuring there has been alot of uncertainty, I have continued to be employed for the duraration of 18th months while "at risk" and have employment through to the end of Feb 2006, but I want to move forward, take control now into the wonderful academic community ..

 

It is wonderful right ?

[free4440273]

wonderful as in...'wouldn't it be wonderful to leave this wretched job...'.

[russdev]

well i do like it education benafits outway disadvantages...

 

russ

[Alex]

I'd secure another job then push for a redundancy settlement on the basis of constructive dissmisal.

 

They can't keep dicking you around for 18 months.

 

Your answer to the why did you leave question could be along the following lines:

 

'The work was outsourced to staff in the US, this diminished a sizable proportion of my role and I need more of a challenge'

 

Don't mention sickness or stress. If asked if you've had time off say you were ill for a good few weeks with but this is unusual for you and you're fine now. Don't mention unions either.

[Alex]

well i do like it education benafits outway disadvantages...

 

russ

 

I'd disagree but each to their own of course!

[free4440273]

let us know if you get the job...fingers crossed [collectively].

[alexknight]

Hi

 

Here is what I would say.

 

The truth.

 

I have interviewed people before and they will see right through a cover up.

 

Basically time off for stress is not a bad thing. Explain what situatution you were in and why you have been off. If your new employers are a caring bunch they will appreciate your honesty and dedication.

 

You don't have to make a big thing off it, just be brief and to the point. If they want to know more they will ask.

 

The time off will not be the main focus off the interview. You could perhaps mention the lack of any time of before, i.e a good sickness record.

 

Good luck

 

Alex

[russdev]

well i do like it education benafits outway disadvantages...

 

russ

 

I'd disagree but each to their own of course!

 

all subjective really if in a good job with people you get on with it is good to work in education....

 

but then if not makes people want to leave...

 

Russ

[ninjabeaver]

sorry if the original post was too personal...

 

I can't stand flaming. I just want to put my point across, but not offend anyone. Thats why I put a apology of sorts at the end so as not to upset / offend anyone.

 

I PM you some flames later.

[Pegasus]

My interview on Tuesday went well. Advised that 30 minutes would be allocated but I was there for 90 minutes or there abouts (not including a 45 minute wait when I arrived). My tummy was rumbling rather loudly by the end!

 

The interview was designed around 10 practical questions which gave me a clear insight as a Leading IT Technician. I felt more and more confident as ticks and notes were noted on their response sheets while I nattered on.

 

A few examples of their questions were: What if a pupil reported they was no sound when attempting to play a music CD? My initial response was "are they allowed to listen to CD's at school?" which went down rather well, then I went onto the technical solutions. Other questions were how would I project manage a large software upgrade? I spoke of my project management role during a site-wide XPAD, MS Office and Outlook 2003 upgrades (not all at the same time!). Another was if I was on site with a user and took 2 calls from a Head Teacher unable to access email and a group of pupils unable to access the intranet, how would I manage all 3 problems and with what priority? First thing I said was I'd call base for backup (theme tune to Mission Impossible starts playing in my mind.. ) I'd get as much information regarding the other 2 cases and pass these details on. Also asked if there is a hierachy of support similar to where I work i.e: Executives (pah!) have priority, then depending on the whether the issues effect manufacturing and production which are considered highest priority calls. I was asked to explain what the following were and where they can be found such as PCI, SCSI, USB, BIOS etc .. other questions were how I would manage and monitor network usage and security, account management, SQL database structures .. I felt very relaxed and made them laugh a few times (as is my way). Almost choked on my water at one point, answering a question before I swallowed, which also raised a chuckle .. In all I came away feeling confident and sure I had answered their questions well. I did forget to hand over my Certificates and embarassed to say I forgot to say I would be away for a week in April since I was getting married ..

 

They said they were interviewing again on the Thursday and I should expect to hear by the Friday but as yet I have received no response. It's a waiting game and I plan to call HR on Tuesday if I do not hear anything by then.

 

Here endeth my story .. Thanks again for your responses.

[Pegasus]

I'd secure another job then push for a redundancy settlement on the basis of constructive dissmisal.

 

They can't keep dicking you around for 18 months.

 

Forgot to say the issue of redundancy and sick leave did not come into the interview process .. If I am to be offered the position (PLEEEEASE!) I will be pushing for my redundancy settlement..

 

Well it's foggy and frosty in Cardiff this Sunday morning .. Cooked breakfast me thinks !

 

See you soon.

[russdev]

glad it went well fingers crossed

 

Russ

[wesleyw]

I wouldn't worry about the fact they haven't contacted you straight away with schools anything could have delayed them. Good luck I hope you get the job!

 

 

Wes

[dustmite]

I wouldn't worry about the fact they haven't contacted you straight away with schools anything could have delayed them. Good luck I hope you get the job!

I remember when I applied for my current job, took them over two/three months to actually reply to the application... by which point I had given up hope.

 

A letter then mysteriously appears in the post offering me an interview... for the next day. Fortunately I was contracting, so, that was easy enough to attend. Heard back, bizarrely, within the same day. Originally I was told the interview would last about an hour, three and a half hours later I'm having coffee and a chat with the headteacher about my life story, who took a bizarre interest into me. Anyway, I leave the site with a concerning, "We may offer you the job, but, we have some things to sort out, I'll have an answer for you later this evening." 3pm comes... and I'm offered it.

 

So n'yes, schools can take a long time in doing things sometimes, certainly isn't a bad thing, they're normally quite quick to turn people down but are much slower at accepting them.