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Hiring managers and job seekers, almost every piece of follow up info on that "short stints considered harmful," thread is wrong. From the ageism to the bias against career switchers. But I want to talk about the bad suggestion that better HMs let you "explain" short stints.
"Why did you leave your last role?" Is a bad question and everyone should stop asking it.
"What are you looking for in your next role?" Is a much better question, and gets at what the 1st question thinks it's asking.
A real example might help explain...
"What are you looking for in your next role?" Is a much better question, and gets at what the 1st question thinks it's asking.
A real example might help explain...
A very close friend left her job in Higher Ed fundraising to try a new adventure in FinTech. She moved to the Bay Area for the job.
This friend had a fashion blog, and was in great shape from running track in college.
For the 1st 6 months at the new job everything was great.
This friend had a fashion blog, and was in great shape from running track in college.
For the 1st 6 months at the new job everything was great.
She was closing deals, customers were happy, liked her co-workers, bosses impressed with her work. A little bro-ish, but she could handle herself around anyone.
One day, she needed to go to New York for a business trip with her bosses. She planned to drive to SFO.
One day, she needed to go to New York for a business trip with her bosses. She planned to drive to SFO.
Her boss also was flying out of SFO, so she suggested that they carpool.
As they were driving to the airport, her boss said to her, "You've got great legs! I'd love to get between them sometime! *cheesy grin*"
As they were driving to the airport, her boss said to her, "You've got great legs! I'd love to get between them sometime! *cheesy grin*"
[Timeout]
When something like this happens, people often freeze in the moment.
They don't know what to say and might even smile awkwardly, and then feel bad later.
Suggestion: Think of what you would say *before* such a thing happens!
practice now!
[Time in]
When something like this happens, people often freeze in the moment.
They don't know what to say and might even smile awkwardly, and then feel bad later.Suggestion: Think of what you would say *before* such a thing happens!
practice now![Time in]
She didn't freeze.
She sighed, and said, "Wow. This is so disappointing. I figured that as a supposedly senior exec, you'd know how to act around an attractive employee without embarrassing yourself. I suggest we reset, and both act like the past few minutes didn't happen."
She sighed, and said, "Wow. This is so disappointing. I figured that as a supposedly senior exec, you'd know how to act around an attractive employee without embarrassing yourself. I suggest we reset, and both act like the past few minutes didn't happen."
Him:
Stop the car!
Her: Excuse me?
Him: Pull over! Stop the car!
Her: Why?
Him: I'm getting out.
Her: Oh c'mon. We're almost at SFO.
Him:
No, I wanna get out.
Her: Relax. We're a few exits away.
Him:
Please?
Her: *Is he... about to cry?!?!*
Him: Please?! Let me out!
Stop the car!Her: Excuse me?
Him: Pull over! Stop the car!
Her: Why?
Him: I'm getting out.
Her: Oh c'mon. We're almost at SFO.
Him:
No, I wanna get out.Her: Relax. We're a few exits away.
Him:
Please?Her: *Is he... about to cry?!?!*
Him: Please?! Let me out!
Most of the men who've read this far, think this is a great ending! 
Most of the women reading this, already know that this is not the end of the story.
They could finish this thread for me.
Most of the women reading this, already know that this is not the end of the story.
They could finish this thread for me.
Petulant man-baby took a ride share to the airport. He was cold the whole business trip.
She started getting frozen out of her own accounts.
One of her big clients actually stopped a meeting, and asked where she was. They ended the meeting because they had an idea what was up
She started getting frozen out of her own accounts.
One of her big clients actually stopped a meeting, and asked where she was. They ended the meeting because they had an idea what was up
This was 7 months in. It became clear to her that this culture was toxic, she couldn't change it, and she would not find career success here.
She didn't go to HR.
She didn't say, "My boyfriend can beat you up!"
She didn't say, "I'm BFFs with your investors!"
She just left.
She didn't go to HR.
She didn't say, "My boyfriend can beat you up!"
She didn't say, "I'm BFFs with your investors!"
She just left.
She didn't "Finish out the year," or even worse, 18 months or whatever.
She's not a "young person." [Ageism]
She's not "Just out of college." [Anti-career switcher / alternate paths]
She just left.
She's not a "young person." [Ageism]
She's not "Just out of college." [Anti-career switcher / alternate paths]
She just left.
As a hiring manager at her new company, if you ask the question, "Why did you leave your last company?" what is she supposed to say?
A) Tell you?
Scare you. You will stop evaluating the candidate and just see her through that lense.
B) Lie?
Fluster herself. You get suspicious.
A) Tell you?
Scare you. You will stop evaluating the candidate and just see her through that lense.
B) Lie?
Fluster herself. You get suspicious.
Her new company *didn't* ask that question. They did ask her what she was looking for. They hired her. They create a supportive, inclusive environment. She's been there for years.
She's already generated $10s of MM of value for them.
She's already generated $10s of MM of value for them.
If you want to read about the trash fire of a company that she left:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/12/technology/sofi-chief-executive-toxic-workplace.html
And even "good" companies have little trash fires inside of them. It's more likely that a woman will encounter at least 1 trash fire, than she won't.
Tenure is a noisy, harmful signal.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/12/technology/sofi-chief-executive-toxic-workplace.html
And even "good" companies have little trash fires inside of them. It's more likely that a woman will encounter at least 1 trash fire, than she won't.
Tenure is a noisy, harmful signal.
VCs, before you invest in a leadership team, do your "dude diligence." These chumps cost the company 8 digits of revenue, and created negative PR that doesn't wash off.
Career consultants, before you give advice, make sure it's not harmful to *more than half* of the workforce.
Career consultants, before you give advice, make sure it's not harmful to *more than half* of the workforce.
