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How To Explain Why You “Rage Quit” Your Last Job

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If you or somebody you know has rage quit, this is probably the most powerful advice you'll receive.

When you get asked the question, "Why did you leave your last job?" you need to have a solid answer. And by that I mean you need to be very objective. You need to talk the hiring manager through what you've learned and how you've grown, and you need to have some accountability.

That's right.

You need to take ownership of your part in what happened.

How Job Seekers Can Explain Why They Rage Quit Their Last Job


@j.t.odonnell Replying to @gingermcbride How to explain rage quitting your last job in an interview... #ragequit #edutok #careertiktok #careeradvice #learnontiktok #interviewtips '¬ original sound - J.T. O'Donnell

So let me give you a scenario of what taking ownership might look like. If I asked you, "Why did you leave your last job?" you might say...

"I'm glad you asked me that question. It was a really powerful learning experience for me."

By saying, "I'm glad you asked that question. It was a really powerful learning experience," you're framing the story without the negativity so the hiring manager can listen to it in a positive light. Then you're going to say...

"I spent X years working there. I worked really hard, but the last year, particularly in the pandemic, was really difficult."

You're not oversharing. You're not getting into specifics. You're just stating where in the journey of working for them it started to go off the tracks. At which point, you can say...

"I made a decision to leave and I left in a little bit of an emotional state. I needed time to really process and get back to a better place where I could be the best possible employee."

That's an accurate statement. Right?

"As a result, I think that if you were to call them, they would probably tell you that they weren't happy with me leaving. But I want to be really transparent about that with you. And I want to tell you what I learned from that experience."

Now you stay positive, tell the truth, and take accountability.

"Once I collected myself, I figured out what I wanted to do next and realized I had to go out there and explain this situation. I never want to go through this again. So how I've grown as a professional is that I'm going to find a job that's a good fit for me, and if it starts to not feel like a good fit, I'm going to talk with my employer. I'm going to try to figure out things so that I can stay on track because the mistake I made in the last job is I kept my head down. I didn't process it, and I let it build up and that's on me. And I own that."

That's that ownership piece I'm talking about. Are you trash-talking, your former employer? You don't have to.

There are three sides to every story: your side, their side, and, somewhere in there, the truth. The hiring manager knows that you and your previous employer weren't perfect. But what they love is the way you framed this story using the "Experience + Learn = Grow" model which helps you talk about any experience in an objective way.

When you use this model to explain why you rage quit your last job, they'll thank you for sharing and move on. Plus you set the expectation that if they call in and do a reference check, they know that they're not going to get a glowing recommendation.

So please learn this, internalize it, work out what you want to say, and rehearse it a few times. You don't want to sound canned, but you definitely want to make sure you have all of those aspects in there...and then go out there and get yourself a new job!

Need more help with your job search?

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What To Say When An Interviewer Calls You At A Bad Time
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What To Say When An Interviewer Calls You At A Bad Time

It finally happens! The phone rings and, being in active job search mode, you eagerly answer every unrecognized number because it could be your next employer. But at the particular moment, you’re at the gym, in line at the grocery store, or picking up your kids from after-school sports.

When the phone rings in these situations, it can be mentally jarring, and therefore difficult to focus. Not to mention you’re unlikely to have your resume or other notes in front of you about the particular company. (You did take notes on your company research, right?) So, resist the urge to proceed with the phone interview anyway, out of fear that you won’t get another chance. You will, as long as you set the proper tone of this initial conversation with the recruiter.

Here’s what to say when an interviewer calls at a bad time:

Answer The Phone Correctly

Woman gets a call from a recruiter at a bad time

Since most jobs are going to require that you speak to some other human being inside or outside the company, it’s important to demonstrate how you would answer the phone in professional circumstances.

The first impression you give the interviewer should be an indication of the first impression you would give to that company’s vendors or customers. Eliminate the awkward five seconds when the recruiter, probably thinking it’s you, is required to ask for you, only for you to respond with, “Who’s calling?” (or the more defensive version, “Who’s this?”). The wrong inflection can make you seem like you’re avoiding bill collectors, and the entire exchange slows the flow of conversation. Instead, smile—yes, smile through the phone (people can tell!)—then announce your name.

A simple, “Hello. This is Joe,” will immediately confirm to the recruiter they’ve reached the right person and set the stage for a pleasant exchange.

Express Gratitude And Enthusiasm

Woman talks to an interviewer on the phone

Over the phone, your voice, tone, and attitude are the sole criteria available to the recruiter in these initial moments. This is the opportunity you were waiting for, so be happy about it. Regardless of the busy scenario you’re caught up in, if you had a second to answer the phone, then you have a second to ensure your tone is positive.

Continue to build on your pleasant-sounding foundation. Say, “Thanks so much for calling. I was hoping I’d hear from you. I’ve been really excited about this opportunity since I first came across it.”

Speak The Truth (Or Something Like It)

Man talks to an interviewer on the phone

Clarify that you can’t talk right now, but don’t overshare. When you call someone at work who can’t speak right now, their administrative assistant says, “She’s in a meeting at the present moment,” regardless of what the case actually is because it really doesn’t matter. Maintain the same level of professionalism—no need to say you’re two minutes from completing your 10-minute mile on the treadmill. Your objective is to politely and firmly end the current call.

Demonstrate your professionalism and initiative by setting up the next call. It’s like a date. When you ask someone out, if the response is, “No, I can’t,” then you have to wonder if that means no forever or just no to that particular day. Either way, not a good feeling. But if the response is, “I can’t on Tuesday. How about Thursday?” then you have something definite to go on. Apply the same concept to the conversation with the recruiter. Say, “I need to be in a quieter place in order to focus. May I return your call in one hour?”

Phone interviews can be nerve-wracking, especially when you’re caught off guard. The next time an interviewer calls you at a bad time, remember these three things. You’ll be sure to leave a great first impression and successfully avoid an awkward phone call.

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  • Where you currently fall on the Career Satisfaction Spectrum and how it impacts your ability to make good career choices
  • How your unique combination of personality, skills, and preferences directly impacts what types of careers you are a good fit for
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  • What you can do to leverage the knowledge above to find a new, better job—or make the job you are in feel much more satisfying

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31 Common Data Engineer Interview Questions & Answers
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The post 31 Common Data Engineer Interview Questions & Answers appeared first on Career Sherpa.

What You Need To Know About Effective Written Communications
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What You Need To Know About Effective Written Communications

Communication skills have become more essential than ever. Many job postings and job descriptions have a requirement for strong communication skills. The key to communicating is being able to communicate effectively. All communication is not created equal—there is good communication and better communication. How do you rate yourself?

Communication can be verbal or written. When verbal, you can see facial expressions and body language to make sure you’re sharing and exchanging information effectively. If the other person gives you a confused look, you know to stop talking and maybe repeat/explain your statements to minimize any misunderstandings. You don’t have the luxury of a “do-over” with written communication—you need to get it right the first time. So, take the time to make sure your document’s message is clear.

3 Things To Consider For Effective Written Communications

audience concept

Here are three things to consider for effective written communications:

1. The first thing you want to do is know your audience. Are you soliciting feedback from your customers, developing training materials for the employees, or writing an audit report to the board of directors? Or is the CEO/president posting a blog on social media You want to tailor the information to the audience.

2. Level of formality (such as formal, business, conversational, or casual) which may coincide with who your audience is. The level of formality may depend on your relationship with the individual. Is the person your boss? Colleague? External customer? Personal friend?

3. Different document types lend themselves to different writing styles (such as expository, narrative, persuasive, or technical):

  • User Manual – step-by-step procedures with screen prints
  • Process Workflow – utilizing a Visio graphic because sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words
  • Excel Pivot Table – a report summarizing large amounts of data that can be analyzed
  • PowerPoint slideshow rotating on a flat-screen TV (e.g. in the HQ lobby welcoming guests) – short, bulleted info, and graphics so that the message can be viewed quickly

There are some best practices that typically apply regardless of the writing style:

  1. Spell out acronyms the first time; some acronyms have more than one definition.
  2. Be careful using technical jargon and slang.
  3. Use white space, which gives your eyes a break especially when there is a lot of dense text.
  4. Don’t write in all caps unless you’re emphasizing to make a point or “yelling.”
  5. Check for typos, punctuation, and grammar.

Resources & Tools

web apps concept

Invest in your personal development. Some resources/tools to help you with your written communication skills:

1. Microsoft Word has several built-in features such as:

  • File 🡪 Options 🡪 Proofing lets you configure how you want Word to automate proofing your documents.
  • Review 🡪 Editor to not only check items such as spelling, grammar, clarity, and conciseness, but also check the level of formality—formal, professional, or casual.
  • Review 🡪 Check Accessibility to check how accessible your document is so that it’s inclusive.

2. There are multiple books you can purchase to improve your writing. I like The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White. I think it’s such a great resource that for years I’ve even given copies of the book to my teams.

3. Take a writing class either in-person or online. Even if you consider yourself to be a fairly good writer, classes can provide good reminders, and maybe you’ll pick up a couple of new points. For example, did you know that there are email etiquette best practices?

  • Check with your organization’s training team to see what writing-related courses they offer.
  • There are many online courses to develop your writing skills such as those on LinkedIn Learning.

When you’re done writing your document, re-read it to make sure it reads well. Depending on the importance of the message, maybe have someone else read it too. Being able to share and exchange written information effectively is fundamental for both your work and personal life.

For more information on the importance of written communications, follow me on LinkedIn!