MetaChat - I'm interviewing with the temp agency on campus tomorrow.

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15 October 2008

I'm interviewing with the temp agency on campus tomorrow. I want to make it clear that I do not want an assignment with the department I worked for for four years. What's the best way to make that known?→[More:]

They usually ask if there's anything you're not comfortable doing. What I'm not comfortable doing is going back to that freak show. I have perfectly good reasons (I twice had to call police because of the threatening actions of co-workers), but I don't want to sound like a whiny, paranoid boat-rocker.

What's the most professional, politically savvy to tell them that I won't work there?

post by: mudpuppie at: 14:43 | 10 comments

just tell them. I've had this issue before, and the way I phrased it is "I worked with them from blah to blah, and while I learned ThisGoodThing and ThatGoodThing while I was there, I really feel it wasn't the best fit.

that's all you need to say. Don't dress it up anymore than that, and you can even feel free to tone back on the HR-speak. I mean, don't say you hated them and think they're the AntiChrist or anything, just tell them it wasn't optimal.

They will respect you for your candor. Or not. And if not, you don't want to work there anyway.

/careertemp

posted by lonefrontranger 15 October | 14:46

"It wasn't quite the match I had hoped it would be." is the standard phrase I use to describe Jobs From Hell when interviewers ask about them.

posted by jason's_planet 15 October | 15:04

I concur with lfr's advice, and also wish you the best of luck.

posted by danf 15 October | 15:14

Fourthing the previous three comments. I've been there, too. Conversely, the temp agency had told me I "wasn't a good match" a few times as well.

posted by not_on_display 15 October | 15:17

"I'd like to try something new and see if I find a better fit in another department." Keep it positive.

posted by rmless2 15 October | 15:47

Seconding the "try something new" (or "looking for new challenges") gambit. Makes you sound like a go-getter.

posted by stilicho 15 October | 15:50

just tell them. I've had this issue before, and the way I phrased it is "I worked with them from blah to blah, and while I learned ThisGoodThing and ThatGoodThing while I was there, I really feel it wasn't the best fit.
This. They will almost certainly know exactly what you mean, because you are undoubtedly not the first person to have this problem. They won't want to mention it explicitly (or want you to do so), because then they would have to do something about it.

posted by dg 15 October | 16:50

I concur with everyone's concurrence.

And I would definitely mention it. It sounds like you plan to, so this is just superfluous advice, but I would definitely want to head off the "OH! She knows that department already! She'll be a perfect fit for it again!" HR thinking.

posted by occhiblu 15 October | 18:27

I'd add something but them above have it right. And fingers crossed for you kid.

posted by arse_hat 15 October | 22:30

Well how did it go?

posted by danf 16 October | 23:40

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