Skip the Clichés in Your Job Search

It's common sense (well it should be anyway!) that job seekers shouldn't bad mouth former employers on a job interview.

However, when you're looking for a new job, there's always a good reason for it and you should be honest — in a professional way.  I'm not talking about getting into an hour-long drama explaining how tired you are of the office politics.

I read an article where the author stated you should use the following reasons to explain why you want to leave your current employer:

• Seeking new opportunities
• Looking for more responsibility
• Interested in career advancement

Don’t get me wrong – these are very viable reasons to look for a new gig.  But they've been around for eons and are ultra cliche!  Everyone who doesn't want to talk about the fact that they hate their boss will use one of these reasons.  If one of these reasons are legit for you, skip the cliche and just provide an example.  For instance, share an experience about why you're ready to tackle new responsibilities and how it will add value to an organization.

Unless the person interviewing you has just fallen off of a turnip truck or is on their fir

st day of the job, they’ll want to know more.  It's best if it comes from you rather than having the interviewer make an incorrect assumption about you or your work.

And what if you really are leaving your job because you hate your boss.  Is it best to be honest?  Well, we'd like to think we could be because there is a laundry list of bad bosses out there.  But, like it or not, perception is reality and you'll be judged way too harshly if you were that honest.  In this case, my suggestion would be to think of the second biggest reason of why you want to leave your position and go from there.

The most important thing to remember is to be your real, unscripted self.

Photo credit: stock.xchng

About the author: Kimberly Roden is an HR pro turned consultant and the founder of Unconventional HR.  She has 25 years of progressive experience as a strategic HR and business leader.  Her hands-on and innovative approach allows her to create and deliver HR solutions to meet business challenges and needs by managing human capital, talent acquisition and technology.