Let Go of Your Anger

I’ve left a job or two in my life under the not-so-happiest of circumstances. I’ve had bosses who could try the patience of Job. There’s been a co-worker or two who’ve tried to cause premature balding. And who hasn’t plotted the murder of one of their clients/customers at one time or another? Ok, maybe that’s just me...

But, none of this ever reaches the ears of my new employer.

The myth that you should list the reasons you left you last job probably comes from those three-dollar-a-pad, generic job applications that small business owners pick up from the local office supply store. In the previous employer section there’s a block labeled, “Reason for Leaving.”

If ever confronted with this block, do not commit to paper that your last boss made Napoleon Bonaparte seem sweet. That is what we generally refer to as a faux pas – or “big dumb mistake” in layman’s terms.

The last thing you want to do when approaching a new job is start by badmouthing your old one. All you’ll accomplish is to convince the employer of your negativity, your inability to work as a team member or several other aspects of your personality that won’t get you the job.

Simply don’t put this on your résumé, don’t explain it in your cover letter and if you have to fill in that box on an application, don’t be negative. If you’re asked what you didn’t like about your last job, whether on the application or during the interview, keep it positive, i.e. you weren’t being challenged enough.

You need to let go of all that anger and frustration from your last job. The moment you decided to find a new one all of that stuff doesn’t matter anymore so you can detach yourself from it. Not to mention, it gives you more positive chi.