what excuse should I make

juanveron45

I have been out of work for the past 3-4 months since last october and I left becuase I just didnt like the way I was treated as the work load was too much ,now I have an interview coming up and its a similar field but I dont know what im going to say when asked

Why did you leave your last job mark? I mean I cant say because I hated my last job and I thought the place was a s hole.

I am thinking of saying I went travelling but it looks dodgy if I only went for a few months

What do ye recommend?

hallelujah

Travelling is a valid excuse. Lots of young people leave their jobs to travel. If he says 'I dont believe you', say 'Stick the job up your hairy A-hole'.

juanveron45

yes but I only left last october, doesnt it look a bit dodgy Im back from travelling in such a short space of time and what if he goes into detail about where I went, should I say I came back before xmas or a few weeks ago

cee_jay

why lie? you might get caught out!
Just be unfront and say that you feel happy in your last position and company, and you left to focus on finding a position within a company where you feel you could fit in well
This could bring you round to talk about some good points of the company you are having your interview with, and you could brag about stuff you have heard about them - all the while showing your interest in working for them

juanveron45

Theres an unwritten rule about critizing your last company, you just cant do it.

I mean they arent going to take a risk with a guy whos critizing there former employers as they may fear being next .

You cant be down to earth at these interviews ,you have to put on a everything is rosey in my life front.

The way I was treated in my last job is hard to prove, it wasnt verbal harassment or physical abuse but the job was just crap, every knows it is but everyone pretends its a great job

cee_jay

I'm not saying to criticise your last company - just say that you felt the job wasn't for you and you didn't fit well into the company mould, and then divert to praising the company thats interviewing you.
you will gain nothing bout lying

damnyanks

And then they will look to break down into the answer in even more detail and it will look horrible and so on.

Don't complain about the last crowd. Traval would be a decent reason.

damnyanks

If the salary in the new place is more then the last place say it was the money, they might appreciate that.

cee_jay

damnyanks wrote:

And then they will look to break down into the answer in even more detail and it will look horrible and so on.

Don't complain about the last crowd. Traval would be a decent reason.

And what happens when he lies about going travelling and they break the answer down into more detail and it will look horrible and so on?? :rolleyes:

leeroybrown

cAr0l wrote:

And what happens when he lies about going travelling and they break the answer down into more detail and it will look horrible and so on?? :rolleyes:

While I typically think that telling lies at interview is a bad idea, I also think that there are some things that most employers don't want to hear. If I walked into an interview and said that I had quit a similar job four months ago because I didn't like working there and that I have been unemployed since, then I would consider myself very lucky if at least one of the people interviewing me didn't see this as a major negative point. I think that most employers will pick the safer looking option.

The question is does the OP want to lie and can they do it well enough to get away with it.

juanveron45

How could I get caught out if I say I went over to aus for a few months to meet my brother whos working over there

LundiMardi

juanveron45 wrote:

How could I get caught out if I say I went over to aus for a few months to meet my brother whos working over there

you can't....

This is an interview, they're not going to investigate every answer you give. Just tell them you were visiting your brother and that's it. They may ask one or two questions about it and then they'll move onto something else.

nesf

juanveron45 wrote:

How could I get caught out if I say I went over to aus for a few months to meet my brother whos working over there

Just make sure you have a few "details of your trip" and such. Though it could, potentially, come back to haunt you later if one of your workmates loves aus and bugs you with questions over it.

juanveron45

Well if I go with the truth that I left because I hated it then I wont get the job in the first place, can any of you think of any other excuses besides australia

juanveron45

Another excuse I was thinking of was that I had intended to go back to college but things didnt work out or I decided against it in the end

chump

Just say there were some issues with your family and you needed to help put for a while.

It's a closed answer. No one is going to further probing questions and that'll be that.

DublinWriter

juanveron45 wrote:

What do ye recommend?

Dude. Most employers are complete dead-heads. Check out any job on publicjobs.ie and the standard form asks you to account for ever waking minute since you were weined off your mother's breast!

The travelling excuse is too-well worn. You might be drawn into a conversation at the interview about where you went and what you saw. It's a big no-no unless you're a suberb actor.

If I were you, I'd say that one of your parents was suffering from a non-terminal illness.

Now bear with me!...

Firstly, it's so personal that most interviewers really won't want to go into the details. If you say that it was something like Sciatica (trapped nerve in back leading to temporary imobility) and that your parent needed around the clock help, well, kudos to you. It shows that you're basically a caring person, etc.

Yes, I know it all sounds horribly wrong and mercinary, but that's the world in which we live. Prospective employers don't like any loose-ends, and sometimes you have to screw them as much as they will eventually screw-you.

nesf

DublinWriter wrote:

If I were you, I'd say that one of your parents was suffering from a non-terminal illness.

Now bear with me!...

Firstly, it's so personal that most interviewers really won't want to go into the details. If you say that it was something like Sciatica (trapped nerve in back leading to temporary imobility) and that your parent needed around the clock help, well, kudos to you. It shows that you're basically a caring person, etc.

Yes, I know it all sounds horribly wrong and mercinary, but that's the world in which we live. Prospective employers don't like any loose-ends, and sometimes you have to screw them as much as they will eventually screw-you.

That, is truly evil. I applaud your cynicism sir.

OfflerCrocGod

nesf wrote:

That, is truly evil. I applaud your cynicism sir.

It's not evil it's down to earth logic

nesf

OfflerCrocGod wrote:

It's not evil it's down to earth logic

Isn't it written in Leviticus that logic is evil?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

You had a sabbatical.

You had a bit of money saved up and you decided you needed some time away from work to concentrate on other issues.

I'm into art and used preparing for an exhibition as an excuse once. It went ok, sold a paitning or two, but still want to keep a foot in the industry your going for.
Or just time off to work on some personal projects. What are your interests - use one of them and adapt it

juanveron45

Its not really a loose end as I can still get a decent reference from my last employer.

Im not saying one of my parents was sick, i just wouldnt feel right about it

If I used the Aus excuse, my brother was in brisbane.I could just say I stayed in brisbane for 2 months and went nowhere else -the less places I went the less I can get quizzed on and in the mean time learn as much about the place as possible

Or what about the intended to go back to college,but droped out after 2 weeks or things didnt work out

leeroybrown

The family illness one isn't everyones cup of tea and you do need to be a bit careful. I know someone who had an awkward moment when they needed time off to attend a grandparents' funeral but had already 'killed all their grandparents off'. Thankfully a suitably unknown in-law was available to be killed off.

Be careful with the college one. Leaving a job to go to college to then drop out doesn't exactly ring of stability and has a semi-official paper trail.

It would be pretty easy to justify a few months away before Christmas followed by a new job search. Travel works really well to as people are almost expected to have traveled or want to travel.

juanveron45

How could they possibly catch me out on the australia excuse, if all I did was go to one city and dossed around with my brother for 2 months?

DublinWriter

nesf wrote:

Isn't it written in Leviticus that logic is evil?

It is also written in Leviticus that:

1. I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. (Lev 25:44)

2. I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24.

3. "They (shellfish) shall be an abomination to you; you shall not eat their flesh, but you shall regard their carcasses as an abomination." (Leviticus 11:11)

juanveron45

What about I had intended going to Aus with a friend but he got a job offer he couldnt refuse and I didnt want to go on my own

chump

juanveron45 wrote:

Its not really a loose end as I can still get a decent reference from my last employer.

Im not saying one of my parents was sick, i just wouldnt feel right about it

If I used the Aus excuse, my brother was in brisbane.I could just say I stayed in brisbane for 2 months and went nowhere else -the less places I went the less I can get quizzed on and in the mean time learn as much about the place as possible

Or what about the intended to go back to college,but droped out after 2 weeks or things didnt work out

Doesn't have to be a parent was sick.

There were some family issues that you needed to commit some time to will suffice. That could mean anything.

DonkeyStyle \o/

Why bother.... just tell them you sat around the house for a few months.
It shows you can tolerate periods of inactivity and boredom.

sinbadfury

Simple really, you left your old job as you were looking for a change, no bad reason, just a change and you are holding out for the best fit for your new job.

Tell them you have had offers, but they weren't for you. You are enthused about them as they seem to be offering what you are looking for [enter your company research before the interview]

No lies, no catches and they will see you as someone who is not just taking a job for the sake of it. It will give them confidence that you really 'want' the job

Sam Vimes

juanveron45 wrote:

How could they possibly catch me out on the australia excuse, if all I did was go to one city and dossed around with my brother for 2 months?

[interviewer]

my entire family was born and raised in brisbane since 200 BC. surely you went to x, y and z in your two months there. did you stay on the west side (the west side being the dodgy area, or maybe not). what airline did you fly with? how much was your ticket? hmm, 500 euro. that sounds very cheap. are you sure you went to australia? etc etc etc
.
.
.
don't call us. we won't call you

[/interviewer]

my point being, you don't know what the interviewer's going to ask so lying's a bad idea. having said that, the old "family emergency" excuse is always good. doesn't leave much room for questions

Eoin

chump wrote:

Doesn't have to be a parent was sick.

There were some family issues that you needed to commit some time to will suffice. That could mean anything.

How about you were giving a family member a help out with their business?

juanveron45

I had an interview today and the excuse I used was that I had just built a house and I left my job as there was a lot of finishing touches that I needed to do to it like painting,puting up fences,carpets etc.

I dont think they were impressed,they said you actually left a full time job for that?couldnt you have done it in your spare time?

They probably didnt believe me

Im in a right ol predicament, I left my Job last oct because I hated it and I cant get a job becuase I cant think of a good enough lie, I cant tell the truth either

If I say I went to australia for 3 months, they could really quiz me about it and it looks strange I only went for 3 months

If I say I had a family issue I needed to take some time off for, they can really quiz me but it might suggest im hiding something

Im very depressed at the moment, I just cant get a job

LundiMardi

Man, that is seriously a rediculous excuse you gave!!!!!

You say you left a full time job to paint your house? .......... wtf? Did this just come out without any pre planning?

How does it look strange if you went to Oz for 3 months? Plenty of people do so for less!

No one in their right mind would quiz someone over family issues, it's none of their business and if they were to say anything about it they would probably just ask if everything's ok now.

Either do this or put something on your CV, say you worked for your da or something, and put him down as a reference. But don't tell them it's your da!

Kinetic^

I had a friend in a similar position. He got fired for having porn or forwarding porn with work email. He told the truth and got a job. People will respect the truth.

juanveron45

I suppose going to aus for 3 months isnt strange but what if one of the interviewers had been and to the same city, it really opens it up for a informal dicussion like you must have seen this or been here?

LundiMardi

well, have you ever been outside Ireland? Yes? Well what city did you go to? Tell them you went and stayed there for 3 months, that way you know what you're talking about.

nesf

juanveron45 wrote:

I had an interview today and the excuse I used was that I had just built a house and I left my job as there was a lot of finishing touches that I needed to do to it like painting,puting up fences,carpets etc.

*raises an eyebrow*

leeroybrown

juanveron45 wrote:

I had an interview today and the excuse I used was that I had just built a house and I left my job as there was a lot of finishing touches that I needed to do to it like painting,puting up fences,carpets etc.

I dont think they were impressed,they said you actually left a full time job for that?couldnt you have done it in your spare time?

That's a pretty crap excuse. There are so many negative conclusions that can be drawn. They could think you are a liar or lazy, uncommitted, not career focused and likely to do it again. It makes the interviewer think which is the last thing they want.

If you can't lie convincingly then tell the truth and hope for the best.

iguana

DublinWriter wrote:

If I were you, I'd say that one of your parents was suffering from a non-terminal illness.

Now bear with me!...

Firstly, it's so personal that most interviewers really won't want to go into the details. If you say that it was something like Sciatica (trapped nerve in back leading to temporary imobility) and that your parent needed around the clock help, well, kudos to you. It shows that you're basically a caring person, etc.

Yes, I know it all sounds horribly wrong and mercinary, but that's the world in which we live. Prospective employers don't like any loose-ends, and sometimes you have to screw them as much as they will eventually screw-you.

Aaahh, but I was doing interviews with my boss a few months ago and one of the interviewees used a similar excuse. My boss said afterwards that in his experience whenever someone uses family illness to cover a hole in their cv it usually means personal mental issues.

I would, and have in the past, gone with the travelling story. I always pick a country (countries) that I have actually been to. I've been to lots of parts of Europe on short breaks, so I just say if asked: "Oh nowhere too far flung, just back-packing around Europe; France, Italy, Belgium, Czech Republic." Then normally they will say "oh I love/ I have always wanted to see..... one of the places I mentioned. And I will throw in a short anecdote about something I did there.

legs11

you need to chill abit, the chances of your interviewer saying , oh i was in sydney as well, where did you go.........
is pretty remote

tell your next crowd that interview you you simply went travelling with a friend to get away for a while. australia. east coast job. melbourne, sydney and cairns. easy?
or else say your last employer was messing you around and not paying you for weekend work...... and you were owed money.

if your nervous or indecisive with answers these cnuts know:D

nesf

iguana wrote:

Aaahh, but I was doing interviews with my boss a few months ago and one of the interviewees used a similar excuse. My boss said afterwards that in his experience whenever someone uses family illness to cover a hole in their cv it usually means personal mental issues.

Yup, and I just love how they mean it in a bad way.

DublinWriter

juanveron45 wrote:

I had an interview today and the excuse I used was that I had just built a house and I left my job as there was a lot of finishing touches that I needed to do to it like painting,puting up fences,carpets etc.
...
Im very depressed at the moment, I just cant get a job

Juan...Juan...Juan...I can't believe after all we told you that you that you came out with that!

I mean, you could have said you were rebuilding an orphenage or something!

I think if you are unable to lie convincingly then just be truthful.

Rejection can be tough, especially a long series of then, but you just have to dust yourself down and keep knocking on doors.

Best of luck with it all and don't let it get you down.

juanveron45

I was thinking of saying im still at my last job from now on as they dont really look for refs off your current employer, what worries me about this is if I got a job and then they want my p45 which I dont have ,might raise a few suspicions

or I will go with this excuse

I had a family issue i needed to take some time off for

Is this really an ok excuse to use, I know they cant really grill you on it but for that reason does it look like Im hiding something?

DublinWriter

juanveron45 wrote:

or I will go with this excuse

I had a family issue i needed to take some time off for

Is this really an ok excuse to use, I know they cant really grill you on it but for that reason does it look like Im hiding something?

Yes, that's very vague and they'll ask you "are things alright now? what happened?" and you'll squirm.

Mention something a bit more specific and they really won't want to pry too much - believe me.

As I said to you originally, mention you had to look after a sick parent who was temporarily immobile from sciatica and things are ok now.

Background: Sciatica (pronounced cy-at-ika) is a condition whereby a trapped nerve in the back makes walking, bending or streching a particularly painful thing to do. The pain manifests itself in any combination of hip, arse, thigh and shin. It is very common, especially for those over 30. It typically disappears after 2-6 months.

Besides giving you personal lessons in how to be a better liar, I can't do any more!

juanveron45

Would they wonder why the other parent cant look after them?

DublinWriter

juanveron45 wrote:

Would they wonder why the other parent cant look after them?

Choose from one of the following:

a) Care duties were split-between you and other parent
b) Parents are seperated/divorced
c) Other parent died in a tragic blimp-accident.

Personally, I'd plump for (a).

juanveron45

How about I said my dad had an accident or fall instead of sciatica

Kinetic^

Seriously, try telling the truth, it will probably work.

DublinWriter

juanveron45 wrote:

How about I said my dad had an accident or fall instead of sciatica

That's fine, what ever you feel most comfortable fibbing about.

They might ask you about the circumstances, how it happened, how badly he was injured etc

The key is just don't say too little or too much.

Best of luck. I'm sure you'll get something soon.

MisterAnarchy

A buddy of mine was out of a job for over 2 years .
He was sick of his job and just gave it up and chilled out for 2 years .
Did a bit of travel but mostly bummed around .
He is a well qualified chap so he filled the 2 years on his cv by saying he was working in the US for a big company.
He used a friend of his in the company as a reference and he got a job here no bother !
He is a very talkative chap and can blurb his way out of anything so it worked

juanveron45

I supose saying i was in australia isnt hard, I mean how many questions can they ask.

I went to one city and dossed around, its just a matter of doing a bit of surfing on the net.