Why do I always see job interviewers who rant or quietly complain about their former employers during an interview? What does the prospective employer see when you complain?

Below is my journal entry from a key time when I was a VP of Sale Operations and Marketing facing this hiring problem.

July 1, 2006

Why did my former colleague discuss her issues with a manager at her current company when she was on the inside track of the interview process? During my first meeting with her, I was okay with her telling me that it was one of the many reasons that she was looking for something else.

“I don’t know how you feel now, but I’m finding it challenging that this manager creates and reinforces a divisive environment between departments. Like not wanting departments to work together…” She trailed on nervously, looking uncertain if she should be telling me this.

I downed played the comment because I had always gotten along with the manager she was referring to. You either loved or hated this manager. However, I never saw the side that she was referring to, but I know it was possible.

Never Let Your Guard Down in an Interview, Ever

Bottom line? I can see why she felt it was safe to tell me, since we used to work together. However, she also let down her guard with my CEO during their interview. As a result, my CEO wasn’t supportive of bringing her in.

I had our CTO in my corner, who said we should hire her. Excited, he listed all the skills and management abilities that impressed him. Our Controller, who is now a close and trusted work buddy, was on the fence because he found her problematic. But he knew I wanted to hire her, so he gave me his vote out of support for me.

My CEO was the hold out as he said,

“I really like her. I liked her personality. I couldn’t get a read on her.” I replied, “She’s is a lot like me. Very reserved during this process. She doesn’t wear her heart on her sleeve like my other colleague does.” He replied,  “I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t compare and contrast your two colleagues. I think what I have a problem with is that she paused, and then decided she was going to complain about that manager.”

Oh no, I knew something had happened during their meeting. My CEO had been holding back on me.

Safe House for Former Colleagues

During our Executive team meeting, I told our CTO, Controller, and CEO,

“I know I’ve held our CTO’s interview candidates to the standard of not being toxic. I can’t understand why my candidate would think this was acceptable during an interview.”

Then the CTO laughed, interrupted, looked at the CEO, and said with his usual playful voice,

“Come on. You know we’re a safe house for Lori’s former workers who want to work here! She’s fine.”

I continued on,

“I was in the same emotional space when you interviewed me and when I started my job. But there are no triggers or buttons that our company pull or push in her. I have confidence that she’ll be her non-toxic self. Remember? She’s like my Marketing Manager, all we had to do was just add water, and then we had a Marketing department, complete with a blown out Sales and Marketing implementation of Salesforce!”

My CEO’s eyes got big and said, “That’s all you needed to say. She’s hired.”

Closing on a Key Channel Management Hire

The Controller and I put her sales compensation plan together. My CEO had gathered her actual income during his meeting with her. He always innocently asks, “So, what’s your current salary? What was on your W-2 form last year?” The candidate answers all flustered, coughing up the income without realizing it.

My Controller and I matched her current salary in our proposed salary base. The incentive will be a blend of sales commissions and performance measures. We’re giving her a very generous offer. She did counter my first offer on salary base, but we met her salary requirements there, and then reduced her sales commission, which approved.

Lesson Learned

Never rant about your employer in an Interview. I repeat: never, ever, under any circumstances admit to having issues with anyone at your previous or existing employer.

Been there done that!  I’ve been that person in an interview. I’ve been that toxic one, who unknowingly thought it was fine to say why I was looking for another job, due to a problematic manager.

But I’ve learned after years of experience, it only makes you look like a toxic person, who may have issues in your potential employer’s environment. You may get lucky and still get the job, but I wouldn’t advise it.

The Smart Lemming Diary is a series that chronicles a journey of laid-off worker, who becomes a Vice President of Sales Operations & Marketing for a small entrepreneurial healthcare technology company. For previous entries in this series, click here. For the first diary entry, click here. For the highlighted Smart Lemming Diary entries, click here.

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