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[saltedheart]

I'm feeling a little green and maybe yellow.
I'm going to be interviewing for a couple positions shortly, and I'm second guessing how to answer an impending question.  I'm still new at this "honesty is the best policy as long as you don't slash your own throat" thing, and I would appreciate any feedback.

The inevitable question:  "Why did you leave your last position?"

The way too honest answer:  "I grew to distrust my boss, but tried to make it work for three years anyway.  Eventually, the unchecked sexism and dangerous lies just became too painful to watch.  Two other female colleagues left that same year."  True, but oh so meant for therapy or a drunk night out.

The void of any honesty, but the one people keep telling me answer:  "I left to pursue another opportunity."  Which might work.  If there had been one.

Yes, sexism, racism, cruelty, dishonesty can be found everywhere, I know.  Not looking for an Elysian field, just a place a little less burn you at the stake mentality.  Actually, now that I've had the experience, I feel I could manage something similar a little better.  But this is not the point.  I have no ill feeling toward my boss or the institution.  I really get that we all are doing the best we can.  I also understand it is my responsibility to take care of myself.  I don't feel like a victim and I certainly don't want to come off as one.  Or a crazy feminist--which is different from a feminist.    I don't wish to drag old stuff up to place blame anywhere.  I am grateful I had the strength to leave, and I want another opportunity to work in my field.  My struggle is feeling like a liar.  What can I say that's graceful, kind and has a hair of truth?

[barred_owl]

That is always a tough question, saltedheart. 

In your circumstances, perhaps you can word your response in terms of "fit" or a "new opportunities" angle.  For instance, you might respond with something like, "Reflecting on my departure, I felt that I might find a better 'fit' with a department that blah, blah, blah..."  (fill in with something that really makes you seem eager to contribute to the dept at which you're interviewing).  Alternatively, you might spin it by saying that you were compelled to explore options that allowed you to blah, blah, blah...

Whatever you say, it's in your best interests to NOT disparage your former department or any particular colleague; conversely, it IS in your best interests to quickly turn the conversation toward the reasons you're applying at the institution at which you're interviewing. 

Good luck!

[systeme_d_]

Brilliant response by Barred_Owl.

Fully agreed.

[yellowtractor]

Likewise agreed.

To reiterate:  if you can do it without sounding like an obsequious toady, spin your answer as quickly as possible away from the demerits of Previous U. and towards the strengths or requirements or amenities of Target U.

[temporaryname]

I'm in a very spread-out field with only one or two faculty at most places, which makes for an interesting gossip grapevine, so your mileage may vary on this, but if I'm interviewing someone who's coming from a toxic department or institution, I've probably already heard about how bad it is there. (My colleagues from other disciplines on the search committee not so much, but I fill them in on such things.) For me, then, a question like that isn't really to find out why you left (I can guess, after all), but whether you're going to be able to move forward from it or remain stuck in the bitterness of the past.

Just another reason to echo what others have said: No bad words about your previous department or institution, and lots of explanation of how you're looking for someplace where you can make a more positive contribution than you could have before.

[msparticularity]

Just another reason to echo what others have said: No bad words about your previous department or institution, and lots of explanation of how you're looking for someplace where you can make a more positive contribution than you could have before.

This approach has the merit of being entirely truthful, too: "My interests and needs and those of the department led us in different directions." (aka: "My need to actually pursue academic research and teaching somewhere other than in the midst of a viper pit, and their desire to go on being a viper pit, led us down different paths.")

[david_perlmutter]

OP: Above advice is on target. Save airing of grievances for Festivus. You must be POSITIVE even if SC gives you an opening such as "I hear it's pretty toxic at U." No matter how much your troubles were not your fault, nobody wants to hire someone who is a complainer.

[the_logical_poster]

Yes, sexism, racism, cruelty, dishonesty can be found everywhere, I know. 

Watch what you say or they'll be calling you a feminist, polemicist, empiricist, or Narcissist. 

[larryc]

TLP, your posts read like rejected Supertramp lyrics. This is not a good thing.

[msparticularity]

TLP, your posts read like rejected Supertramp lyrics. This is not a good thing.

Yeah, Post_Functional spotted that, too <interthreduality>. For someone of the Boomer generation, the big question would seem to be: WTF?

[systeme_d_]

TLP, your posts read like rejected Supertramp lyrics. This is not a good thing.

Yeah, Post_Functional spotted that, too <interthreduality>. For someone of the Boomer generation, the big question would seem to be: WTF?

Clearly, the poster's name is a play on a Supertramp song title ("The Logical Song"), but I'm afraid the intended humor appears to be falling flat.

[temporaryname]

TLP, your posts read like rejected Supertramp lyrics. This is not a good thing.

Yeah, Post_Functional spotted that, too <interthreduality>. For someone of the Boomer generation, the big question would seem to be: WTF?

Clearly, the poster's name is a play on a Supertramp song title ("The Logical Song"), but I'm afraid the intended humor appears to be falling flat.

Bloody well right.

[systeme_d_]

TLP, your posts read like rejected Supertramp lyrics. This is not a good thing.

Yeah, Post_Functional spotted that, too <interthreduality>. For someone of the Boomer generation, the big question would seem to be: WTF?

Clearly, the poster's name is a play on a Supertramp song title ("The Logical Song"), but I'm afraid the intended humor appears to be falling flat.

Bloody well right.

You know, you got a right to say.
Me, I don't care anyway.