TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
I believe the safest answer to "why are you willing to leave your
current employer" is "to make a career change" or "to further my career
in the field." If you answer that you had a personality conflict, that's
a warning to the questioner that either you don't have interpersonal
skills to help you solve such a conflict, or you are too intimidated to
stick up for yourself. I would be loathe to hire a person with either
characteristic. If you answer that you are interested in furthering
yourself, who can argue with you? And it makes you look a little better.
CAVEAT: if your resume shows a "career" improvement every year, be
careful. Your honesty will be suspect if the resume doesn't also show
that career improvement.
On the other hand, if you are constantly "job" hopping, it will show and
there won't be much you can do to change that impression of low
tolerance in the workplace, or lack of ability to stick with something
as important as earning a living.
It's a two-edged sword. I'd rather be gored by the career sword than the
job sword. It's riskier, but it's got a more desirable payoff when it
works. It shows that you aren't making change for the sake of change,
but because you have a plan. And we all know how important planning is
to technical communicators.
Helen Cygnarowicz
Manager, Information Development Group
Cylink Corporation
