I did it earlier this year; I took a job that turned out to be in an evil snakepit from hell, and I just quit, less than 30 days in. I was unemployed for 3 months, then got another, better job. I told the truth in interviews, albeit using the usual euphenisms like “wasn’t a good fit/wasn’t what I was told it would be”.
In hindsight, I should have just hung on and found another job while still employed, but at the time, it was just hell on earth and I couldn’t stand it.
To me, this sounds like the kiss of death. It seems to bring in race and politics, with you being the activist, something that a potential employer doesn’t need or want.
I’d just say “I had a temp job in the intervening 4 months.” (True. Nothing’s permanent; especially, if you quit.)
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I’m shocked-positively shocked!
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What, did I just come up with the notion of “corporate culture” by myself?
You did! Congratulations! 
I feel for you, MOL. My last job was a hellacious affair, and I started looking when I had been there, oh, maybe three months. I can say that I started getting calls for interviews when I had only been there 7 months, which I’m sure still sounds like an eternity to you. In all fairness, though, my job history had been less stable than yours. I’ve worked a number of grant-funded jobs, so I had three 2-year gigs in a row. It did look a little…hoppy.
I think you’ve gotten great advice and I would echo the idea of networking. It’s OK to tell your friends and colleagues, “I’ve made a bad move and need to find something different. Do you know of anything out there?”
You might consider saying something like -
“It wasn’t a good fit. The last three people who held the job also found it wasn’t a good fit for them. They lasted only a couple weeks - I tried to be more flexible, but I have come to see that I won’t be productive there either.”
Regards,
Shodan
Don’t tell me - does he work for ProcrustesCorp.?
I agree with sandra_nz’s and handsomeharry’s advice. I think you may be making more out of this than you really need to, esp. having worked there for just four months.
COOL! Do I get a Nobel in Economics? Does the Dope count as a “peer-reviewed publication”? We sure can claim to have some nitpicky reviewers…
That sounds like “They were evil where I worked, so I would like to not be surrounded by evil.”
Gods, I know, and I am >< this close to walking out, but I know what a stupid idea that would be.
So this is encouraging. This may not necessarily be a killer for me. What is NOT encouraging is that the job market is in the shitter.
I was going to say something like this.
If this isn’t part of a pattern, go ahead and list it on your resume. One short-term job won’t disqualify you, and (I’m not an HR type) I think it’s better than four months unemployed.
Of course they might want to ask about it at an interview (I would). The trick is to not directly bad-mouth the c*nt boss, or come off as a whiner, while (if the interviewer is actually interested) letting them know what was going on, using objective measures if possible. At the same time, you don’t want to spend time on it – the interview should be about the new job.
So your answer for why you left was “It wasn’t a good fit.” If the interviewer goes right on to another topic, great, mission accomplished. if she wants a little more, you can say something like “Well, I was the fourth person in that position in the last year.” [pause to let them understand what you’re saying.“But I’d prefer not to dwell on it. Can you tell me more about <aspect of the job you’re interviewing for>?”
Re: “not challenging and skills underutilized.” That could come off as you think you are Da Bomb and are the best employee since Disney automatons and are an untapped source of genius and your poor, misguided pathetic managers just won’t listen to you. If they would, you’d solve all their problems and increase the company’s profit margins by orders of magnitude.
I’m a big fan of “opportunities for growth and advancement weren’t available as promised.” Although I do like sandra_nz’s open, honest approach. That was tactful.
You can use “personality clash” if you explain it in a way that doesn’t make you a raving lunatic. They are not stupid - four months is about the right time for that to come to light. I have left jobs for that reason and explained it “My supervisor had an issue reconciling their personal ambition against training opportunities for their staff…” is an answer I gave for the interview of the job I am currently in…my boss would often scoop travel and experience opportunities for themselves even though I was new to the job and a few of those would have been “must haves” for a new employee in my job.
The other option is leave the dates off - just have “current” for the current job…of course, they will probably ask, but then at least you got them asking, instead of just “filing” it.
I once had a “permanent” position that I left after three months. I was prepared, if necessary, to fib and say it was a contract, but I was never asked about it.
My husband had a 10 week job several years ago but since he went back to the company he worked for previously and they credited his former time in the new job he was able to miraculously make it completely disappear.
Definitely look while employed, keep the job on the resume until then and years from now when you’re looking for your next position after a decade in the perfect job you can delete it and leave the 4 month gap.
Okay, I know how I’m going to play this now. Tonight I do two things: First, I assemble my TV stand. Next, I revise my resume and send it out like a mofo.
Sam and I thank you all very kindly.
I was once in the exact same situation - a lot of people say their jobs suck, but few people really know how soul-crushingly bad they can be. I honestly DREADED going to work, and not in the benign “oh, this is going to be boring and I’d rather be doing something else way.” So I quit, after 3 months.
I’m not going to lie, that was a bad idea. Everyone assumed I had been fired. I did find a job I liked eventually so I guess all’s well that ends well, but in retrospect I should have looked for a job while I was still employed. I do know that while my boss gave me a pass on the short-term job, there were a lot of whispers that I would jump ship or get fired in a few months.
Oh, and for what it’s worth, I used the typical “realized it wasn’t a good fit for me” line, IIRC.
I know it’s easy for us to say that you should stay on while you look for another job, especially when the thought of one more day fills you with terror, but…hang on as long as you can. Good luck, seriously.
Am I remembering this incorrectly, or did you relocate for this job?
If so, you might be able to wedge that in your defense somehow. If you choose not to list the job on your resume at all, the reason you are unemployed is that you were busy moving to a new city to pursue exciting professional opportunities such as the one you are submitting your resume for.
Yes and no. I decided that I was going to move, but wanted to have a job lined up first. This one was offered, I took, moved. Big mistake! It just seemed like such a pleasant omen at the time. They offered it to me on my birthday!
I may be missing something here but when you apply for another job, why not just “lose” the time you spent working for these deadbeats? Explain the gap in your CV by saying you were doing voluntary work overseas, were looking after a sick relative or took some time out for personal reasons.
If you don’t mention the Epic Cunt’s company by name how will they ever know you worked there?
A small deception but sometimes a necessary one.
Good luck anyway
No. Many, if not most employers will check, and they will find out your employment history. Do NOT try to lie about it.