Interview Today

[Thumpalumpacus]

I don't think a good tactic criticize another employer in an interview ...

I think that is bullshit.

It might be bullshit. But hiring/firing has been one of my responsibilities with several jobs I've had over the years. And I can assure you, any disparaging comments about a previous employer or manager during an interview with me almost always guarantees you a don't call us we'll call you response at the end of said interview followed by your resume hitting the circular file. If an interviewee said something along the lines of the manager at that job didn't know anything about managing people, my decision would be made on the spot. It could very well be that the management at said job was inept. Or it could just as easily be that the interviewee doesn't know how to work well with managers and will thus turn into a problem employee. Hiring people is always expensive and there are almost always far too many other applicants out there to take a risk on anyone who gives any indication that they might turn out to be a bad hire. Bullshit? Irrelevant. It is what it is. Saying anything disparaging about a former employer during an interview is the very definition of a bad idea. Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it.

Exactly.  If you're interviewing for a subordinate position, criticizing your former supervisors makes it look like you cannot take direction.

[Brian37]

And again, that is one point of view. One of course has to take direction, but it is stupid for a boss not to listen, because that can lead to mistakes as well. Better management to me is when the conversation is a two way street.

[Plu]

As was pointed out in a previous post, there's a difference between being negative and pointing out things that didn't work in your previous job.


Also, there's a difference between hiring a specialist and hiring the least dumb person for a job anyone can do. I wouldn't give a chance to anyone in the second category complaining about their bosses, because the problem is likely with them.
On the other hand, if it's a specialist I except a bit more, so I'd be willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, at least.

[Mathias]

And again, that is one point of view. One of course has to take direction, but it is stupid for a boss not to listen, because that can lead to mistakes as well. Better management to me is when the conversation is a two way street.

The problem with that is simple:

The current employer don't know the other side of the coin. An efficient employee uses the errors with the previous employer (his, boss, coworker, etc.) to be a better employee in the next. Of no use criticizing the mistakes and yes, once employed, to ensure that they do not occur.