I'm interviewing with a company and just discovered 3 employees in the department recently left - one only after 3 months, one after a year, another after 5 months.

19 Comments

1. AnonymousOctober 26,2022 at 7:43PM UTC

   Depends on how you found out.
   If you found out covertly, from a source other than the hiring board/including HR, then try reaching out to the covert source to determine why they left.
   To bring it up during an interview, might bring a negative vibe to the atmosphere if any of them were considered problem ees.If the issue was medically related, even worse. If you happen to snagged their names, see if they are on linked in and covertly ask them, that hey I am interested in working at your former company, would you mind sharing your candid thoughts with me about what you think about the environment.

2. AnonymousOctober 26,2022 at 8:48PM UTC

   I wouldn't expect them to be honest and upfront with an explanation but go with your gut.

   I would open with "I've noticed the department has experienced a high turnover. Can you speak to that?"

   A turnover of 30% is an indication that some is very wrong with the department.

3. AnonymousOctober 28,2022 at 12:31PM UTC

   The problem might be with the person that’s interviewing you if they’re the team leader so go with your gut may be your only best bet

4. AnonymousOctober 27,2022 at 12:34AM UTC

   What’s your desired outcome here? Do you want the employer to say: you got us, actually we’re a bunch of ass holes and we treat people like doormats…that’s why they leave so quickly.

   As others have said, you’re going to look argumentative and hostile if you ask them about their turnover rate. You see it already, they have high attrition. I’m not sure if any answer they give will be satisfactory to you.

   Please don’t base your decision to accept an offer on of A few disgruntled former employees posting vitriol on Glassdoor. Rather, ask probing questions about the culture, how the prospective team handles professional development or how they manage conflict resolution.

5. Rachel StolworthyOctober 28,2022 at 3:49PM UTC

   What do you have against Glassdoor? (I ask because you chose to use them as an example when they were not any part of the conversation) Pretty good forum to have a way to get some information about a possible or current employer. Some people's "vitriol" is justified and they are "disgruntled" for very good reasons. I think it is interesting that the people who say things like you did are almost always posting anonymously on fairygodboss. And, yes, I KNOW Glassdoor's reviews are anonymous - but that is the point of that site. To be able to say the things they can't or couldn't say about their employer. Here, have the courage to own your opinions or keep them to yourself. Rachel Stolworthy (see it isn't that hard : )

6. kay JackOctober 29,2022 at 12:39PM UTC

   Absolutely agree about all employees not being disgruntled and running to " lie " on Glassdoor . My former employer has reviews that 9 out of 10 times state favoritism as the way to get promoted, low salary increases and a tyrant sales executive . Now that many people can't be bad workers who just want to complain .

7. AnonymousOctober 28,2022 at 12:27PM UTC

   well you could directly ask about the team you’d be on how long the person interviewing has been there and hopefully you’re going to get a truthful answer and your information is true but don’t expect anyone to tell you the truth I don’t say that enthusiastically I say it because that’s what employers do

8. AnonymousOctober 28,2022 at 12:30PM UTC

   My thoughts are to hook up with someone that worked there on LinkedIn or FB maybe one of these individuals that have left might give you some info and even if they do, keep in mind you may never get the truth it’s a crapshoot good luck

9. AnonymousOctober 28,2022 at 12:41PM UTC

   Ask how long the manager has been with company? in current position? what is average tenure in department?

10. AnonymousOctober 28,2022 at 1:04PM UTC

    I would personally have asked the HR rep about turnover and I'd make it a generic question.
    How's the turnover with this company? Usually they will answer truthfully and this would avoid that specific department. However......

    If I had learned of high turnover into a department I was applying for, it would raise some red flags and I'd probably look elsewhere.

11. KelleyOctober 28,2022 at 1:08PM UTC

    I’d say to bring it up in a general way and see what kind of response you get. If necessary, for your piece of mind, follow up in a slightly more detailed way. Also, I see this as a red flag. You may want to consider other opportunities elsewhere.

12. AnonymousOctober 28,2022 at 2:10PM UTC

    There are lots of reasons why people leave.

    -maybe the department charter has shifted and some of the skills on the team are not a fit

    -maybe the manager changed

    -maybe the managers leadership style is very hands off and those people needed/wanted more guidance and felt unsupported

    -maybe their performance wasn’t as stellar as they thought and they were not able to make progress

    -maybe they wanted remote roles

    -maybe they need to care for aging family

    member and the work is very timely/round the clock and doesn’t allow for flexibility

    There are lots of reasons. Ask about the culture, ways of working. It isn’t always a “bad boss.”

13. Joann S. LublinOctober 28,2022 at 2:25PM UTC

    I strongly suggest you try to connect with all three employees who recently left and figure out if there's a pattern of explanations why. You also might want find other former staffers who worked there longer but reported to your potential supervisor so you can learn more about what that boss is like. Good luck!

14. AnonymousOctober 29,2022 at 12:59AM UTC

    Get real! All the OP will hear from the employees that left is a bunch of bitching and moaning. The three disgruntled employees are jaded from the experience and will never give a measured assessment of the employer. Plus, they have zero allegiance to the OP. If I were contacted by an applicant like this, I’d immediately go back to someone still employed there and gossip.

    Horrible advice, this will end in disaster!

15. Felicia EnuhaOctober 29,2022 at 4:42PM UTC

    I'm not sure about the intention of this response but this is quite negative and based on one assumption, that the employees were unhappy and will be full of complaints.
    There are a number of reasons that employees leave roles and it would be beneficial for the OP to have the conversations and find out as many data points as possible. The fact that poster also wrote," If I were contacted...I'd immediately go back to someone still employed there and gossip." Is a red flag about the poster and not that the advice you received here is "horrible." To the poster, who hurt you? Please get some help as your response mirrors what is going on inside you.

16. AnonymousOctober 29,2022 at 12:59PM UTC

    Have you tried this and been successful in A) reaching someone and B) having a conversation that provided productive opinions?

17. E COctober 29,2022 at 1:32PM UTC

    I gave notice at my current position yesterday. I got a better, higher paying opportunity within our agency. My colleague (same role, parallel teams, same supervisor) also gave notice yesterday, for the same reason. We have a great supervisor but we work in an environment that is essentially tasked with pushing the same rock uphill every day. I would tell a new applicant about this, but not until I am securely in my new position.

18. BeaBoss105337October 29,2022 at 12:43PM UTC

    My first thought was the source of that information....reliable, heresay,

    My second thought is ask generally in your interview about turnover rates.....this is your future and times are different now....reasons for turnover have as much to do with employees as it does employers.

    Third thought, has the company experienced this on a broad spectrum level or is it just this small segment?

    If red flags still exist after your interview.....if you feel they weren't truthful which is not the same as transparency....you'll know what you should do.

    Best of luck.

19. E COctober 29,2022 at 1:27PM UTC

    I always ask, "Why is this position open at this time?" Helps me get a sense of whether/why turnover is happening. It also tells you a lot about HR and the hiring manager based on how they respond.