A coach shows a job candidate how to discuss toxic workplaces in interviews without sounding bitter. The technique, called "cushioning," means wrapping criticism of past employers in empathy. Instead of just complaining, you acknowledge their perspective first, then explain what didn't work.
Rory found you too good to be true. You were great in the interview. You were very positive about your past. You need to find a way to talk about your past that feels authentic. Correct.
How do I explain to somebody that like, well, this job I left because there was no more opportunities left and they weren't utilizing my best skills. But then I went to another company and to no fault of their own, the same thing happened.
If you're going to talk about something less savory or negative, you use cushioning. So if I was to maybe talk about selecting a company that seemed to have poor management and was bleeding money, I might say, when I took the job, it sounded really exciting. It was in this industry I was really interested in. Unfortunately, the owner had never run a business before, and she had only been doing this for 3 years. And in hindsight, I probably wouldn't have taken that job, you know, knowing that. But as a new business owner, she did the best she could. And notice, like, she did the best she could, like, that's cushioning. Like, you're talking about some negative things, but you're cushioning it with empathy be understanding. Cushioning keeps you from sounding like a victim in the interview. You're able to be honest while acknowledging the perspectives of others.
