The Subtle Art of Not Complaining (Especially in Interviews)
If your story sounds like a rant, you’re not ready to tell it. Reframe it or risk being remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Earlier today, I interviewed a seasoned C-level marketer. Great chops in performance marketing. Sharp resume. But when we dug into his career moves… the energy shifted.
He started venting. About company direction. About the execs brought in after a reorg. About culture drift. I listened, but something clicked: either he was so good he had to get out OR things didn’t work out and he’s still salty about it.
Here’s the thing:
There are always reasons to leave a job. Always. Bad bosses, broken culture, misaligned vision…pick your poison. But when you lead with complaints instead of clarity, you lose the plot. Especially in interviews.
People don’t want to hire someone who sounds like they’re still processing resentment. They want someone who owns their story, moves forward, and brings positive momentum with them.
If you’re leaving a job, craft your story. Own your decision. Don’t blame the building for being on fire. Talk about how you’re wired to build better ones.
And if you come across a complainer? In work, life, or interviews?
Don’t match their energy. Don’t get pulled into the vortex of “yeah, I know, this place sucks too.” Misery loves company but you don’t have to RSVP.
Change the subject. Shift the tone. Talk about what’s going right. Take the high road. Build your own damn road if you need to.
In short:
Shut up and keep building.
Your mind and body. Your life. Your work.
Let your results be your response.