Q: Dear J.T. & Dale: Recently I took a new job that has ended up not being anything like what was described during the interview process. I have been there only five months, but I really want to leave. I was at my previous job for a little less than three years. I don’t want to look like a job-jumper. – Christine

A: J.T.: Being at your previous job for almost three years proves that you are capable of staying put. That’s actually longer than the current average, which is two years. The key is in how you explain the current job in interviews. It’s going to be obvious that you are unhappy – otherwise, you wouldn’t be looking, right? However, how you choose to “frame” the experience must be considered carefully.

Dale: You have two basic truthful descriptions of what happened: “They deceived me,” or “I made a mistake.” The latter seems to be self-critical and, thus, ill-advised; however, it’s actually the more positive response. Taking the blame might seem negative, but it gets turned inside out because one of the things managers hate is a “know-it-all” employee; plus, every good boss wants to hire someone who’ll admit a mistake and learn from it.

J.T.: I agree that you can’t vent about your employer. However, you can be easy on yourself in admitting fault. For instance, you might say: “I took the job envisioning that it would go a certain way. However, I should have done more homework during the interview process, because I find it doesn’t play to my professional strengths.” That way, you segue into discussing your strengths, and that’s where you want to help guide the interview.

Dale: Yes, your assignment during the interview isn’t just to sit and be interrogated, but to be a good conversationalist. If the interviewer dwells on your shorty job, just shrug, say you made a bad choice and ask, “Has that ever happened to you?” Or, do a reversal and say, “I hate to be critical about an employer, so can I tell you what I loved about the job before my current one?” Think through ways to keep the conversation moving toward the positive, and your career will follow.