How To Answer “Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?”

Real Reasons Why People Leave/Quit/Resign:

  • You do the job of two or more people and have to work longer hours and sometimes weekends.
  • You spend more of your time stapling, photocopying and filing rather then doing what you actually have been hired and paid to do.
  • Thanks to a freeze you haven’t had a pay increase, raise or promotion in years.
  • You notice that the few people that are promoted lack training, skill and are not even experienced.
  • Your boss pretty much lives over your shoulder and micromanages you to death!

Employees Don’t Quit their Companies, they Quit their Bosses

So you found some of your colleagues annoying, truly HATED your boss and have a grocery list of reasons why. A job interview is neither the time or the place to open up and share your true thoughts. Nobody especially a new employer wants to hear you badmouth a former boss. Recruiters and Managers just don’t care how annoying you thought your coworkers were or how bad your boss was. They want to hear that you contributed to a team and you go the work done. Don’t take this opportunity and badmouth your boss, management, coworkers etc. It makes you look unprofessional and definitely a person no one wants on the team.

Instead of airing out your company’s laundry take this opportunity to talk about your experience. You want to focus on the skills you learned in your previous role and how these skills make you perfect for this new position. Whatever your reason for leaving you want to stress to the new company that it just wasn’t a good fit but you learned a lot and enjoyed your time there. It’s important to keep your answer positive.

Recommended Answers:

  • There isn’t room for growth within my current company and I’m ready to move on to a new challenge.
  • I am looking for an opportunity to use my skills and experience in a different capacity than I have in the past.
  • I recently received my degree and I want to put it to use in a new job.
  • I am looking for a job with more responsibility.
  • To be honest, I wasn’t considering a move but I saw this job posting and was attracted to the position. It sounds like an exciting opportunity and an ideal match with my qualifications.

At The End of The Day

Keep your answer short and positive. Make the reason for leaving a favorable one such as wanting a new challenge, looking for increased responsibility or learning possibility.

Photo by: eyeballism

Learn how to answer other interview questions such as: Tell me about yourself