“What are your reasons for leaving your job?” is up there with, “What are your weaknesses?” in the shortlist of interview questions candidates dread most. Even if the thought of moving on from your current role fills you with joy, you may not be comfortable sharing with a hiring manager your reasons for leaving a job.And that’s exactly why you should prepare thoroughly for this question. Answer it succinctly and without embarrassment, and you’ll make a good impression on the interview panel, strengthening your chances of landing the opportunity. Try to wing it, on the other hand, and there’s a good chance you’ll come across as hesitant or evasive.Here are some tips for discussing your reasons for leaving a job, along with an explanation of why employers ask about this and a section on how not to answer this interview question:
Handling Questions About Your Reasons for Leaving a Job
Unlike the more common interview questions you'll likely be asked, this one isn’t designed to trick you into making yourself look bad. By exploring the reasons behind a job move, a hiring manager is attempting to learn about your career goals and whether you’re parting from your current employer on good terms.Giving your reasons for leaving a job helps interviewers determine what satisfaction and engagement at work look like to you. It can also shed light on what your long-term career plan is and what you want to get out of a new role.Searching for a job? Find out how Robert Half can help you find the right job, your way.
There are many acceptable reasons for leaving a job, and you shouldn’t be embarrassed to talk about them. In fact, you should relish the opportunity to describe your work ethic and underscore your desire to grow. Of course, it’s always important to know what to say when quitting a job, and if you handle that conversation correctly, it will be much easier to explain your reason for changing employment when interviewing to get a new job.Because individual circumstances differ, there is no one best answer when asked why you left your last job, but here are five examples of good reasons for leaving a job that a hiring manager would view positively:1. More responsibility and better career growthOne thing all hiring managers want to hear from interviewees is that they’re hungry to develop their skills. This often falls under the umbrella term of “pursuing a better opportunity.” If you aren’t being given the appropriate resources to grow and learn in your current role, it’s important to bring this to the attention of a possible new employer when sharing your reasons for leaving a job.When discussing reasons why you left a previous job and took another one, give relevant details as to why the role you moved into at that time gave you a better opportunity for job satisfaction and career growth. In discussing the job you are applying for, give examples of the kinds of skills you want to build on and tangible ways you’d like to go about doing it in your next job.2. A career changeWanting to move in a new direction professionally doesn’t make you fickle. It can serve as an indicator that you’re dedicated to finding interesting and meaningful work. By explaining your career development plan and outlining your ultimate end goal, you can demonstrate your drive and commitment. You won’t come across as someone who just simply quit a job without giving thought to the ramifications of your decision.3. Company reorganizationCompany restructuring can often lead to cutbacks or new team dynamics, which can cause employee dissatisfaction. This can be a good reason for leaving a job, but if this is your reason for moving on, it’s helpful to give some examples as to why the new structure isn’t working for you, what you’ve done to try to improve things and what you’d change if it were all up to you.Expaning on details about the drawbacks of your new duties and responsibilities after restructuring shows your level of investment, your problem-solving skills and how you gave a serious effort to be a team player in the face of a challenge. Finally, show that you’ve researched and understood the potential employer’s organizational structure by explaining why you think you will thrive in their setup.4. Better work-life balanceIf that’s one of your reasons for leaving a job, be upfront about it with hiring managers, making the case that any flexibility on their part will be rewarded with high levels of productivity and engagement on yours. When discussing work-life balance, focus on what you’re seeking for the long term, whether it’s remote work, a 4/10 workweek or flexible hours.
If presented in the right way — as a win-win for both you and the organization — this can be viewed by the hiring team as not just a good reason for you leaving a job but as a good reason for hiring you since employees who are happy outside the workplace generally make for happier employees at work.5. RelocationSometimes a good answer to why you’re leaving your current job is as simple as the desire or need to relocate. This would be the case if you feel relocation is best accomplished by physically moving near the office of the potential employer rather than asking your old company for remote work, which they may or may not honor. Explain why you’re making the move, what skills you can offer the company and what you feel are the benefits of a new job and location. In an age when many candidates want to work from home, showing you have the drive and determination to put down new roots may impress a hiring manager who needs their team to be in or near the office.
It’s easy to stray into treacherous territory when giving reasons for leaving previous jobs. To help avoid that pitfall, remember that the hiring team wants to see that you had a good reason for leaving a job in terms of something positive for your career and job satisfaction rather than hear about all the problems you had while working there. Be sure not to lapse into any of the following when you respond, no matter how well you think the interview is going or how much the hiring manager puts you at ease:Complaining — Avoid launching into a barrage of complaints about your former workplace or colleagues. Doing so can make you look bitter or negative, and those are qualities no employer wants to see in a potential hire. Instead, emphasize the positives, such as the opportunities you enjoyed at your previous job and what you learned from the experience.Criticizing a manager — Even if unhappiness with your manager was your reason for leaving a job, approach the subject in a tactful, positive way. If your boss tended to micromanage your projects, for example, you can say you always appreciated their interest in your work but you were ready to take on a role that would give you greater autonomy.Reciting boilerplate — Your reasons for leaving a job may be simple and clear, but that doesn’t mean you should trot out the same explanation in every interview. Research a potential employer’s organizational culture and policies, so that you can tailor your answer to what they’re offering. A much better answer than “My current employer doesn’t offer flextime” is “My current employer doesn’t offer flextime, so I’m excited about your 4/10 workweek policy, which will really suit my working style." When the organization you are hoping to join offers something unavailable at your previous or current job, that is almost always seen as a good reason for leaving a job.Highlighting salary — Dissatisfaction with salary is one of the most common reasons for leaving a job; 66% of respondents in a recent Robert Half survey who planned on looking for a new job said wanting a higher salary was their motivation. But it’s best to leave this unspoken, or, at least, wait for the interviewer to raise it first. Hiring managers are smart and experienced, and if you talk positively about looking to stretch yourself and take on bigger responsibilities, they will intuit that you are also looking for a raise. Then, after you get a job offer, you can negotiate your salary. The Salary Guide From Robert Half is a great resource in preparing for eventual salary negotiations.Thinking ahead about your reasons for leaving a job — and how you can discuss them in a positive, professional manner — will help you feel more confident going into a job interview. And, while you’re at it, you may want to consider how you might address other commonly asked interview questions, just in case they come up. If it all feels too daunting, don’t hesitate to reach out to a Robert Half recruiter.
Check out these Robert Half posts to help you make a strong impression in your job interviews, and subscribe to the Robert Half newsletter for more tips on how to land a job and succeed in your career.How to Answer, ‘Tell Me About Yourself,’ in a Job InterviewHow to Answer, ‘What’s Your Expected Salary?’Behavioral Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
