How to Answer “Why Did You Leave Your Previous Job?” in A Job Interview
If you are interviewing for a new role, chances are that you will be asked to explain your motivations for seeking out a new job. Depending on your unique situation, there are many ways you can address the question “Why Did You Leave Your Previous Job?”
Why Should You Prepare Your Answer in Advance?
If you are moving to a new role, chances are that the hiring manager will want to know why you are making the switch. This question can be particularly tricky to answer if you quit, were let go, or were fired from your last position. This is not the kind of question you can answer well on the spot. As such, it’s a good idea to invest time and effort into preparing an introspective, strategic and well-thought-out response that will give the interviewer all the information that they need to know.
Alternative Phrasings: “Why Did You Leave Your Previous Job?”
Depending on your employment status, the interviewer may phrase this question differently. This question can be phrased differently depending on your current employment status.
- Why are you looking for a new job?
- Why are you leaving your current job?
- Why do you want to change jobs?
- What are your reasons for leaving your current job?
- What do you dislike about your previous or current job?
- What is the worst part of your current role?
- Why did you leave your last job?
Why Do Employers Ask this Question?
There are many reasons why a prospective employer will ask you the question “Why Did You Leave Your Previous Job?” in a job interview. Hiring a new employee can be a costly and time-consuming endeavour. As such, Hiring Managers want to make sure that they get it right. Asking why a candidate left/is leaving a role can help Hiring Managers figure out if they are a good fit for the role and the organisation. The candidate’s response to this question may provide the interviewer with lots of valuable clues about the candidate’s working history, values, motivations and personality.
The Formula for Success
To successfully answer this question, divide your answer into two clear parts:
- Why you’re leaving your current job
- What you’re looking for in a new role
More Tips
- Keep your answer brief, clear, and to the point.
- Stop yourself from coming off as too negative or emotional by making use of neutral language and positive body language.
- Transform a negative into a positive by reframing it as a learning experience. For example, if you really don’t like a certain aspect of your current job, think instead about how this helped you identify something that you do enjoy.
- Delivery is key so practice your answer until it sounds confident and natural.
What Not to Say
- Don’t rush to bring up this topic if the interviewer doesn’t ask.
- Don’t lie. The hiring manager can easily verify your story with a previous employer if need be.
- Never badmouth (especially if you were fired). Show that you can take the high road by accepting responsibility and by using neutral language to talk about your experience.
- Don’t be vague or generic. Make sure your answer is honest and sincere.
- Don’t make it sound like money is the only thing you care about.
- Don’t overexplain. Provide sufficient detail to give a clear picture, but don’t go overboard. You may wind up doing more harm than good if you give too much information.
What to Say If You Were Fired from Your Last Job
“The good news: 68% of executives who had been let go landed in a new job within six months. An additional 24% had a new job by the end of one year. Even better? 91% of executives who had been fired took a job of similar or even greater levels of seniority.” ~ “Research: When Getting Fired Is Good for Your Career”, Harvard Business Review
If you were dismissed from your last role, the interviewer will likely ask you about your experience. Firstly, they are trying to find out about the events that led up to your termination and whether these contain red flags about your character. They are also assessing how you coped with the situation and if you have since taken any steps to improve.
As a rule, it’s best to be honest and up-front about your experience. This not only allows you to control the narrative but also shows the interviewer that you have integrity. While some hiring managers may decide that getting fired is a dealbreaker, some may be willing to hear you out. What’s more, hiring managers are trained in fact-checking and can easily verify your story so lying often carries a greater risk than telling the truth.
When answering the question, follow this simple formula:
- Explain that you were let go by your last employer
- Succinctly explain the cause without going into too much detail
- Talk about your learnings from the experience
- Demonstrate that you have taken steps to ensure this never happens again
What to Say If You Quit Your Last Job
As recruiters who speak with thousands of candidates every year, we understand that life is too short to stay in a job that sucks the soul out of you. However, knowing how to explain your resignation in response to the question “Why Did You Leave Your Previous Job?” will be crucial as you move forward with your job search. Replacing staff members can be an expensive, time-consuming and laborious process for employers, so Hiring Managers want to make sure that your resignation doesn’t indicate a wider pattern.
Candidates who have secured a new job before leaving, shouldn’t have much trouble in interviews. However, handling this question can be more complex when you quit and you don’t have a job lined up.
If you are asked why you quit your previous role, follow this formula:
- Start with something positive: Before launching into an explanation, say something positive about the job/company. This will soften any potentially negative statements you may make and show the interviewer that you are not bitter about the experience.
- Provide context and motivation: Contextualise your decision by explaining what happened that contributed to your motivation for leaving. There’s no need to overexplain — just pick one reason and stick with that. Keep it short and move swiftly on.
- Turn it into a learning experience: Put a positive spin on your resignation by showing what you learned from the experience.
- Tie it into why this role/company appeals to you: Move on from the question by steering the conversation back to the role in question. Identify the reasons why you think this role will be a better fit for you and why you will be an ideal employee in the new position.
- Be prepared for follow-up questions: The interview may ask you to get into specifics about your last role. No matter what they ask, keep your comments positive and brief.
Sample Answers: “Why Did You Leave Your Previous Job?”
1. Employed but Looking
“I’m actually quite happy in my role of Senior Java Developer at FakeCo. I get on well with my co-workers and I have had the chance to really work on my skills over the past three years. However, when I saw the job ad for a position at your company, I knew that I had to apply. I’m a big fan of your company’s work and have always admired how you put innovation at the centre of everything you do. This opportunity seems like a perfect fit to use my Java background in a more disruptive and creative environment.”
2. Left by Choice
“I really enjoyed many aspects of my time at FakeCo — I had good relationships with my colleagues and management were very supportive. However, after six years I didn’t feel there was an opportunity to grow or advance further in that role. In the end, I decided a change would be best for my career.”
3. Laid-off
“I was laid-off from my last position when my job was eliminated and was outsourced overseas. Despite the unfortunate way it ended, I’m still grateful for my time at FakeCo, as it gave me the chance to build my knowledge while making some lifelong friendships with my colleagues.”
4. Fired
“While I did enjoy my time at FakeCo, I was, unfortunately, let go from my position of Lab Technician. When I was initially taken on, I was given a job description that ended up being very different from the job that I actually ended up doing. It wasn’t long into the job before I realised that there were some major communication problems and I struggled early on. I left on good terms and have used the time since to clarify my own professional goals and expectations.”
5. Underpaid
“There are a lot of different things taht motivate me to work hard. Keeping clients happy and personal satisfaction in a job well done are at the top of the list. But fair compensation is also a g motivator for me. I’m excited about the opportunity to work with a company of this calibre, to exceed my targets and celebrate when I’ve achieved my goals.”
What Are Some of The Most Common Reasons for Leaving a Job?
- The job didn’t align with my career goals
- I am looking for a new challenge
- I think I’ve learned all I can in this role
- I would like to learn more or grow a current skill
- My career progression has stalled
- I want to work in an industry that I’m more passionate about
- I’m overqualified for the job
- I want to work for a bigger company
- I’ve been working at my company for a long time and am ready for a change
- I’m seeking a different work arrangement
- I would like more flexibility
- I would like to work better hours
- I would like the ability to work independently more often#
- I would like more/ less responsibility
- I want a shorter commute to work
- I would like to relocate/ work closer to home
- I had personal issues to deal with
- I was (unjustly) passed over for a promotion
- I don’t get along with your new boss or supervisor
- The company dynamics changed (in a bad way)
- The job didn’t match my expectations
- The duties of my role have changed or been reduced
- I was laid off/ made redundant
- The company values don’t align with my own
- I don’t think I’m paid my market value
- I want to change career path
- I want to work in a different industry
- I want to go back to school/ retrain
Things to Keep in Mind When Preparing Your Response to “Why Did You Leave Your Previous Job?”
No matter your motivation for leaving your job, just remember that it’s normal to change jobs many times when forging your career path. In fact, one study found that the average person holds 12 jobs over the course of their career. As such, it is only natural that you will have both positive and negative different work experiences during your career. Over the years, the cumulative value of these experiences will help you to continue growing and developing as a professional. For more advice on how to answer the question “Why Did You Leave Your Previous Job?”, contact our expert Recruitment Consultants today.