How to Answer Interview Questions About Why You Left Your Job

If you left of your own accord, review these suggestions on how best to answer, tailoring your response to meet your particular situation. Be direct and focus your interview answer on the future, especially if your leaving wasn't under the best of circumstances.

Examples of the Best Answers

• I found myself bored with the work and looking for more challenges. I am an excellent employee and I didn't want my unhappiness to have any impact on the job I was doing for my employer.
• There isn't room for growth with my current employer and I'm ready to move on to a new challenge.
• I'm looking for a bigger challenge and to grow my career, but didn’t feel like I could give equal attention both to my job search and to my full-time work responsibilities. It didn’t seem ethical to slack off from my former job in order to conduct my job search, and so I left the company.

• I was laid off from my last position when our department was eliminated due to corporate restructuring.
• I'm relocating to this area due to family circumstances and left my previous position in order to make the move.
• I've decided that my current work role is not the direction I want to go in my career and my current employer has no opportunities in the direction I'd like to head.

• After several years in my last position, I'm looking for a company where I can contribute and grow in a team-oriented environment.
• I am interested in a new challenge and an opportunity to use my technical skills and experience in a different capacity than I have in the past.
• I recently received my degree and I want to utilize my educational background in my next position.

• I am interested in a job with more responsibility, and I am very ready for a new challenge.
• I left my last position in order to spend more time with my family. Circumstances have changed and I'm more than ready for full-time employment again.
• I am seeking a position with a stable company with room for growth and opportunity for advancement.
• I was commuting to the city and spending a significant amount of time each day on travel. I would prefer to be closer to home.
• To be honest, I wasn't considering a move, but I saw this job posting and was intrigued by the position and the company. It sounds like an exciting opportunity and an ideal match with my qualifications.
• This position seemed like an excellent match for my skills and experience and I am not able to fully utilize them in my present job.
• The company was cutting back and, unfortunately, my job was one of those eliminated.

Don't Badmouth Your Boss

Regardless of why you left, don't speak badly about your previous employer. The interviewer may wonder if you will be bad-mouthing his company next time you're looking for work. I once interviewed a person who told me that her last employer was terrible. They didn't pay her enough, the hours were awful and she hated the job.

That company happened to be my company's biggest – and most important – customer. And there is no way I would have hired someone who felt that way, justified or not, about our valuable client. So, she gave up any opportunity of getting the job as soon as she answered the "Why did you leave?" question.

 

 

45. Why did you quit your job?

 

One of the questions that is usually asked during a job interview is "Why are you quitting your job?" or "Why did you quit your job?" if you have already quit.

Interviewers like to ask this question because it really reveals a lot about you, such as:

• Did you leave this position voluntarily, or were you fired or laid off?
• Are you on good terms with the company?
• Does your reason for quitting seem valid or reasonable? Your answer offers a window into your on-the-job character and values.

Prepare answers to typical job interview questions, like this one, in advance. Practice your responses so you sound positive, and clear, about your circumstances and your goals for the future.

Not sure what to say? Review the suggested responses below, along with tips for the best way to respond to questions about why you left a job. Then, tailor your own response to fit your circumstances.

Sample Answers

• I quit my job because my supervisor retired. I felt that after many years of working in the office that it was time for a change and this seem like the ideal time to move on.
• I was able to take advantage of an early retirement offer due to company downsizing and am ready for a new challenge.
• I resigned to focus on finding a job that is closer to home and will use my skills and experience in a different capacity.
• I don't have room to grow with my current employer and I'm ready to move on to a new challenge.

• I'm looking for a new challenge and to grow my career and I couldn't job hunt искать работу part time неполный рабочий день while working.
• I have been volunteering in this capacity and love it. I'm seeking to turn my passion into the next step of my career.
• I was laid-off from my last position when my job was eliminated due to downsizing.

• After several years in my last position, I'm looking for a company where I can contribute and grow in a team-oriented environment.

• I am interested in a new challenge and an opportunity to use my skills and experience in a different capacity than I have in the past.
• I recently achieved certification and I want to utilize my educational background and technical skills in my next position.
• I am interested in a job with more responsibility, and I am very ready for a new challenge.

• I left my last position in order to spend more time with an ill family member. Circumstances have changed and I'm more than ready for full-time employment again.
• I was commuting and spending an hour each day on travel. I would prefer to be closer to home.
• To be honest, I wasn't considering a change, but, a former colleague recommended this job to me and was intrigued by the position and the company. It sounds like an exciting opportunity and an ideal match for my qualifications.
• This position seemed like an excellent match for my skills and experience and I am not able to fully utilize them in my present job.
• The company was downsizing and I thought it made sense to seek another position before my job was eliminated.

Tips for Responding

There are all sorts of reasons to leave a job. Maybe you want a higher salary, thought the company was in chaos, despised a new manager, or were laid off. Not all of these responses should be shared during a job interview, however. Be honest, but also strategic in your response - avoid any answer that reflects poorly on you. Here are some tips for how to develop a strong response:

• Avoid negativity: Do not speak poorly of managers, colleagues, or the company. You can, however, speak broadly about company goals or mention that you disagree with the direction the business is pursuing. Just don't get personal in your response. Being negative won't reflect well upon you. Plus, industries can often be small: You could easily speak negatively of a co-worker only to have that person be your interviewer's former colleague.

• Be honest: You don't have to tell the whole truth. But you should tell something that reflects the real reason you are leaving. Let's say you're frustrated by a lack of opportunities. Lead off by describing some of the things you have been able to accomplish, and then pivot to saying how you no longer have opportunities to learn and develop your skills. Bonus points if you can tie your answer back to why the job you're applying for is a better fit, and will offer you new, exciting opportunities.
• Practice: Because you want to be honest - but not overly frank - in responding to this question, it's a good one to practice ahead of time. That will help you feel comfortable answering. That's particularly true if you were laid off or fired - this question can be particularly nerve-wracking to answer in that case.

 

But just give a short, clear, and unemotional response.

 

 

46. Why were you fired?

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