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Discussing Reasons for Leaving Your Previous Job


Navigating Interviews

Tips for Answering Questions About Leaving a Job During an Interview


Navigating a job interview can be a particularly stressful experience. This is especially true when asked about why you decided to leave your previous job. Choosing the right response to this question without sounding negative or unprofessional can be difficult.


Therefore, understanding the reasons you would like to leave a job and how to respond to an interviewer, can make or break your ability to present yourself as a confident and knowledgeable job seeker.


In this article, we will go over the best way to respond to questions about leaving a job during an interview.


  

Reasons for Leaving a Job

People leave their current jobs for many different reasons. Common reasons amongst job leavers include more experience, better pay, or merely seeking a career change. Personal reasons such as relocation or family commitments are also extremely common factors that can influence the decision.


There are two crucial factors you must be aware of if you are looking for a new job. First, you need to carefully consider your reasons for leaving your current position. Second, you have to be able to articulate these reasons clearly and honestly to potential employers. These factors are important as they help establish credibility with interviewers and signal to them that you have carefully considered what you want out of your career.


  

Short Tenures

If you have only been at various jobs for a short amount of time and have a habit of frequently changing jobs, then you have to be prepared to explain to potential employers why you left in the first place. Two approaches you can consider to responding to questions about job tenures of less than a year are:

  

The position was a poor fit:

The simplest strategy is to merely explain to the interviewer why the job wasn’t a good fit for you in the first place. You might have discovered that your previous job simply did not align with your career goals or that the company culture did not reflect your personal values. Another strategy to consider is to simply state that the work was not difficult enough and that you want more of a challenge. In both cases, you must be honest and to the point.


Lessons Learned:

Reflecting on your previous job is another relevant and recognized strategy. Here, you can discuss the lessons during your short time at the last company. For example, you could focus on your own professional development, reflect on what you did well, as well as any new skills you’ve developed which can be applied to the job you’re applying for.



How to ace interview questions about previous jobs

Long Tenures

You will likely be asked why you decided to leave your last job, especially if you’ve been there for a considerable length of time. You need to explain your reasons for wanting to move on and what transferable skills you gained whilst there. You might also feel like you are no longer learning in the current environment and are looking for a new challenge to take on. Whatever your reasons, be sure to be clear and transparent.


Emphasize Skills and Experience:

You should emphasize the skills and experience you gained at your previous job during the interview. Here, you should explain how you developed new and relevant skills, built relationships with colleagues and clients, and contributed to the company's overall success in some shape or form. Emphasizing both these skills and experiences can show your work ethic, how you're a team player, and that you are a positive attribute to a potential company.

  

Career Advancement:

People quit long-term jobs to pursue opportunities that will help them advance in their careers. You may have felt like you've reached a dead end with no room for advancement when in reality you want growth and opportunity. When responding to questions about leaving a job for a better opportunity, be honest and specific about your career goals and how the new role will assist you in achieving them. This demonstrates that you are ambitious, driven, and proactive in taking charge of your career path. It also shows that you know exactly what you want and are committed to getting it.


  

Things to Avoid

It is critical to avoid potential pitfalls when answering questions about leaving a job. Speaking negatively about a previous employer is one of the most common mistakes. This may raise concerns among potential employers that you will speak negatively about their company if things do not go as planned. Instead, concentrate on the positive aspects of your previous position and how it aided your professional development.

  

Blaming others for shortcomings is something you also want to avoid. The blame game can make you come across as unprofessional and unable to take responsibility for your own actions. Instead, take ownership of any mistakes or failures and explain to employers what you learned from those experiences and how you plan to improve should any problems arise in the future.


  

Final Thoughts

For many, job interviews are difficult and stressful experiences. Being asked why you have left your previous job might be a common question, however, it can be stressful and catch you off guard if you are not prepared. To present yourself as the right person for the job, you need to identify the reasons for leaving your previous job and plan how to properly answer questions about it. In doing so, you can show future employers that you are confident, knowledgeable, and worth employing.


The final thing you should consider is that good preparation, confidence, and professionalism are key factors in any job interview. Following these tips presented in the article as well as avoiding the common pitfalls can ensure that you are presented in the best possible light during a job interview. Best of luck with your job search!

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