At some point in time, it is likely to happen. You are going to leave your job. For as many people as there are in the world, there are also many unique reasons for leaving a job. Some people are pushed from their current role, and some are pulled towards their next position. Some people are excited about a new opportunity while others are anxious about the new chapter. Even though there are a variety of emotions that come with making a job transition, there is one question that we should all anticipate being asked – Why are you making this change? Friends, family, and co-workers may pose this question. We may also hear this question from another source – a job interview. When preparing your answer in an interview, here are 3 things to consider.
Interviewers phrase this question in different ways. Be prepared.
While some interviewers will ask straightforwardly, others will phrase the question in less direct ways. Here are some examples:
- Why are you leaving your current role?
- Why are you making this career transition now?
- Why is this the right time in your career to make this move?
- What are you hoping to gain with this new position?
Be truthful and selective
It is possible to be truthful while being selective in what you share. An interviewer is not entitled to know the details of your choice to leave a job, especially when those details involve personal considerations. You may have chosen to leave a job because of family responsibilities health concerns or financial needs. You may also have chosen to leave a job because you were there for 8 years and are ready for a change. In any of these situations, it is best to share the big-picture drivers of your choice instead of the specific reasons.
Look forward, not back
An alternative to commenting on why you are leaving a job is to comment on the things that make you excited about your next steps. This can refocus the question from your previous employer to your future employer. To do this, you might make a general statement about leaving your last job because you were ready for your next professional challenge. Then, you would pivot to talk about the components of your new role that are most interesting.
As is the case with other kinds of interview questions, practice makes perfect. Planning your answer will allow you to identify a concise way to communicate your thoughts about the past while quickly turning the focus to the future.
BU + Beyond 