Your resume speaks a lot about your job profile and interests, but what about the interviews? There is a list of questions and answers that an interviewer generally asks a candidate. And one of the most dreaded questions is "What are your greatest weaknesses" which is generally accompanied by the question "What is the reason for leaving your current job."
This is a deciding question that impacts your chances of getting selected for the job. Its answer is not going to be easy. What is the reason for leaving your current job is a straightforward question meant to analyze your psyche.
When asked about the reason for leaving the job, you can mention the reasons like a career change, a salary hike, or getting hired. While there can be plenty of reasons for leaving a job, here are some of the best responses that can be given when asked about the reason for a job change. Given below are some answers to give when asked what is the reason for leaving your current job and why you want to join our company.
Reason for leaving a job
1. Career change
Desiring to move ahead in a different and new direction professionally doesn't make you unsteady or inconsistent. If you are seriously looking for a career change, then this is the perfect reason you can give when asked about the reason for leaving your current job. But you must be careful while mentioning this reason for leaving your job. A career change should not mean you are careless.
2. Head for a better position
When changing jobs, you must present yourself as a committed as well as an aspiring professional. After all, you want to reassure your potential employer that you're serious about finding interesting and meaningful work. So, how can you do that?
By explaining your career upliftment plan and defining your endmost goal, of course! Heading for a better position is one of the best reasons you can give when asked for the reason for leaving your current job.
3. Change in dynamics
Companies and people tend to change with time. This is due to various reasons:
- mergers and acquisitions
- management changes
- or even just the natural evolution of the business.
In all these cases, the company culture changed, and the employees had to adapt. This is the reason you can give when asked about the reason for leaving your current job. You can simply say that you don't like the autocracy of the new management that has taken over.
4. You wanted an increase in pay
- Wanting a hike in your salary is not greedy. Rather it is being natural and righteous. Sometimes, the company you work for starts taking you for granted and doesn't raise your salary.
- Or maybe they are not that established to raise your pay.
But that doesn't mean you should be stuck there. You must move on to another company and ask for the resources you think you deserve.
5. Got fired
If you tell the truth that you got fired when asked the reason for leaving your current job and explain your situation, you will appear honest and sincere. You may even get to explain what you learned from the experience. On the other hand, if you lie and your potential employer finds out, you will lose the job and damage your reputation.
6. To pursue further education
When looking for a reason for leaving your current job, this can be one of the best answers that you can give. Studying further is not a bad thing that you should be ashamed of.
- Rather it means that you are determined to succeed in your professional life.
- It signifies that you take a systematic approach when it comes to your career.
- It means that rather than making money, you prefer taking out time and investing it in education to acquire new skills.
These were some of the best reasons for leaving your current job. But there are certain things that you should never say when asked the reason for leaving your job.
Things you should avoid as a response to what are the reason for leaving your current job
1. Complaining
Complaining will do you no good. The interviewer will think that if you can badmouth about your previous company, then you have the potential to badmouth about their company when you leave it. Sweet as well as bitter things take place in a job. But rather than speaking about the negatives, focus on the positives.
For example, you can say that "you were given many opportunities in your company; however, it no longer served you the purpose per your career advancement plans."
2. Criticizing your manager
Even if you were unhappy with your previous manager, you must not mention it. Don't say things like your manager micromanages your tasks, or he was picky or autocratic and not open to your ideas. These things will reflect badly on your character.
Rather than saying negative things, you can tell them that you appreciate your manager's interests, but now you are ready to have greater autonomy over your projects.
3. Money is not everything
Leaving a job for a higher salary or better packages is natural but do not make that sound like you are greedy. There is a hair-thin line between being ambitious and greedy. Remember that where on the one hand, you are looking for a better package, on the other hand, you also want to climb a step up in your professional career. Growth and money go hand in hand, so establishing a balance between the two is essential so that you do not sound like you are a money-grubbing person.
Instead of saying, “I am looking for a salary hike”, you may say, “Although I am looking for a salary hike, I am also looking to work in a better position where I get to learn skills that help me in advancing in my career”
4. Over-exaggeration
Over-exaggeration without bringing forth appropriate and solid facts can do more harm than advantage. Before an interview, make sure you are well-versed with the company culture and policies of the one you are applying for.
Rather than saying that "my current manager does not offer me flexible time," it will be better if you say that "I like to have a work-life balance and your company's four-day workweek culture suits my interest," and you would love to be a part of it.
5. Don't be vague
Do not be unclear or vague. Be upfront with your answers. Even if you got fired, state the right reasons rather than spiraling around false ones. It is crucial to be straightforward with the information you provide to the hiring committee. The hiring committee will have all the reasons to drop you if anyhow, they get the truth to the lies you would have told them. You may say-
"I was let go. And this can be tough if you have worked at the company for a long time."
Hence, to conclude, there is no ideal way to answer the question of the reason for leaving a job. But confidence and practice can get you to the other shore. The more uncomplicated things you keep, the better it will be. Honest and straightforward answers will surely reward you, but to get the job, you need to be witty and honest with your answers.
