How to answer the interview question “Why are you leaving your current employment?”

If you’re looking to move from one job to another, most potential employers will ask you the question “Why are you leaving your current job?”.  Sometimes phrased as “Why are you looking for a new job?” or “Why do you want to change jobs?”, this open-ended interview question can be difficult to answer if you’re not prepared.

When discussing the reasons why you left a job or want to leave a current job, the most important thing to remember is to be positive about the role.

No employer wants to hear you badmouthing another employer so try to be as tactful in your response as possible.

Consider the following questions to get started:

-       What are your values?

-       What are your career goals? Where do you want to be in five years? 10 years?

-       What are your needs in a workplace environment? What do you need in a job?

-       What industry do you want to be in?

-       Are you passionate about your company’s mission?

-       Does your current situation align with these answers? Why or why not?

 

Example Answer 1:

“I’ve had a fantastic time working at Adelabu and Sons over the last two years. Having joined as a graduate in 2017, I’ve worked my way up from Business Development Executive, to leading my own team of 3 as a Sales Manager. I’m now looking to leave my job, take on a new challenge and join a bigger team; that’s why this particular role appeals to me so much."

Example answer 2

 

“I have been working with a great team in Adelabu and Son’s for the past 3 years and they have helped me a lot in learning the basics since I joined as a fresh graduate. However, I feel like I have reached the optimum point of learning here, and would like to take a step ahead to learn the intricacies and more complex aspects of my field. I have read and heard of the amazing talents that your company has recruited over time and it would be a privilege for me to learn from them.”