If you have ever been on a job interview, you have inevitably face the question, “Why did you leave your position?”. This is often a scary question for people, even if the reason was no fault of their own. There are many reasons people may leave a position, but the way in which you word it can really make or break how well your answer is received by the interviewer. It helps to bear in mind, this question isn’t asked in order to trip you up. It’s to help the potential employer understand your career goals as well as potential scenarios that would not be the best fit for you. Here are some common reasons people leave a position, and how to communicate that with a potential employer.
You wanted a career change:
Maybe the position wasn’t what you anticipated, or you just lost interest, or maybe you found a passion for something else. That is totally normal, and okay to express, but word choice is important! A good way to express that would be to say something along the lines of “I am looking for an opportunity more in line with my career goals”. This sentence alone can show long-term interest, and give them a better understanding of why you left. If you are still amidst a career change, check out our video 3 Steps to Effectively Change Your Career to get further tips on how to do so!
You were laid off:
As long as you weren’t let go for performance issues, this isn’t usually a problem. Companies undergo a lot of changes, could be a merge, or just plain downsizing. It definitely helps if you weren’t the only person they let go of. “My position was eliminated due to …. Although I don’t work there anymore, I appreciate the experience I gained during my time there”. This is direct and puts a positive spin to ensure you do not have negative feelings towards the previous company.
You felt there was no more room for growth:
In some cases, promotion is promised, and it seems like it never comes. Or maybe you just feel as if you’ve gone as far as you could, and are striving for more. A good explanation for this could be “I feel as if there wasn’t enough opportunity for growth, and I needed to leave the company to achieve professional growth”. This is important, you shouldn’t bring up money, or bad-mouth the employer. Direct the answer to your own goals. (maybe bring in avoiding burnout)
You needed to deal with personal issues:
We have all been here. Life happens, it can get in the way. This could be a variety of things, maybe you just needed some time off, or you wanted to start a family. Or in some cases, there was a need for you to help your family out. There isn’t a need to get into the nitty-gritty details, so saying something like “There were some issues in my personal life so I needed to take a step back, but I am ready to reenter the workforce”. This is concise and to the point. If you left to take care of a family member or child you can express that as well.
You were fired
The dreaded term, “fired”. Although this could be seen as a red flag to some employers, it happens. You can save this by formulation your answer in the most honest, respectful way. You should never badmouth your employer or coworkers, or use the terms “fired”, or “terminated”. Instead, you should say something like “The expectations changed, and unfortunately, I was no longer the best fit for the position”. This makes it less harsh and allows a spin-off into a different conversation.
There are many different reasons as to why you may part ways with a company, but it is always important to remain positive, and thankful. You should always remember to never ever bad-mouth any previous employers but instead be appreciative of the opportunity they had given you. This can tell a potential employer a lot about you, so the way you answer can really make a difference. If you want to know more about whether or not the interview went well, check out 5 Signs Your Job Interview Went Well.
