Career Plan

	How do you answer 'Why do you want to leave your current job' in a job interview?

First answer by ID1168558739. Last edit by Spuleo. Contributor trust: 33 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 912 [recommend question]

Interviews: Leaving your Current Job

Here are some tips for answering this questions:

• Never speak poorly about your current (previous) employer. This question is an opportunity to sell yourself, not air your dirty laundry.

• Put your reason for leaving in the best light possible. For example, if your company has looked over you for a promotion, or you don't think you make enough money, you might say "I seek to work in a meritocracy" or "I want to work in a more entrepreneurial environment."

• Always consider what the job requires, and think about an answer that contrasts what your previous company didn't have but this current job does. If you are looking to move from a large company to a small company, you might say you've had a wonderful experience seeing how a large company does business, and you are looking to apply that knowledge you've gained in a setting where you'd have greater responsibility and more accountability for your decisions.

• If an interviewer asks you why you are wanting to leave your current position, you could tell them the real reason which is probably the pay or you really don't like your boss. or you could say something like "I don't feel like in my current position I am able to show my full potential. I am looking for a challenge in a company that will recognize my abilities as a ... (whatever position you are applying for)."

• Example: "As I succeeded in financial analysis, I became increasingly interested in broader issues of managing money. I wanted to understand how legal regulations and individuals' goals affect decisions about how to manage money. When I gained entrance to my top choice in law school, I seized the opportunity to infuse my financial training with legal knowledge."

• "No room to advance" or "I want to move up in my career"

• Never talk negative about the current organization. Don't say you are unhappy with the systems and processes there. If the reason you are leaving for pay, say that. Talk about the challenges that you have faced and how you have been able to solve them. Talk to the prospective employer saying that you are looking for a more challenging and more responsible position. Talk about your accomplishments and tell him how you can contribute to the new employer.

• Don't say you want to leave your current job because you're not earning enough. More $$$ is NOT THE ANSWER they want to hear. "Oh Look, someone who is leaving for more money! Welcome aboard!" There are really only 3 reasons: Location (commute way too long); Family Matter (new kid, etc.)' Opportunity. That's it.

• "In my current job there are no more challenges to face or potential to show my talent."

• Really the best practice is always be honest, such as, "This job really didn't have advancement opportunities that I was seeking."

• It's not that they really care about this answer. It's more of a "will this person trip over themselves, badmouth his former employer, or give out too much information" to screen themselves out. So don't do any of that. Many questions are meant to be handled and not answered in a job interview.
  
  
• "I feel that I have reached a plateau at my current job so I am looking for alternatives and new challenges."
  
  
• Don't mention the Glass Ceiling; that seems to have a negative conotation, it's been tried and receives mixed results.
  

Sample:

I am really looking for a new challenge at an innovative company.

In my discussions with {name} I get the impression that you are really looking to create a foundation for your {program} I also get the impression that you are willing to try out new technologies and methods like {name technologies or methods}.

While {My Current Company} does promote innovation, I think that {Your Company} really takes it seriously and that's the type of firm that I want to partner with.