Why did you leave your last job? It is very common to get this question or a variation of it.

Why are you looking to make a change?

Tell me about your departure from <insert specific job>.

<Insert job> sounds like it was an excellent opportunity. Why do you/did you want to leave?

For many, this question trips them up in an interview. How honest should you be? What should you say (or not say)? What if the reason might make you look bad? What if you want to avoid discussing it?

I asked this question in almost every interview I conducted. Why? Because I wanted to understand more about the person’s career moves. When a person changed job, it told me what was important in their life and career. It also told me if they struggled in a job. I wanted to know this to determine if the role that I had would be a good fit.

Answering this question does not have to be hard. But preparation is key to answering this question well.

Guidelines for Answering, “Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?”

With any interview question that is asked of you, you should have a strategy for answering. Let’s start with how not to answer this question.

1. Do not bring it up if you are not asked. If you are not asked, the interviewer has decided that it is not important information. You want to spend time talking about topics that the interviewer will find valuable.

2. Many people have left a job because the workplace was “toxic.” You always want to keep the interview positive. Do not speak negatively about a company or manager. Negativity immediately diminishes the energy in the room. Therefore, avoid talking harshly about a previous employer. Always keep your words and tone neutral if you can’t be positive.

3. Stay away from discussions about personality clashes. If you discuss how you had difficulty with others, you open up the possibility, to the interviewer, that you are a person that has trouble getting along with others. That is a seed you do not want to plant. Most managers do not want to hire people that could disrupt team dynamics.

4. For professional positions, keep away from discussions about pay or compensation as a reason for leaving. Hiring managers hire based on whether the person can do the job and if they want to do the work. If you express that your work motivation is based on money, even if true, then the hiring manager may wonder if you will have long-term satisfaction at this employer. You may join the company only to quickly look for opportunities that pay more.

5. Do not make it appear that your decision was an impulsive one. You will score more points with employers if you show that your decision was well thought out and part of a bigger plan for yourself.

6. Being evasive usually backfires. A good interviewer will ask follow-up questions if you have not answered the question in a meaningful way. By being evasive, you use up more of the interviewer’s time on the question, and you will be perceived as not forthright and trustworthy.

Instead, focus on the following.

1. Practice being succinct and positive when describing the situation. Try to say something positive, if you can, about your experience. You should strive to answer this question in about 30 seconds.

2. Focus on reasons to do with personal or career growth. Explain what you are striving for and how the job did not fit with your long-term goals. You can also discuss how this new opportunity does.

3. If you were laid off or made redundant, say so. Provide some context as to why this happened, such as company financial issues, a takeover, department reorganization, etc.

4. If your employment was terminated for cause, say so. But then briefly talk about what you learned through this and how you did/will do better in the future.

Always practice your answer with a trusted friend or family member. You want to make sure you do not come across as defensive or sheepish. It is part of your career history. Whether the situation was good or bad, you must own it.

Common Situations and Example of Answers

Category #1: You are currently employed

If you are currently employed, I can guarantee that you will be asked this question. Every prospective employer will want to know why you want to change jobs when you already have one.

Often, the reason is that something has changed over the course of your employment. This can be something in your personal life, like a relocation, or something with the company or role.

If the reason is a lack of growth opportunities, you could answer like this.

I have enjoyed working at Acme. It has been a great learning experience. Unfortunately, I have outgrown the role, and while I am a valued employee, there are no other opportunities for growth now or in the short term. Your company appears to offer the growth that is my goal.

For a change in company direction, here is an example of how to answer.

When I started with the company, I was very excited because the focus was on client satisfaction. The company seems to have gone away from this, and I do not see the focus returning any time soon. I have learned a lot and am grateful for my time with Acme, but I am no longer comfortable in this environment. I am very interested in your company, as it seems much more aligned with my values.

Perhaps the role has changed over time, and you are less interested in the current work.

My passion is doing accounts payable. Over time my position has changed to more accounts receivable. I understand the need for the company, but the change does not play to my strengths. That is why I have been looking for account payable roles, and this one seems to be a good fit for my skills and interests.

If you are having issues with your manager, you might want to answer the question this way.

I have a new manager, and it made me think about my goals. I realized I am not as excited about my work as I should be, and this is a good time to look for other opportunities. From my research, I believe that I would be an asset to this organization because your mission and values align with mine.

Note: You avoid talking about the manager and your issues with this person using this approach.

If you are leaving a job due to relocation or a move, then you could answer the question in this way.

My spouse was given a terrific opportunity with an employer that required a move. While I enjoyed my work, it was an opportunity that was too good to pass up. Therefore, I have to quit my job since remote working is not available. I am looking for a position where I can contribute through my skills in problem-solving, relationship building, and innovation.

Category #2: You Left a Job Voluntarily

Depending on how far back in your career history the job was, you may or may not be asked about the move. Many of the examples from above can also apply to this category. You may want to explain briefly how the next job or opportunity made sense for your career.

If you did not like the work, this is an example of how to answer the question.

When Acme hired me, I thought I would like to do X work. Unfortunately, I found that not to be the case. While I did the job well, because I believe that I should do any job at a high standard, I also think that you should change your situation if something is not working. My next job at Beta company was a better fit. 

If you changed jobs due to a better commuting situation, you could talk about it this way.

I hated to leave Acme. I loved the people there. Unfortunately, the commute became too challenging for me. I was able to find an employer that offered a good opportunity and was much closer to my home.

If you were recruited to work at another employer, this is how you can handle this situation.

I wasn’t looking, but an opportunity was presented to me that met my career goals and allowed me to enhance my skills. It ended up being an excellent move.

You went back to school, decided to stay home with my children, etc.

I had always planned on going back to school to get my degree in X. That time was the right opportunity to do it.

It was a hard decision, but staying home and raising my small children was the best for my family. They are now in school, and it is the right time for me to return to full-time work.

Category #3: You left a job involuntarily

If it was due to a layoff or redundancy, you could answer like this.

My company was acquired. As part of the acquisition, they reorganized my department, and due to redundancy, a number of us were let go.

Due to financial issues with the company, they were forced to reduce expenses. Unfortunately, my position was eliminated.

If you were let go for cause, you could answer like this.

Unfortunately, I was let go. I did not meet the attendance requirement, which was my fault. I have fixed that situation so it will not happen again.

Or

My employment was terminated. I realize that I was not the best fit for the role. That is why I am only looking for positions that play to my strengths, such as <list them>.

Conclusion

Like “Tell me about yourself,” you will invariably get a question about your departure from a previous employer. This doesn’t have to be a hard one to answer. Provide enough explanation but do not go into too much detail. Even if the situation was not positive, do not be defensive and blame others. Remain positive. People want to hire people for their team that have goals, make rational decisions, and do not dwell on the past but are looking at the future.

You may also be interested in tips on how to answer, Why should we hire you?

Shelley Piedmont is a job search coach. She wants to help job seekers put their best foot forward by providing the tools for a successful job search. If you need career coaching, resume preparation, interview skills assessment, or LinkedIn profile assistance, she can help. Schedule a 15-minute no-obligation consultation.