Column | chapter nine algorithm
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Whether you feel stuck, tired of your nightmarish commute, or fed up with your boss, deciding to quit can be a relief or a turning point in your career. However, when looking for a job, HR is bound to be interested in why you changed jobs, and in fact, it’s one of the most frequently asked interview questions and a tricky one, so you’d better be prepared in advance just in case. So how to answer “Why did you quit your job?”
Why do you ask
HR sometimes asks meaningless questions, but “Why did you leave your last job?” Not for nothing. In fact, your motivation for leaving can tell the interviewer a lot about whether you’re a good fit for the company, so don’t be surprised if that’s the first question they ask.
For example, if you leave the company on a whim, it shows you’re someone who could jump ship again at any moment. It’s not a good impression, because employers don’t know if you won’t be bored or will jump ship after six months. If, on the other hand, you didn’t quit your job (e.g., you were fired), then they can infer from your explanation whether you were fired or something beyond your control.
Finally, if you’ve left your job, HR will want to know how your relationship with your former boss was and how pleasant your departure was. For example, if they were your references, it’s a good sign that you were mature and professional, and that your departure didn’t cause any ill will or conflict.
How to respond to
Of course, there are different answers depending on why you left, but the most important answer is a positive one. Remember, you need to see your job change as a good thing, not as an attempt to avoid something bad.
With that in mind, here are some answers to consider:
“Not that I want to leave them, but that I want to be here.”
This is probably the best answer you can give because it’s clear and positive, and it shifts the focus from your past to your future. After all, no interviewer wants to sit there and hear about how badly your former boss treated you and how time was wasted. Instead, they want to see how positive and excited you are about the idea of working for them. Maybe you’re attracted to their company’s culture, or you’re attracted to the projects and clients they’re involved with. Whatever it is, make sure you emphasize your desire for a new job rather than running away from your old one.
“I enjoyed my time there, but I’m looking for a new challenge”
This is also a good answer because it shows respect for your previous employer, it shows that you can achieve more in the new company, and it shows ambition. Companies don’t like people who are content with the status quo. They want people who are progressive, dynamic and innovative. If you actively recognize that you need to change companies to do this, few companies will see that as a bad thing.
But don’t confuse ambition with ruthlessness, wanting to grow and get better is one thing, but if you give an interviewer the impression that you’re using their company as a stepping stone to your promotion, they may think twice about it.
Along with your answer, focus on how your drive and enthusiasm can better improve the company’s prospects, not how the company can improve yours.
“It fits my interests/education better”
Another acceptable reason to change jobs is if the new job better suits your personal interests, or if you have recently gained a new professional qualification. After all, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to make better use of a newly learned skill or a newfound interest.
In fact, if you’re passionate about working in a particular field or enjoying a certain type of client, the interviewer will be interested in your passion. For example, if you’re interested in fashion, highlight how your new employer’s main product is appealing. Or, if you’ve been programming for the past five years, but you just finished your business degree, talk about how you were attracted to project management in past projects.
Finally, if you can demonstrate your enthusiasm and suitability for the new role throughout the application process, no one will worry too much about what you’ve done before.
“This is for practical reasons”
Sometimes career changes are dictated by external factors. For example, your spouse may have found a job in another city, so you have to change jobs. As long as you don’t have any issues with your previous employer, this is a simple and reasonable excuse.
Or maybe the job is more convenient for you. If your previous job was far from home or your working hours conflicted with your other commitments, no one will be upset that you’re looking for something less stressful.
Don’t overdo it, though. If it takes you two hours to get to work, that’s a valid reason. But “I can sleep for another 10 minutes” is not a good response and will not impress a prospective employer.
“I’m fired.”
This goes without saying, but don’t use this excuse unless you’ve actually been fired. In this case, your interviewer will only be interested in one thing: whether the layoff was truly beyond your control or whether there were other reasons of your own.
The best option is to tell the truth. If you’re an innocent victim of a corporate restructuring or simply because of bad senior management, you can still get a good reference from your former boss. If you were fired for inefficiency and you tried to cover it up by making it mandatory, the interviewer will be able to spot it immediately and they will check to see if you’re telling the truth.
Stay positive and don’t complain
No matter how you choose to answer, the most important thing to remember is that you shouldn’t be negative about your previous job or experience. Not only does it make you seem petty and unprofessional, it also gives off a vindictive and difficult vibe.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to strongly endorse past work. You don’t need to look back, you just need to focus on where you want to go, not where you’ve been before.
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