How To Answer The Interview Question: “Why Do You Want To Leave?”

Your interview is going splendidly and then the interviewer drops this question: “Why do you want to leave your job?”

Obviously, honesty is key in an interview. But you also don’t want to blurt out that your boss is insane and that’s the reason why you can’t work there anymore.

Here’s how to answer that tricky interview question in an honest yet tactful way.

You Want A Promotion

Not having the ability to rise in the corporate structure or getting passed over for a promotion are valid reasons for seeking other opportunities. It’s easy to put a positive spin on these reasons.

Simply say that while you love your coworkers and the environment, you are ready for more of a challenge. The position isn’t giving you the opportunity to grow the way you want to so you’re looking for a place that will give you that. It’s easy to respect someone leaving a job because they want more of a challenge and have high aspirations. Companies want a hard worker who has things they want to accomplish.

Also read: Is Your Brand Standing in the Way of a Promotion?

You Want To Make More Money

This is a harder one to spin. You don’t want to come right out and say you want more money. Start off by saying that you’re confident in the skills you have and your abilities to implement them. Instead of saying you want more cash, say you’re looking for more challenges to get better, and you want the rewards that come with these challenges.

The rewards don’t have to just be financial if the interviewer then asks about what rewards you’re seeking. Talk about the satisfaction of being a valuable asset to the team and that you like being recognized for that. You will have to give some mention about more money, but say something about being compensated fairly, not just, “I need more cash.” If there are benefits this job offers over the other, such as better insurance, you can mention that as well.

Also read: How to Negotiate Salary When Moving to a Small Company

Your Job Was Just Plain Awful

Sometimes a job is just terrible, plain and simple. So how do you explain that to your interviewer without just badmouthing the job and your boss?

Talk about why you were drawn to the job in the first place and show that it definitely had potential. Then, explain why it was a bad fit for you and what you’re looking forward to in a new job.

You Got Fired

This can be tough to explain. But if you keep calm and confident, you’ll be able to spin this like a pro. Practice before your interview, because if they see you’ve gotten fired it’s a guarantee they’re going to ask about it. It’s better to be prepared so you don’t panic.

Be honest and share the facts of what happened. Highlight that this was an experience you learned from and emphasize that this taught you a lesson. Explain what will be different now that you experienced this and what you’ve changed to ensure this isn’t going to happen again.

There are also some tips that you should follow no matter what your reason for leaving was.

Don’t Bad-Mouth

No matter how terrible your previous job or boss was, you don’t want to come off like a gossip in this interview. You don’t want to act like you’re talking at a bar with some buddies about this situation. Keep things professional. The new company isn’t going to want to hire someone who talks badly about their employers.

Honesty Is Key

Honestly, there’s a good possibility that if you lie about something like getting fired, the interviewer is going to find out. It’s better to just be straightforward and be as positive as possible about your past employment experiences.

Practice Makes Perfect

You don’t want to choke under pressure when this question comes up. To try and avoid that, practice your answers beforehand. Try and think up any counter-questions they’re going to have based off of your answer so you can be prepared for those as well. Write down what you plan on answering so you can edit and perfect it. Read it out loud to make sure it sounds natural and not forced or awkward.

This is never going to be your favorite question in an interview, but it doesn’t have to be one that makes you run screaming. Go in prepared and confident, and give your potential new employer your best.

Also read: The 6 Most Important Things You Need to Cover in a Preliminary Job Interview