Imagine the following scenario: you have submitted an outstanding resume and are sitting in an interview. You give the most inspired and well-prepared answers and already envision yourself as a valuable team member.
Until the interviewer asks, “Why do you want to leave your current job?”.
If you have not prepared a solid answer, you will fidget and improvise. And your chances will start to dim.
Regardless of the position you are applying for, the interviewer will address this simple yet tricky question because they want to know your opinion about your current or previous employer and your future aspirations and professional development goals.
Read next, learn why the interviewer asks you this question, and find the best way to articulate your motivations for quitting your current job.
Not only the future employer but also your family and friends want to know why you are leaving your current job and looking for a new position. You should ask yourself this question, reflect, and answer honestly before facing the interviewer.
If your reasons for leaving relate to your disappointment with your current employer, you can articulate them for yourself and close ones. During the interview, you must avoid negativity and dismissiveness toward your current or former workplace, manager, or colleagues.
When addressing this question, the interviewer wants to gain insights into your personality and career goals and the workplace culture and environment they fit best.
At the same time, they want to know if you are cordial with your employer. Rather than being negative about the current job, focus your answer on the positives afforded by a future role.
While listening to your answer, the interviewer observes your body language and communication skills.
A clear and concise answer can make the difference between hiring you or moving on to another candidate.
Changing jobs must be a comprehensive process. You should decide after weighing all the pros and cons. Telling the hiring manager your main reason for quitting your job is that you are bored or work too much triggers alarm bells and demonstrates that you are not trustworthy when it comes to sticking with your employer through thick and thin.
While everybody has their personal or professional reasons for quitting, you can find below the most common motives:
One of the main reasons for quitting a job, especially for younger generations, is the contrast between personal and company values. Identifying a “cultural fit” is something employees want, and it means that their/beliefs, principles, and goals are aligned with the company’s.
Values are fluid; they can change for various reasons. Or maybe they weren’t aligned from the start. Either way, mismatched values cause disengagement and stress, leading eventually to a professional breakup.
If this is the reason you’re looking for a different job, focus on discussing the environment. saying you’re the kind of employee who thrives in a more collaborative and supportive work atmosphere.
Example: When I started working at (company name), my values aligned perfectly with the company's. However, the company's vision changed after the leadership changed, and it is heading in a direction I don't identify with. I thrive in an environment that encourages creativity and critical thinking. For me, it is crucial to work for a company that values its people and the community in which it operates, as your company does.
Employees thrive in workplaces that value their contribution and worth. Knowing that your work positively impacts the company’s overall success is inspiring. On the other hand, constantly feeling replaceable and uninspired transforms your passion for work into a desire to leave.
You regularly surpass your sales target, and your company does not implement a bonus system to reward this success. Or maybe you would like to feel like you’re part of a team, and no activities and events are developed to induce this sense of belonging.
Ultimately, you will feel you don’t belong there and look for something else.
Example: In my previous role, I led a team of enthusiastic content writers and completed our projects with outstanding results. While I am proud of my achievements, I feel my skills and expertise are undervalued by my current manager. After weighing all aspects, I have decided to leave the company at my professional peak and find a job that matches and values my abilities.
While different studies show that the value placed on benefits and perks grows, salary remains a fundamental motivator for choosing one job over another. Feeling underpaid for what you do and not seeing a promotion may indicate that you should start looking for a new workplace.
Pay incentives can refer either to a bump in the salary or added perks and benefits, like stock options or a retirement plan.
Be careful how you discuss the matter during the interview, because while wanting a better salary is a valid reason to leave a job, the wording is important. It may be best to start by discussing that you want better career opportunities, which bring better compensation.
Related: Salary increase calculator.
Example: I am very passionate about my work and strive for perfection. Salary is not my fundamental reason for working. However, the latest salary cut-offs left me no choice but to leave for a company where I can excel and feel valued, as I believe I earned it.
One of the biggest motivators to look for a new job is the opportunity to advance in your career.
Initially, every job is an exciting opportunity to prove your abilities and expertise. Yet, as time passes, you may want to learn more and grow. If your current employer doesn't provide sufficient opportunities to build new skills and develop, you may start looking for a company that does through various job searching sites.
People don’t want to grow just professionally, but also personally. They want to have the option for more challenging roles, when the time comes, and to develop their business skills. A lack of these opportunities is a perfectly acceptable reason for looking for a new job, and it can be presented to the interviewer in a way that really shows your desire to be more involved and with more responsibilities than you have at your current job.
Example: I am ambitious, consistently learning, and evolving. However, my current employer doesn’t provide growth opportunities in my area of expertise, and I’ve reached a point in my career where I can complete my tasks while sleeping. Because of this lack of challenges and growth opportunities, I am looking for a role in a company that invests in its people and their development.
Employees work for money, but not exclusively. Recognition plays a crucial role in increasing employee engagement and enhancing company culture and professional relationships.
Consistently ignoring great work and excellent outcomes demotivates employees; they will look for better work environments sooner rather than later.
There are many ways to show your employees you appreciate them. The annual performance review is the first step. You can offer bonuses to those who excel or other perks, like a city break paid by the company. You can offer them the benefits they have been asking for all along, such as retirement plans, dental plans, and stock options. As an employer, you need to know how every employee responds to feedback and what type of recognition will keep them happy and satisfied.
Example: Every day, I show up to work ready to excel and overcome obstacles. However, regardless of my outstanding contributions to the company's overall success, my manager fails to recognize them. This attitude demotivates me, and after giving it a lot of thought, I have decided to apply for a role in a company that genuinely appreciates great work.
Even introverts need clear (yet short) communication with their managers. Not knowing the company's mission and goals elevates a team's stress and distrust. Regular and open communication can make the difference between staying and leaving a company.
Poor communication can be an issue either among colleagues or between an employee and a manager. Both these cases can lead to someone wanting to leave the company.
Example: As a gregarious person, I truly appreciate collaboration and teamwork. In my opinion, communication is crucial in every professional and personal relationship. My current employer believes in communication only during a crisis. Most of the time, I work aimlessly, without knowing the team's goals and how to achieve them.
The competition in today’s labor market is fierce. Companies everywhere strive to provide benefits that ensure attracting and retaining top talent.
Suppose you feel the current benefits package does not match your value and expectations, while your loyalty still counts. In that case, a more comprehensive benefits package is a valid reason to leave your current employer.
Wanting a better work-life balance is another way to look at benefits. Nowadays, if you feel your job leaves no room for your hobbies and interests, or you would love a more flexible schedule, you should look for a new challenge.
Example: Before applying for this position, I researched your company and was truly impressed with the benefits package available for your workforce. This package demonstrates your high value for your employees and their well-being. My current employer has a limited budget, and employee benefits are not a priority for the company.
Work environments are fluid; they change consistently and not always for the better.
Sometimes, these changes are so radical that they make the job unrecognizable. The management could change, or the company could be acquired by a group with different business visions and strategies.
Or maybe you have changed significantly. Either way, rather than working around this rupture, consider a role in a different environment that suits your values, qualifications, and aspirations.
Example: Everything has changed drastically since the company was acquired, from leadership to working and communicating methods. I did my best to adapt to the new circumstances, but after a detailed assessment of my role, I concluded that I no longer belonged in this new organization.
No employee can thrive working in a toxic workplace. Once you recognize the signs of toxicity and they start to affect your productivity and work-life balance, raise your concerns with the manager or HR. If the environment continues to be hostile, you can focus on finding a better company.
If the leadership itself is toxic, that is also a problem. Usually, a toxic manager is arrogant and doesn’t know how to receive feedback from the employees. This will generate low performance amongst the employees, and a rapid decrease in productivity and morale.
Example: I didn’t realize until recently that I was working in a toxic environment. I was so used to it that I believed it was normal. I’ve raised my concerns with my manager, yet nothing has changed except my health. While I truly enjoyed working with my team members, I must prioritize my well-being. The only solution for me to do this is to leave the company.
Regardless of the position, job, or industry, family, health, and well-being should be a priority for everybody. Once in a while, every employee faces circumstances that require them to take a step back from work and focus on personal matters.
If your employer refuses to accommodate new work arrangements, such as flexible schedules, work from home, or compressed weeks, you should put your well-being first and quit.
Keep in mind that you don’t need to disclose the personal reason that led you to quit your job. If you’re in an interview, you can just say “I had to leave for personal/family reasons” and explain that you are ready to start working again.
Example: My family is the most important thing to me, and I want to spend as much time as possible with them. My partner received an excellent opportunity to work in the office here. Unfortunately, my previous employer couldn’t accommodate new arrangements for me to work remotely, so I resigned. We’ve decided to relocate here and start a new chapter in our lives, professionally and personally.
Sometimes you take on a role that you believe it’s the job of your life, and it turns out not to be like that. For example, let’s imagine you work as a sales advisor in a big fashion shop and you are the best in your team.
Unfortunately, your boss does not see it and doesn’t give you the opportunity to step up and use all your skills and experience. You could be training all new hires and doing all the inventory since you have the most experience with these skills.
Not being seen and recognized when you know you can do much more can surely constitute a reason to leave a job.
Example: The position didn’t meet my expectations, and I believe my manager didn’t give me the tasks I was expecting. While I could have been doing the inventory and training of all new hires. I was stuck forever arranging the merchandise and handling customer complaints. This situation led to a lot of frustration on my part, and I finally decided to leave.
Companies have a dynamic and sometimes roles can change over the years, taking you to avenues you don’t really enjoy.
You may be given responsibilities that were not initially discussed and don’t coordinate with your skills or interests. This is a valid reason for quitting.
Let’s imagine you were hired as a recruiter, specifically for the whole recruitment process, but over the years, your role shifted more to training the new HR assistants and recruiters who came along.
Example: My role changed over the years from the actual recruitment to training new colleagues from the department. I have always loved the interaction with the candidates, and I really wanted to do that on a daily basis, but instead, I found myself teaching others how to recruit people.
Another common reason for leaving your job is switching to another career path.
This can happen because your current career does not align with your interests and desires anymore, or because you thought you had the dream job, and something changed, or you are disappointed about what you are actually doing on a daily basis.
Talk to your manager and see if the company can help you navigate this change. If not, switching jobs is a valid point, and it shows you are willing to get out of your comfort zone. It’s a very easy situation to explain during an interview, and you can come out as brave.
Example: I worked as a trainer for 10 years, but eventually I realized teaching adults was not my most desired activity. It was teaching kids. So, I started the process of becoming a teacher, and I love it!
Lay-offs have been very common since the pandemic, and they are a non-voluntary cause for leaving a company. You should be straightforward about it and tell your interviewer that, unfortunately, you got laid off. Honesty is the best policy.
Usually, people get laid off when companies need to reduce costs, when they restructure a certain department, or when a company is acquired by another one.
Example: My company was acquired by a larger group of companies that decided the HR team no longer needed 4 members, so 2 of us were laid off. Nonetheless, I’m still very close with the management team at my previous company, and I can provide a reference.
A not-so-amiable reason for leaving a job is being fired. But make no mistake, this happens to the best of us.
In some cases, getting terminated is not your fault: maybe the expectations for your role were too high, or the manager did not believe you were a fit for the team.
Even if it was your fault on some level, the important part is that you learn from that mistake and make a compelling case to the interviewer as to why they should hire you.
You should definitely not lie about getting fired or about the reason behind it.
Related: STAR Interview Method
Example: I was fired because there was some misunderstanding regarding my role from the beginning. I thought, as an HR assistant, I was in charge of administrative tasks, but my manager wanted me to help with the recruitment process more than anything. Therefore, I started to underperform, and my manager decided to let me go.
The reasons for leaving a show can reveal a lot about someone’s career ambitions and priorities. This is why you will be asked this question during an interview or in a job application.
A possible employer will want to know if you left your previous job for good reasons. For example, if working as a sales executive feels boring, make sure to use different wording. You can say it was not challenging enough for you. Make sure your response is positive overall and succinct.
Here are a few aspects hiring managers prefer to know when they ask this interview question:
After you tell your manager you are quitting, the natural course of action is that they will ask you to explain why. Make sure to be honest, because your answer can help them understand what generated your decision.
Keep it simple and respectful. Even if there is some negativity in your decision, for example, you did not get along with your supervisor, this is not the time to burn bridges. Offer your sincere feedback and specific information. For example, if you dislike the fact that remote work was never an option, make sure you convey this message.
If your decision is not final on quitting, discuss with your manager to see if some improvements can be made. They can make you a counteroffer that you may enjoy. If not, leave as intended in the first place.
Try to be as graceful as possible when answering this question during an interview.
Do not denigrate your former employer, and do not assign blame even if you know you are right.
If you were fired, do not hide this fact and make sure you discuss how you learned from that experience.
In the end, the interviewer just wants to determine if you’re the right candidate for their open position.
Wording is crucial during an interview when discussing the sensitive matter of quitting. Here are some examples of reasons that should not be mentioned and how to rephrase them.
“I want a higher salary.”
Think carefully before presenting this reason during the interview with a prospective new employer, since it’s hard to predict how some interviewers will interpret it. Make sure you discuss the larger topic about having a challenging job that comes with bigger pay and more perks.
Here is how you can rephrase this topic:
I am motivated by a challenging role, not just small, administrative daily tasks. Therefore, when I deliver more than what’s expected of me, I enjoy seeing the compensation and extra benefits I am entitled to.
“I don’t like the company.”
There is no perfection, so there are positive and negative aspects in every organization. You may be influenced by the negative ones, since you want to quit, but think about how to rephrase your idea so that the interviewer doesn’t get the wrong impression.
Here is how you can discuss this matter:
At my current company, I feel I am at my peak regarding my professional growth. Unfortunately, I found no options for another career path, so I am looking for a new, challenging role. I am confident your organization is the perfect place to motivate me and bring out the best in me.
Related: HR career path.
“I get bored at work.”
You may feel disengaged and dissatisfied at your current job, and this is a perfectly valid reason for wanting to leave. These feelings may come from the fact that you are overqualified for the role, or you don’t receive the feedback you need. Here is how you can convey this message to your interviewer:
While I’ve learned a lot in my current role and expanded my technical skills, I feel that at this point in my professional path, I need to further develop my soft skills, and I think the open role you have is adequate for me.
“I don’t like the schedule at my job.”
Flexibility and an adequate schedule are important aspects for everyone, so if this is why you’re thinking about quitting, you should discuss this during the interview for a new position. But be aware of how you present it, because you don’t want to come across as a person who is lazy and has many preferences when it comes to working hours.
Here is how you can convey this message:
I am very committed to my work, and I respect my schedule and colleagues, as long as my work-life balance is taken into account. I enjoy flexible hours, and I believe this is how I remain the most motivated at all times.
When asking this question, the hiring manager gives you the opportunity to demonstrate how much you know about their company and the position you have applied for. Ultimately, the interviewer will hire a proactive and forward-thinking candidate who is ready to positively impact their career and company rather than an individual who still holds grudges against their previous employer and workplace.
Build your answer around the positive aspects of your current job and describe how your skill set and expertise can contribute to the new job.
Preparing your response in advance allows you to remain positive during the interview and answer confidently and calmly.
Describe the challenges and negative aspects of your previous job as opportunities for professional growth. A calm person demonstrates a solid trait of your personality, making you a valuable team member.
The interviewer knows that not every job is perfect, nor every leader is a decent person. Telling the hiring manager you are trying to escape a toxic working environment is not a good sign.
Instead of expressing your frustrations during the interview, you should emphasize your accomplishments, skills acquired or improved, and solutions you have developed to overcome challenges.
More than anything else, “Why are you quitting your current job?” is a commonsense question.
The interviewer does not intend to trick you when asking this question. They want to learn more about your career status, expectations regarding the new role, and how it fits your long-term goals.
Sometimes, the decision to leave a job is due to personal reasons.
If this is your case, it is only pertinent to share your motives during the interview, whether it is relocation, a shorter commute, choosing a job in a place with warmer weather, or a lower cost of living.
While leaving a job for a better opportunity was once regarded as a sign of instability and lack of loyalty, it is now seen as a proactive career development approach. The person asking you, "Why are you leaving your current job?" was most likely at least once in your position and experienced your perspective.
Regardless of your reasons for quitting, you must remember that your CV includes all your employers. A prospective employer might even ask for recommendations from your previous workplaces. Thus, it is crucial to maintain a positive attitude during the resignation process.
Express your reasons clearly and professionally, and focus on why you are the best fit for the company and job.
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