Interview Question: Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?

Leaving your last jobIf you’ve been looking for a job for quite some time, you’ve probably heard this question in interviews. But do you know how to handle it the right way? Read on to learn more.

Whether you left of your own accord or were fired by your boss, feel free to consider these suggestions and choose which will best suit your particular situation:

Never badmouth your boss. No matter how annoying or rude your last boss, you should never speak badly about your previous employer. Doing so will give you a negative image and may cause your potential employer to think you’ll badmouth others once you leave the company.

Mention that you’re looking for a new opportunity. If you’re applying for a job while employed, it is best to tell the recruiter why you’re leaving your current gig. Always think this way: You’re moving toward a better opportunity rather than leaving something behind. Highlight the positive reasons why you think the job post you’re interviewing for is a good opportunity for you to use your skills.

Of course, you don’t want to sound as if you’re lying to the recruiter. Be sincere. If there is a need to talk about negatives, feel free to do so. But make sure to divert the focus to the positive side to avoid misinterpretation or leaving a poor impression.

Explain that it was a reasonable separation. This applies for those who are not employed while applying for jobs. Though recruiters make assumptions about unemployed candidates, you should communicate that you are a fantastic and attractive potential hire.

Perhaps you can tell the hiring manager what you have been doing while out of work. Did you do some volunteer work? Learn a new skill? Complete some consulting projects? Make sure to include this information, especially if it’s related to the job you are applying for.

Share some details. Of course you’ve been wanting a better opportunity. Share some of your past experiences — how you have conquered past challenges and why this new job opportunity would give you exciting things to take on.

Whatever your situation is, make sure you come to the interview prepared, and you’ll leave the interview with no regrets.

Read 7220 times Last modified on Thursday, 11 February 2016 09:47
Alan Carniol

Alan is the creator of Interview Success Formula, a training program that has helped more than 80,000 job seekers to ace their interviews and land the jobs they deserve. Interviewers love asking curveball questions to weed out job seekers. But the truth is, most of these questions are asking about a few key areas. Learn more about how to outsmart tough interviewers by watching this video.