Tips for explaining your reasons for changing jobs in an interview
Some top tips to help you address the reasons for changing jobs during an interview:
Be transparent about why you’re leaving
Take some time to list all the reasons you’re looking for another job. If you’re not sure what they are, start by asking yourself the following questions:
- What are your core beliefs?
- What are your professional objectives? Where do you see yourself in five years?
- What are your workplace requirements? What qualities do you seek in a job?
- What aspects of your job do you enjoy?
- How do you get along with your colleagues and managers?
- What kind of business do you wish to work in?
- Are you enthusiastic about the mission of the company you work for?
- Is your current position consistent with these goals? Why do you think that is?
After you’ve written your answers, identify a few significant reasons you can share in your interview. You may choose reasons that are more professional rather than personal.
Keep your response brief
Though it’s important to respond to your interviewer’s query in clarifying why you left a previous role, confine your response to one or two phrases. Bring it back to why you’re the ideal candidate for the job. This creates more time for better engagement during the interview.
Be positive
Even if your decision to leave a job is because of unfavourable experiences, it’s important to find a constructive approach to express your wish to move on. Employers need critical thinkers who can navigate through a myriad of challenges. Concentrate on the skills you’ve gained in your present position, any beneficial relationships you’ve had with colleagues and any positive encounters you’ve had with clients or stakeholders.
For instance, instead of saying, ‘I don’t like my manager’, say, ‘In my current capacity, I’ve learnt many new skills that I wish to develop further in a new environment’.
Be genuine and concise
You can answer this question in a clear, concise manner. There’s always a method to convey your dissatisfaction with your current employment without slighting your employer. Maintain a focused and concise response and return to the topic of why you’re enthusiastic about the changes ahead of you.
Remember that the organisation you’re interviewing with may call your former employer, so ensure what you tell them matches what they hear from those interactions. If you’re unemployed, be open and honest about your circumstances. If they call your former employer to validate start dates, pay ranges or other details, it might decrease your hiring chances if you provided false information.
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Source: Indeed.com