Interview Like a Pro Series - Why do you want to leave your current job?

"Interview Like a Pro" is an ongoing series written by Tatiyana Cure, Executive Recruiter, CFS New York

While it’s important to be prepared for all typical interview questions, I believe there’s one in particular that you should spend extra time preparing for: “Why do you want to leave your current job?” It won’t be enough to say, “The recruiter called me and presented me with this opportunity.” It’s also not acceptable to say anything along the lines of, “My boss is psycho.” 

Some of the most common answers to this question are: 

• Desire to take on more (or less) responsibility
• Relocation or shorter commute time
• Decreasing work hours or improving life/work balance
• Company’s reorganization or major change in management
• Direction of the company/department does not align with your interests
• Career change

These answers are acceptable, but again they’re the most common. The point behind preparing for an interview is to rise above the competition, so you shouldn’t settle for the easy way out. You need to show the interviewer that your reasons are valid and that the position you are applying for solves the issues of why you are looking to leave.

Remember to never say anything negative about your current or past companies or bosses. Rather, try to find something positive about your current situation like “I have really learned quite a bit in my current role…” and try to use specific examples, especially if they directly correlate to the job that you’re applying for.

In addition to focusing on positives from you current employer, talk about what attracted you to the company that you are interviewing for like culture, environment, and growth opportunity. This justifies the reasons why you’re interested specifically in their opportunity.

Keep in mind that most interviewers look for long-term hires. If they think you’re going to change your mind in the future, they may be hesitant to extend an offer. As a general rule of thumb, if your reason for leaving is career growth or skills betterment, that’s a sign of long-term hire. It’s just as important to let the interviewer know that you have taken steps to improve your skill-set or grow your career prior to looking outside of your current employer.

Have more questions about interviewing? Please comment below, or contact a CFS office located near you to speak with a recruiter.