Why Did You Leave? Why Do You Want To Leave?
When interviewing for a new position, invariably you will be asked why you are looking to leave (or why you left) your previous employers. This helps the interviewer understand what motivates you, and what drives your decisions.
When interviewing for a new position, invariably you will be asked why you are looking to leave (or why you left) your previous employers. This helps the interviewer understand what motivates you, and what drives your decisions.
- It's Not Just About Money: Avoid stating your reason for changing jobs was due solely to earning more money. It's a legitimate reason, but in truth, if you left a job for a .25 cents an hour more, I'm guessing that you'll probably leave MY company as soon as a "bigger and better deal" comes around. I would be more impressed if you left the company because you found a position with more challenge, more responsibilities and more potential to grow professionally.
- Never Bad-Mouth A Company: Also, avoid stating your reason for leaving was because you hated your job. Again, this may be true, but consider the following story...
One day, I had an interview with a candidate that really left me scratching my head a bit. He was applying for a technician position, and came highly qualified. He had all the requisite skills, experience and credentials. However, he was probably one of the most miserable people I have EVER interviewed. In the interview, he was bad-mouthing his current employer to an extreme. He resented the fact that his company had hired him, and was paying him too much money.
Now, wearing "golden handcuffs," he realized he couldn't afford to leave this place he had grown to hate so much. Frustrated, he said to me, now, he wasn't "employable" by other companies (apparently every place he had applied had turned him down). He reasoned that it was because all of these companies were scared that he would not stay because their pay was lower. He stated that he felt as if he had "sold his soul to the Devil when he accepted the job there."
That Little Chip On Your Shoulder
I felt bad for him. This guy wasn't getting hired not because he was already earning too much...he was not getting hired because of the humongous chip on his shoulder!
For the record, as a Hiring Manager, I wouldn't bring that sort of behavior into my firm either. But, to this day, it amazed me. This bitter young man, with all the potential in the world, had long forgotten where he had come from. He had lost that sparkle for enjoyment of his work. He resented the very company that allowed him to provide for his family. I'm confident his work quality and output reflected this resentment as well.
For the record, as a Hiring Manager, I wouldn't bring that sort of behavior into my firm either. But, to this day, it amazed me. This bitter young man, with all the potential in the world, had long forgotten where he had come from. He had lost that sparkle for enjoyment of his work. He resented the very company that allowed him to provide for his family. I'm confident his work quality and output reflected this resentment as well.
The lesson here:
When you're interviewing for a position, no matter how bad your last employer may have been, you NEVER bad-mouth them. You wind up only looking like a complete jerk, and no one will want to hire you either.
When you're interviewing for a position, no matter how bad your last employer may have been, you NEVER bad-mouth them. You wind up only looking like a complete jerk, and no one will want to hire you either.
What Did You Like Most About Your Last Job?
If the interviewer asks you what you liked about your last job, be prepared to give an answer that speaks positively about the company, such as commenting how you appreciated the company for getting the opportunity to knowledge or skills from there.
What Did You Like Least About Your Last Job?
If the interviewer asks you what you liked LEAST about your last job, choose wisely what you say....remember, this question is asked to understand what motivates your decisions. I think answers that suggest that you were under-utilized, and that you were unchallenged are very fair, and would probably speak to your desire for greater challenge and optimization of your skills/experience.
If the interviewer asks you what you liked about your last job, be prepared to give an answer that speaks positively about the company, such as commenting how you appreciated the company for getting the opportunity to knowledge or skills from there.
What Did You Like Least About Your Last Job?
If the interviewer asks you what you liked LEAST about your last job, choose wisely what you say....remember, this question is asked to understand what motivates your decisions. I think answers that suggest that you were under-utilized, and that you were unchallenged are very fair, and would probably speak to your desire for greater challenge and optimization of your skills/experience.
Kathleen Lapekas - PHR
Action HR Consulting
For Personal Attention to Personnel Matters...
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