Hi Ronnie Ann!
My friend needs your advice. Recently she quit her job. One of the difficulties she is facing is answering the interview question “Why did you leave your job?”
She happened to leave the job as she was not given a promotion, she believed she deserved. She did not gave her employer the same reason for quitting the job. Now when she is asked the reason for quitting her job in interviews, she is not sure whether to tell the truth or give some other excuse.
She asked for my advice and I thought you would be the best person to answer this.
It would be great if you could help out.
Regards,
Jay
***
Hi Jay!
Nice of you to want to help your friend.
I just posted something that may not at first seem related since it’s about someone who was essentially forced to resign after 15 years at the same company:
Job Interview: Reason for Leaving Your Job After 15 Years
But the advice is basically the same.
First…when dealing with the reason you left your last position, stay positive about the last job – never ever talk about how awful they were or how badly they treated you or how you didn’t get what you deserved. That’s all sour grapes to a potential new employer and would only brand her as high maintenance.
As in the example, (although her answer would be a little different of course) when she answers the question, she should lead and end with positive strength. In the middle, it’s usually good to talk about something like looking for new opportunity and challenges and in her situation, room for growth. And if she feels more comfortable with a shorter answer, then she can just talk about what she’s looking for which will cover most of it.
In your friend’s case, since she gave her other company a reason, and since there will be reference checks, it’s probably a good idea to make sure what she tells a potential new employer at least gels with what she told her last employer. Since I don’t know what it was, I can’t give you an example. I just hope she told them something that won’t trip her up – for instance that she wants to stop working altogether or leave the industry that she’s still interviewing in. But odds are, if she’s clever, she can make that work.
Now…although I said be clever, I want to emphasize I don’t mean slick. What she says has to ring true to both herself and the interviewer, or she’ll come across as two-dimensional and maybe even phony. Luckily, looking for new challenges and job growth are both excellent reasons for anyone to seek a new job or career.
I wish her much luck. She’s lucky to have a good friend like you, Jay. Please keep us posted!
~ Ronnie Ann
I need a help regarding y u left the previous job that too i worked in a consultancy and gone to an interview for BPO sector
so i need a answer were i can face the interview very well
Hi poornima!
You’ll find how to answer in this particular article, in the comments, and in other links on this blog. There is no one answer that fits all. In fact anyone that gives you one without knowing your exact situation is giving you bad advice. It shoiuld be based on the truth and be your own words – and as quickly as possible point the interview in a positive direction by showing how well you fit this new job.
Best of luck!
~ Ronnie Ann
Reason behind my previous job is not secure for me & According my profile and According my skill i m not getting good facility over there so I want a make career big organization. Thanks.
Looking for a bigger organization with more opportunity is a fine reason.
Some extra thoughts: Focus on where you want to go and try not to say bad things about the previous job, other than statements about where you are looking that may suggest what was missing. Positive is best. Even if they ask for details, don’t tell stories about the old place that makes them look bad.
Best of luck, Dileep!
CAN U PLZ HELP: I’ve just been dismiss, never been info trouble befor, wrk there 4 3yrs 2of which I was supervisor. I trusted my friend to pay for something, I then walked out of the store after her telling me she put it through the till, then I found out she hasn’t now I’ve got sacked its just wot do I say to a new employer wen asked why I’ve left, I so loved wrkin there so annoyed this had happend. .
Hi Ronnie Ann,
I enjoyed reading your responses to all of these tough situations, and am wondering if you can help me out with my own situation.
Immediately after I was hired in my last position, I found out the person I replaced repeatedly raped 7 of his subordinates on the job, on the worksite. The department I was hired to manage was emotionally in shambles, especially the victims. I put my strongest, most compassionate foot forward, and in a few months the department performed far better than they did under my predecessor’s direction.
However, in my weekly management meetings I listened to my superiors reminisce about what a great worker my predecessor was, and how they wish the whistleblower never reported his “actions” to the state. I could not reconcile how they could speak so highly of him, given what he had done. I met with the team as well as HR on several accounts and shared with them how difficult it was for me to interact with them knowing their point of view. I was sure I was just misunderstanding my co-workers, but it seemed they truly had undying respect for him, even though he was a convicted rapist. After a year of work on this, I decided I couldn’t work with people who felt this way and I voluntarily resigned.
How can I put a positive spin on this situation with my potential employer? I feel I need to be reasonably vague to stay positive, and don’t know how to do this without saying something canned and suspect like “we just couldn’t get along” or had “personality conflicts.” While those statements are true in this situation, I feel like this is a pretty extreme case and no person in their right mind would think I made the wrong choice if they knew the complete story.
Thank you
hi Ronnie Ann,
Iwas being working as a teacher for one year. now i got chance to join in a bank.actually i fed up with teaching job and school atmosphere.. but how to answer this situation?
Hi Reshma!
People change careers all the time. Having worked in a bank myself, all they want to know is that you’re sincere about the change, have the right attitude, and are wiling and eager to learn new things. Do some research about banking and the specific company and, rather than spending too much time on how fed up you are about teaching (ok to say you are looking for a different environment), make your answer more about what excited you about banking and this new opportunity. The people skills of teaching are easily transferable.
Good luck!
Hi Ronnie Ann
My best friend has resigned from her current role in the banking sector, without a job offer. She just joined for less than a year, due to job fit and boss issue, she was stressed out. Futhermore, she will be getting marry at the end of the year.
She is looking around for new opportunities in same sector after she left. But she need advice on what to say during interview. Please help her.
Thanks!
To further elaborate, She need advice on what to say if she has been asked the reason why she left without a job. She hopes to give a good and positive reasoning and impression to the interviewer. Thanks
Hi Donna!
In situations like this, you answer as honestly and minimally as possible and impress the interviewer with everything else. She knew it wasn’t a good fit for her and decided to spend her time looking for the right one; a reason or two that differentiates the last from this new one without blaming anyone would help.
Then, leaving the topic of the last job completely behind (if allowed), she has to make a strong case why this one is a great fit for who she is and what she wants from her career. Her attitude, clear thinking and delivery – as well as how she connects with the interviewer(s) – are what helps them know she’s right for them.
She should probably leave the upcoming marriage out at this time since that’s personal and could raise the question of whether she will leave them after the wedding.
I wish her much luck!
Hi Ronnie, thanks for you replying.
Banking industry is a small world, she wants to leave her role peacefully and gracefully while serving the notice, so she actually told her boss the reason she left was due to family commitment.. instead of blaming the anyone.
Do you think this way is advisable?
And can she use the same reason during her interview? This way she can avoid blaming anyone.
Hi again Donna,
Family commitment is ok as a reason as long as she can explain that the commitment was of short duration, is over now, and won’t come back to interfere with the new job even a little…the new job that is such a great fit for her.
The banking industry may be small (I’ve been there) but it also doesn’t leave much room for personal issues at the hiring stage. I suggest she use whatever reason feels most comfortable to her, so she can give a natural interview that doesn’t leave room for lots of probing about about the past – or about her personal life.
Good luck to her!
Hello Ronnie,
I have resigned from a Technical Support Engineer job without any job offer and now I am serving my 1 month notice. I am only about 4+ months on this job and feeling not a good fit to the role. Before I was doing Systems Administrator which oversee the whole company systems and networks for about 4 years. I was doing good and being appreciated by most of the colleagues until recently I decided to move on because I feel there is no challenge anymore on the job and would like to expand my experience.
Now back to the current job, it was fine for the first few months but after awhile I found out that the teamwork and the attitude of some people are very bad especially the seniors. Being Tech. Support it is very difficult to deal with customers and the issues if the team that you are working with are not supportive.
Now as I am looking for new job, constantly I was asked why I wanted to move when the current position I just been there for around 4 months. How should I answer this question?
And maybe later on after my notice is end and I really out of the job, how should I answer the question why you quit without a job?
I believe I am in the very challenging situation right now as I have family to support but to hold on for this job it is very difficult for me.
Hope you could give me some suggestions that could help me to stay positive to get a better job.
Thank you so much.
Best Regards,
Mave
Hi Mave!
I can understand how you feel and why you wanted to move on in each case, but you are right that this presents an interview challenge. As an interviewer, I’d be concerned that you might not be patient enough or know how to try to make things better for yourself and/or help create new opportunities right where you are – and would do the same in the new job.
So in an interview, your job is to emphasize that you stayed in one place for four years and ONLY left because the new job offered your new challenges. Then you can explain that unfortunately once you started, you found out the challenges weren’t there – you have to come up with some reasons – and you’d rather leave now since you think that’s best for everyone. Then go right into explaining why you are so excited about this new job and why you think you are exactly right for it.
I wish you hadn’t already given notice, since in today’s market it’s harder than aver to find a job without a job. But I’m hoping if you focus on the new company and all you can bring to the job, they will not hold the past against you. I used to change jobs frequently – but I always told the story in a way that painted me in the strongest light. That’s your job now to figure out.
One more thought: If there is any chance you can present yourself for some consulting work to the previous company – or any others you’ve worked for – having that will help with expenses in the meantime and in interviews.
Best of luck!
hi ronnie Ann.. im an admin afficer and im planning to file a resignation letter this month and i want to apply in a bank as financial advisor.. my reasons in resigning are low salary and having a bad environment.. what can i say to the interviewer if she/he asked me y i left my last job?? tnx…
Hi Ronnie,
It has been a while.
Thank you for your advice. After actively looking and praying, I managed to get a new job.
Hope this job will be a lot better than all my previous jobs
Thanks again and will keep reading your articles from time to time.
God bless,
mave
answer me pls..
Hi Jen!
First…do you really have to resign before you have a new job? Makes it a lot harder and can extend your job search time more than you might think. If you can find the patience in yourself to stay now that you have a plan to get a new job, please think about it.
As for what to say…always avoid blaming or putting down the old job in an interview and instead focus on what you bring to the new. More money and greater opportunity or challenge are good ways to go – just be prepared to say specifically why this new job is just what you want.
One more thought…if you say you quit because the money was too low and you are now getting no money (especially if it takes a while to find a new job)…might seem like a bad plan to the interviewer.
Good luck whatever you decide!
tnx.. im seeking for a new job now and when im hired thats the ryt tym for me to resign…this is my first job thats why, i dont know what is the best answer if they asked me y i want to leave my job… can you give me sample answer????pls. the only thing in my mind is “im looking for new challenges and job growth and eager to learn new things “. what do you think wd my answer??
Sounds good to me, Jen.
If it’s the truth and you tell it with conviction, then it hits the mark. Go get that new job!
Thank you so much . i owe u a lot
Fingers crossed for you!, Jen!
I have quit my job after 7 years due to having a bad manager as a boss and a bad work environment. When the interviewer asks me why I left my job (especially without another job), is it OK to say that the work environment was negative. I want to be honest as possible. is it a bad response to give the interviewer.
Honesty is one thing, Lisa; but you don’t want to shoot yourself in the foot!
When we say negative stuff about a former employer, three thoughts enter a typical interviewer’s mind: (1) what did she do to contribute to the problems; (2) will she be focused on negatives and hurts in the new job (rather than helping solve problems); and (3) will she say this about us later on after she leaves.
Since you have such a nice long work history there, focus on your accomplishments and strengths where possible. Stay away from blaming or putting them down in any way. Instead, look for reasons you wanted to move on that are about you wanting more for yourself – and hopefully you can speak to why this new job is exactly what you’re looking for.
If they ask why you quit without another job (not the best idea in this market that has been tough on unemployed job seekers), you can simply say you wanted to have more time to focus on finding the right job. And if you can volunteer or take on a project quickly (they like to see that you aren’t just hanging around), you can then say you are doing that in the meantime – and move on keeping the focus on the new job as best you can.
Good luck, Lisa!
SPECIAL NOTE TO ALL: Just so everyone knows, there’s been a really offensive practice going on lately among hiring managers and employers where unemployed people often aren’t even considered. It’s a stupid way to do business and employers are missing out on great people, but this is the new reality in many cases.
So, while I am a big fan of quitting (I did it more than once in my own career), the times are different now and if you can just find a way to hang in at a job you don’t want any more…please do your best to do so and look as hard as you can for a better job while still employed.
~ Ronnie Ann
Hi Ronnie
I left my Job recently. I had given Family Reason but the actual reason was that I am not satisfied with my previous Job. Now I am looking for another Job and unable to find a explanatory reason to give other employers who are approaching me now. Could you please help me?
Regards,
Kalpana
Hi Kalpana!
First, good news about employers approaching you. I hope that’s a very good sign. If family reasons is what you told your former employer, then if they are called for a reference check, that’s what they will say. So I think you need to have an answer that explains very generally (you don’t owe details) something you did related to a family emergency/issue and make sure you also explain that the matter is resolved and you are ready to focus full-force on your new job.
It might be ok to say you also were ready to look for a new challenge anyway, so that’s why you’re so excited about this new opportunity. Or something like that. As long as it’s positive and focuses on the future.
Good luck!
I was currently working for the City of NY for 10 1/2 years, I was forced to resign for something really stupid that I did on my job.. I am currently looking for employment and I don’t know what to say, so I said “I was laid off due to budget cuts” because they are laying off the city anyway..But I know when you go for interviews and may wanna hire you, they do a backround check.. What should I do so I can get a job?
Hi Diane!
I’m so sorry you are going through this. I can only imagine how worried you must be. Unfortunately, the truth does usually come out. BUT…the good news is that for legal reasons, agencies can’t reveal too many details. (Although there may be off-the-record talk.)
Your best bet at this point, since you’ve already fibbed a bit, is to wait and see how you do. If it gets serious, you can tell the person you have the best rapport with that you really were let go, but it was only because of a mistake you made after many years of doing a great/solid/good (whatever feels true) job. You’ve learned your lesson and are determined to shoe your next employer just how valuable you can be. And then start talking about the new job and why you are a great fit.
That’s all anyone can do. And please know that there are employers out there who will give you a chance. Best of luck!
hi, i am a recent college graduate, i got offered a job and left after 3 months because the environment was awful, i didnt have a job to go to. Now i am being asked why i left, the reason i gave was distance. All jobs are in the same area what do i say, at this rate i am not getting past phone interviews.