Hiring new employees is expensive. There’s the time and effort in attracting candidates, screening them, and conducting interviews. It takes time to set the person up in the human resources and benefits system, and it costs money to onboard and train the new hire. These expenses can add up to hundreds — or even thousands — of dollars. As a result, hiring managers want to ensure that the candidate will be a good fit. Questions asked during the interview will help determine if a prospective employee is a good match for the company and role.
One question you’re likely to be asked in an interview is why you left your last job (or why you want to leave your current position). The question may be asked in a variety of ways:
Why are you looking for a new position?
Why did you leave your most recent position?
Why did you leave (a previous job)?
Your prospective employer wants to know that you will be successful if you’re offered the position. So, understanding why you are moving on can be critical. The interviewer is looking for insight into why you may — or may not — be a good fit at this company. Because past performance is often a good indicator of future performance, learning more about how you fit in at a previous job may offer insights into your potential for success in this job.
For example:
Did you leave for a good reason? If you were with your previous company for five years and you left when the company was sold, that’s understandable. However, if you say that your commute was too long, but you’re interviewing with companies in the same area, your employer may wonder if you’ll stick around for more than a few months! (Or they may wonder if there was another reason for your departure from your previous job.)
Did you quit, or were you fired? Sometimes, good employees are let go due to no fault of their own — such as when a company eliminates an entire division or dismisses all employees with a specific job title. However, if that weren’t the case, the interviewer would want to determine if performance or integrity issues resulted in your departure. The circumstances of your separation from the company can help answer this question: Are you a loyal employee who values work?
Are you still on good terms with your previous employer? Employees who burn bridges when they quit may demonstrate their inability to handle conflict. But if you left a company while maintaining a relationship with your previous boss, that’s a good sign for a prospective employer. If your previous supervisor allowed you to use him or her as a reference for this job, that’s a great sign. The interviewer wants to know if you can exit a situation while remaining on good terms with others.
There are some particular “red flags” that a hiring manager is looking for. These include personality conflicts, a negative attitude, or poor performance.
What Are Some Likely Reasons for Leaving a Job?
While there are many reasons why you might leave a job, here are some common ones:
Your position is being eliminated. Whether due to budget cuts, the elimination of a division, the loss of a client, or working in a declining industry (such as retail), sometimes job cuts are not personal. Being laid off — mainly when it’s unrelated to performance — can happen to anyone.
The company you work for is being acquired. Duplication of positions is not uncommon when one company acquires another. Layoffs and job reductions often result from the merger, purchase, or sale of a company.
You are seeking new challenges. If your current role doesn’t offer opportunities for advancement, and you’re looking for new challenges and more responsibilities in your next position, be prepared to highlight your accomplishments in your current job and be specific about what you are looking for as you spread your wings and search for your next great career adventure.
This is your dream job. Almost every job seeker has a “dream job” in mind —no matter how much you like your current job. If that position becomes available, you’d be crazy not to apply. Let the interviewer know this is the special opportunity you’ve been looking for.
Expectations changed. Whether because of new management, budget cuts, a shift in company strategy, or something else, your current role may have changed enough to where you — or the company — decide it’s no longer a good fit. If you were let go because you failed to meet your manager’s expectations, make it known that you have learned from the experience (and make sure the questions you ask in the interview are geared towards finding what the expectations and outcomes of the current role would be).
You want to make a change. Whether you are seeking a career or a life change, make sure you are prepared to discuss why you want to change. Specifically, what will be different about your next job that wasn’t true about your previous position (or previous career)?
You were fired for cause. Be honest about being fired, briefly emphasizing why this was an isolated incident (if it was) and the lesson you learned. Then strategically move the conversation to a discussion describing your enthusiasm for this new position and how excited you are for the opportunity to collaborate with the team that provides exceptional products or services (or whatever it is that draws you to this position and how you will contribute).
It was an unplanned departure. Needing to take care of a family member or having an unexpected health crisis can make it challenging to keep your job. In the interview, emphasize that the situation has resolved itself and what you did to stay current in your field during your absence (i.e., freelance work, volunteering, and ongoing training and education).
Should You List the Reason You Left a Job on Your Resume?
Most of the time, you should not list why you left your current job on your resume. For previous positions, you may include the reason if it helps you tell the story of your career progression. For example, if your company was acquired or sold, you may include that description. (“Division was sold in 2020 to ABC Brands and position was eliminated.”) Or, if you were recruited away by a competitor, you could disclose that. “Recruited to lead the newly-formed department, assembling a team that achieved 14 percent market penetration in the first year.”
However, including that type of information on the resume is not necessary. In your cover letter, you may include the reason for your departure. Because it’s almost guaranteed to be brought up in the interview, you may not want to address it in the cover letter.
Four Tips for Answering the Tough Question About Why You Left a Job
Don’t lie. A quick phone call to your previous supervisor can verify — or disprove — the reason you provided. Better to be honest than get caught lying.
Never be negative about your previous employer when asked why you left the previous job. You can mention parts of the job that weren’t a good fit for your personality or experience — but only if you are sure those responsibilities are not a part of the new job too. Don’t criticize your former supervisor or co-workers.
Don’t be defensive. Instead, focus on objective reasons for your departure. Avoid negativity or blame. Don’t position yourself as a victim. Stating that the position wasn’t what you expected it to be is a better way to describe the situation than “My boss didn’t give me clear expectations about how to do my job.”
Emphasize the positive. Why are you interested in this job? How will you contribute? What makes you the best candidate for the role? Position yourself as moving forward. If this is your ideal role or dream job, say so!