Reasons for leaving a job

You may leave a job at some point or another in your career. This isn’t unusual. Sometimes life happens, and the current job will not work for you anymore. There are a multitude of reasons for leaving a perfectly legitimate job. When you need to move to a different job, how should you handle it when it comes up in an interview? There are right and wrong ways to respond to these types of questions. Knowing how to manage this issue will give you confidence going into your next interview.

Why employers may ask why you left a job

It’s natural for employers to ask people their reasons for leaving a job. They do because it gives them an idea of what kind of employee they will be getting. If you left for a valid reason, that gives the employer some peace of mind knowing you’re not flighty. They don’t want to hire someone who may leave abruptly or for no good reason.

Employers also may probe into how you left the job. Was it on good terms? Did you give the appropriate notice? Also, were you helpful (if necessary) in making the transition seamless for your replacement? These may be some of the issues the employer will try to determine.

Suppose you left a job for a similar job at a different company (a competitor). In that case, the employer might question if you retained a sense of loyalty and discreetness regarding company secrets.

Reasons for leaving a job

There are many acceptable reasons for leaving a job. Some reasons are more difficult to give because they result from something negative. However, with the right response, you can manage this question just fine. That means you’ll need to prepare your answer in advance so you’re not caught off guard.

Some reasons you may leave a job include:

• The company closed and went out of business.
• You moved to another city or state due to personal reasons.
• The job was too stressful for your current home life situation (i.e., raising kids, single parent, recently divorced, etc.).
• You found a more stimulating opportunity.
• You had some family issues that necessitated leaving a job.
• You were at your limit in the company, with no other professional development opportunities.
• You needed/wanted a pay increase.
• You left for a more flexible schedule.
• The job was different from the description.
• You got laid off.
• You decided to transition to another field/industry.
• You were fired or terminated.

The most challenging one to address is getting fired, but there is a proper way to handle it.

How to handle questions about why you left a job

Now we dive into how to answer why you left a job. The reasons listed above can be separated into four main reasons for leaving a job:

You left for a new career

Changing careers is a big step, but it’s not unheard of. Some people may be studying on the side while they work part-time and then are ready to pursue their careers. Others may decide one day that they are ready to follow their hearts and pursue the career they love. You can explain it in precisely that way if that is your situation.

You left for better opportunities

You might have left because the job you were at didn’t have anywhere else for you to go; you were at your promotional maximum. Or you may have found a job that had more potential for growth. You can word these by highlighting all the things you accomplished in the previous job and how the new position was a natural progression to utilize your skills.

You left due to personal reasons

Everyone understands that sometimes our personal lives and work can collide. A person may get married to someone in another city and relocate. Or they may want a less stressful type of work due to health or family. These are valid reasons for leaving a job. However, ensure you don’t come across as whining or acting like a victim. No one wants to hire someone that they think will have chronic problems.

You left because you were laid off

This reason might be the easiest to answer because it really was out of your control. Getting laid off has nothing to do with your skills or abilities. Companies do layoffs all the time.

You left because you were fired

Getting fired is obviously the most challenging reason you may have to explain to an employer. The best way to handle it is to be forthright but brief about the firing aspect. Then explain what you’ve learned from the experience. That way, the employer will see that you are honest and willing to learn from your mistakes.

Preparing to give your reason for leaving a job

It’s never too early to begin preparing your answers about why you left a job. You can do so by following these steps:

• Review your resume.
• Write a response for each time you changed jobs.
• Make sure you don’t blame the company you worked for about anything.
• Use positive language in your response, mentioning your achievements and goals.
• Practice saying the response until you know it well and can say it naturally.

Preparing for this type of question during an interview will ensure that you are on track for success.