One of the most common interview questions you’ll face is, “Why did you leave your last job?”
Maybe you left under unusual circumstances and aren’t sure how much to share. Or maybe you think your reason is solid, but you want to double-check its effectiveness. Either way, I’ve got you covered.
As a recruiter who has guided many through this question, I’m going to share 10 safe, proven answers you can use when your interviewer asks this inevitable question.
Highlights
Explain your reasons for leaving your last job in a way that highlights personal growth and readiness for new opportunities.
Shape your explanation to underscore how your skills and experiences make you a suitable candidate for the position you’re applying for.
Use a voice recorder to practice your response, ensuring it sounds confident and hits all the key points you want to convey.
If you left under difficult circumstances, focus on your proactive steps towards personal and professional development since then.
From my experience as a recruiter, hiring managers seek to learn three things when they ask this question:
First, they want to determine whether you’re a good fit for their role and if you would integrate well within the company culture and team. They want to ensure that hiring you won’t waste their time and efforts.
Second, they want to understand whether the reason you left could apply to their organization. For instance, if you left because you didn’t feel challenged, there’s a chance the same feeling may crop up again in the new role. They want to determine if your reasons for leaving align with what their company can offer.
Finally, the hiring manager wants to know whether your prior employer fired you. This helps gauge your stability and reliability as an employee. If you were fired, be prepared to answer why, as this can be a red flag to recruiters.
Prospective employers often ask why you left your last role, because they are looking for potential red flags in candidates. The key here is to answer honestly and alleviate their worries that you might be a potential flight risk without going into unnecessary details.
If you left a company because of a layoff, you could explain that you were part of a reduction in force, along with XX% of colleagues, and then pivot toward why you’re drawn to this future company.
After you have a reason for why you left your last job that you’re comfortable sharing in an interview, make sure to practice a few times. I’d recommend recording yourself talking on your smartphone voice recorder app (every modern phone has one).
You don’t have to memorize your interview answer word-for-word. Just make sure you sound confident and relaxed and are hitting the key points that you want to mention as you explain why you left your previous job.
While talking about your last position may feel uncomfortable, expect it to come up in an interview. Recruiters want to understand their candidates as much as possible before hiring them.
Before your interview, list the reasons you left your last job. For example, you might have felt that the role didn’t give you upward mobility or didn’t allow you a chance to use your skills.
You should be very careful not to speak about your previous management team in a negative light. Speaking adversely about your employer can get back to them, and it reflects poorly on you.
If you left your employer under unfavorable circumstances, frame your answer in a positive light, focusing on what you gained from the experience rather than any negative aspects (more about this in the section below).If you seem stubborn or unwilling to learn from the past, you’ll struggle to get a job.
Finally, keep your answer brief and honest. Recruiters interview many people and can usually spot when someone isn’t being truthful. To avoid future negative ramifications, be on the safe side and keep your answer tactful but candid.
If you left your previous job under difficult circumstances, focus your response on how you’ve overcome adversity and are ready for a new challenge. Here’s how you can structure your response:
Framing the Situation:
Start with context: Briefly explain the situation, like layoffs or a company closure. You can say something like, “Unfortunately, my previous company [briefly describe the situation, e.g., underwent restructuring / downsized / closed its doors].”
Focus on your achievements: Shift the focus to your contributions and accomplishments in the past role. Briefly highlight a project, achievement, or skill you honed that’s relevant to the new opportunity.
Highlighting Your Adaptability:
Show initiative: “While these circumstances were unforeseen, I took the initiative to…” Mention any steps you took to adapt, like upskilling yourself, networking within the industry, or attending relevant workshops.
Maintain a positive tone: Emphasize your proactive approach to this situation.
Positioning Yourself for the Future:
Connect the dots: “This experience has allowed me to develop my [relevant skill] and focus on my strengths in [mention your strengths]. I’m confident these skills will be valuable in contributing to [mention the company/position you’re applying for].”
Express enthusiasm: Show your eagerness for new challenges. You can say, “I’m excited about the opportunity to [mention something specific about the new role] and contribute to [company’s goals].”
By framing your experience this way, you demonstrate your ability to overcome challenges, adapt to change, and actively pursue professional growth. This showcases valuable qualities to potential employers.
“Frame your reason for leaving in a positive light. Focus on what you’re looking for in a new opportunity, rather than dwelling on negatives at your old job.”
Here are 10 safe, acceptable answers for why you left a past job. If you give one of these reasons, the interviewer is likely to be satisfied and quickly move on to the next question.
“Unfortunately, due to company restructuring, my position was eliminated along with several others. It was a difficult situation, but I’m grateful for the experience and the opportunity to explore new possibilities. I believe that the skills I developed in programming languages and statistical analysis will help me thrive in this role.”
“In my previous role, there were some sales performance expectations that unfortunately weren’t a good fit for my skill set. It was a difficult situation, but I took it as a learning experience. I reflected on areas where I could improve and used the time to seek sales training and mentorship. This experience helped me identify how I could better communicate in a work environment. I’m confident that with my skills and the clear communication style I’ve developed, I can be a valuable asset to your team.”
“I found that my previous role didn’t offer the level of challenge and growth opportunities I was seeking. I’m someone who thrives on being challenged, and I felt I had reached a plateau in my previous position. I’m excited about the prospect of joining a team where I can push myself and contribute meaningfully. I think your company will provide the kind of dynamic environment where I can continue to learn and grow.”
“I left my previous job because I was eager to take on more responsibilities and advance in my career. I felt that I had accomplished what I could in my role and wanted to seek new challenges and opportunities for growth. I’m particularly drawn to this position because it offers the chance to lead and manage a team. I’m confident I can leverage my experience to empower and motivate others.”
“I left my previous job because I took a break from the workforce to care for my family. I’m now eager to return to work and feel this position offers the chance to contribute my expertise in client communication and data analysis. During my time away, I also honed my skills in digital marketing through online courses and freelance projects, which I believe would be valuable to your team.”
6. Transitioned to Entrepreneurship or Freelancing
“I made the decision to leave my previous job because I was eager to take on the challenge of freelancing. I felt passionate about graphic design and wanted the freedom to build something of my own. While I appreciated the stability of the role, the chance to showcase my creativity and work with a diverse range of clients was incredibly appealing. I’m particularly drawn to this position because it offers the chance to collaborate with a dynamic team on exciting international design projects.”
“I left my previous job because I had successfully completed a major project, which involved leading the development of a mobile application from concept to launch. While I’m proud of my accomplishments there, I’m now eager to take on new challenges. I’m drawn to this role because it offers the chance to lead a cross-functional team in developing innovative software solutions that directly impact customer satisfaction.”
“While I respected the mission and goals of my previous company, I decided to seek a work environment where I felt more in sync with the team. From my research and conversations, I’m impressed by the culture you’ve cultivated here, particularly your emphasis on innovation. I believe I would thrive in this collaborative and supportive environment and contribute positively to your team dynamics.”
“I left my last job to pursue further education in sustainable engineering. I believe in the importance of continuous learning and wanted to enhance my skills and knowledge to better contribute to future roles. I’m particularly drawn to this position because it offers the opportunity to apply the new skills and insights I’ve gained.”
“I left my last job to pursue further education in sustainable engineering. I believe in the importance of continuous learning and wanted to enhance my skills and knowledge to better contribute to future roles. I’m particularly drawn to this position because it offers the opportunity to apply the new skills and insights I’ve gained.”
Now you know 10 good answers that you can give when the interviewer asks, “Why did you leave your last job?”
Here are some examples of what not to say when you explain your reasons for leaving your previous job:
“I got tired of doing the same boring tasks every day, so I decided to leave.”
“I was forced to leave because my supervisor didn’t appreciate my hard work.”
“I had a conflict with a coworker that made it impossible for me to stay.”
“I left because they refused to give me the raise I deserved.”
“I was let go because I made too many mistakes and couldn’t keep up with the workload.”
“There were some issues at my previous job, but I’d rather not go into detail.”
Take inspiration from one of the 10 acceptable answers above for why you left your last job, avoid the bad responses we just covered, and you’re going to impress the interviewer and quickly and easily move on to the next question in your interview.
About the Author
Biron Clark is a former executive recruiter who has worked individually with hundreds of job seekers, reviewed thousands of resumes and LinkedIn profiles, and recruited for top venture-backed startups and Fortune 500 companies. He has been advising job seekers since 2012 to think differently in their job search and land high-paying, competitive positions. Follow on Twitter and LinkedIn.