How to Describe The Reason for Leaving a Job during an Interview?

Last updated on April 16th, 2024 at 06:37 am

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If you’re leaving your job, it can be difficult to explain exactly why you are leaving. It generally happens when you are working in a company for a very long time. However, there are some basic guidelines that can help you prepare for this question and give you a better chance to switch your current job.

While there no unacceptable reasons for leaving a job, you can phrase your answer in a specific way to portray yourself as a reliable and professional candidate. 

Also read: Tips for Landing a Site Reliability Engineer Job

Explain The Reason in a Positive Manner

There are a few key things to keep in mind while explaining the reason for leaving your job.

  • Be honest: You should never lie or make false stories about why you left. It’s better to be straightforward and honest than to come up with some ridiculous story that doesn’t reflect reality.
  • Be specific: If possible, give details about how long you were at the company before leaving, what you did during that time period and how much money you made there (if relevant). These details can help clarify what exactly happened so people understand why someone would want out of their position so quickly after starting there.
  • Be positive: Don’t say anything negative about coworkers or managers who might have been involved with hiring decisions; instead, focus on talking about yourself as if everything was perfect until today’s interview!

Practice The Answer Before Going In

It’s important to practice the answer before going in. This can be done by practicing in front of a mirror, or even with a friend or family member. You could also try practicing on camera or video. In fact, it’s best if you do all three!

Use a recorder to get a sense of your delivery. Do you sound confident? Are you stumbling over words? Also, check out the way your voice sounds when it’s recorded. Can you hear yourself clearly? Does it sound like somebody else is talking to you or are they just repeating what was said earlier?

You must have the answers to all these above-mentioned questions to describe the reason for leaving your current job to the recruiter.

How Do Interviewers Evaluate This Answer?

The best way to answer this question is by being honest and straightforward. Most interviewers will be looking for honesty from candidates, so if you can say that your reason for leaving was a personal decision rather than financial, they’ll be happy with the answer.

You should also expect follow-up questions about how you can help the company in future roles. Some companies may ask: “Why did it take so long before making this decision? Was there any other reason why they didn’t hire someone else?” 

You must be prepared to answer these questions confidently during the interview!

Conclusion

The key is to be genuine and confident as you explain the reason for leaving your job. If you can lead with something positive about yourself, then it will help set the tone for your interview.

Keep in mind that that recruiters review your answers to deduce certain personality traits. Make sure that you answer confidently and professionally.

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