| The Inevitable Job Interview Question: "Why Did You | | | | company. What I am looking for is a job with a bigger |
| Leave (Are Planning To Leave) Your Last Position?" | | | | company where I can contribute, but also move on a |
| and How to Deal With It. | | | | career path that has more responsibility. |
| This is a question that you can almost count on being | | | | Have you selected the strongest answer? See if you |
| asked at your next interview What the interviewer | | | | agree with the advice below. |
| wants to know is, "Why are you available?" | | | | The Strongest Answer |
| The answer you give could set the tone for the rest | | | | (A) This is the strongest answer, not because of the |
| of the interview. For instance, if you were to indicate | | | | lay off, but because it has an upbeat tone to it. You |
| that you were bored or burned out at your last job, the | | | | liked what you did and were hoping it wouldn't happen. |
| interviewer would quickly become concerned about | | | | In other words, if it hadn't been for something out of |
| your performance at this company. The question can | | | | your control you would still be there. The answer |
| be especially tricky if you've had less than favorable | | | | indicates a good attitude about an unfortunate incident. |
| conditions regarding your departure from a company. | | | | The Mediocre Answer |
| Regardless of the circumstances that have caused | | | | (C) This is an ok answer. It is natural to want to take |
| you to move, or are causing you to think about moving, | | | | on more responsibility. It is also acceptable to quit a job. |
| you should be prepared to answer this question. | | | | A skilled interviewer would follow up with a question |
| Below are examples of possible answers to this | | | | about your career goals and why you think you can |
| critical question. After reading them try to determine | | | | achieve them at this company. |
| which is the strongest answer. | | | | Would you have an answer prepared for that |
| (A) The company had a re-organization, and my | | | | follow-up question? |
| department was eliminated. The work had begun to | | | | The Weakest Answer |
| dwindle so it was not a complete surprise. I liked my | | | | (B) This is the weaker answer because it is trite. One |
| job and the people I was working with so I had been | | | | of the most common answers to this question is that |
| hoping that it wouldn't affect us but unfortunately we | | | | you are "looking for a challenge." An interviewer might |
| were all let go. I would like to find a job similar to the | | | | be concerned that if you were bored at your last job, |
| one I lost. | | | | you might find this job boring as well, or at least not |
| (B) I am looking for a new challenge. I have been with | | | | "challenging" enough. |
| my current company for two years now and don't find | | | | There are no "right" or "wrong" answers to this type |
| the work as interesting as I once did. I am looking for a | | | | of question, but there are ways of saying the same |
| company where I can take on new challenges and | | | | thing in a way that will make a stronger impression. |
| grow. My current job is dead-ended for me. | | | | Before you head out to your next interview consider |
| (C) Since there are no advancement opportunities | | | | preparing for this and other difficult questions. A little |
| within the company, I have decided it would be a good | | | | time spent preparing and scripting of your answers |
| time for me to look outside. I have set some career | | | | before the interview will make a huge difference in the |
| goals for myself that I could not achieve at that | | | | way you answer the question during the interview. |