One of the most challenging questions to answer during an interview is the dreaded, “why did you leave your last job?”
Most of us find ourselves in difficulty when attempting to answer this question as our answer can have dire consequences and can affect a potential employer’s decision to hire.
It is a tricky question to answer – you do not know how an employer will react, so you have to be prepared for all eventualities.
However, if you think logically, you can isolate the “not so appropriate” answers from the appropriate ones so that you can concentrate on the latter.
It is essential to be honest when providing a reason for leaving the previous job, but you also need to be tactful.
For instance, if you have been laid off, you need to present it in a manner that indicates that you were asked to leave not through any fault of yours.
Things have changed dramatically over the years as far as job-hopping is concerned.
Employers are more tolerant of people who change jobs often as they understand that saturation is a significant issue. You still need to provide prospective employers with real reasons.
See also: Why Did You Leave Your Last Job? – Reasons
Here is a list of some ideas that you may provide:
List of 21 Reasons for Leaving a Job
1. Career Advancement: Seeking a higher position with more responsibilities.
2. Better Compensation: Higher salary or improved benefits at a new job.
3. Career Change: Transitioning to a different industry or profession.
4. Professional Development: Opportunity for growth and learning.
5. Work-Life Balance: Desire for a better balance between work and personal life.
6. Relocation: Moving to a new city or country.
7. Commute: Reducing a long or stressful commute.
8. Company Culture: Seeking a better cultural fit in a new organization.
9. Job Dissatisfaction: Unhappy with current work or job role.
10. Lack of Recognition: Feeling undervalued or unappreciated.
11. Leadership: Issues with management or leadership style.
12. Company Instability: Organization facing financial difficulties or instability.
13. Redundancy: Role being made redundant or eliminated.
14. Health Reasons: Need for a job that better accommodates health needs.
15. Ethical Concerns: Misalignment with the company’s ethical or moral values.
16. Work Environment: Unpleasant or unsuitable work environment.
17. Job Security: Seeking a more secure or stable job position.
18. Personal Projects: Pursuing personal business ventures or projects.
19. Retirement: Leaving the workforce to retire.
20. Family Reasons: Caring for family members or personal reasons.
21. Educational Pursuits: Leaving to continue education or obtain new qualifications.
Use these reasons as guidance to assess your situation and communicate effectively during job interviews or discussions about career changes.