How to explain your reasons for leaving a past job to a potential employer

If you have ever been to a job interview, you may have definitely got asked, “Why did you leave your last job?” Employers ask this question because your answer to it can reveal information about what you value in a job and what you consider to be dealbreakers.

What are some good reasons for leaving a job?

When you are preparing your answers for common interview questions, you should give this question some thought. There are many answers that you can give for the employer’s question that do not make you sound like an undesirable employee. Here are some common answers to this question that you can try:

• “I found that my values do not align with the company’s mission anymore.”
• “I wanted to explore opportunities with more room for career development.”
• “I wanted to change career paths.”
• “I wanted to explore a new industry.”
• “I relocated to a new state, therefore I had to change my job.”
• “I’m looking for better compensation.”
• “I did not feel comfortable with the work hours.”
• “I was laid off.”
• “I felt undervalued at my last role.”

What are some bad answers about leaving a job?

You must be tactical when answering this question. It is seen as very unprofessional to badmouth a past employer during a job interview. You should not say anything negative about your past workplace when you answer this question. Here are some things to never say as an answer to the question:

• “I did not like the employer.”
• “I had trouble with my supervisor.”
• “The management and I did not see eye-to-eye on many things.”
• “I don’t like the company.”
• “I want to be paid more.”
• “I got bored at my last job.”
• “I didn’t like the return-to-office mandate of my employer.”
• “I had trouble with my coworkers.”
• “I was fired after a bad performance review.”

Some tips on how to answer, “Why did you leave your last job?”

Be clear about your reasons for leaving the job

When you prepare your answer, write down five reasons why you are looking for a new opportunity. If you have trouble coming up with reasons, here are some questions that will help you get started:

• What are your career goals?
• What do you think should be the next step in your career?
• What do you like about the job?
• What did you dislike the most about the position?
• What are some industries you would love to work for?
• Are you passionate about the employer’s vision and mission?

Keep your answer short

While you need to clearly explain why you left your previous position, there is no need to let your answer drag longer than it must. Use two or three sentences to describe your reasons. Once you are done, redirect the conversation back to why you would be a great fit for the new job.

Talk positively

Even if you left your last workplace due to negative reasons, it is important to phrase things positively when you are talking with your interviewer. Frame your motivation for leaving in a positive manner. Instead of talking about what you lacked in the past job, it is wise to talk about what positive things you are expecting from the new job.