Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job? Best Sample Answers

When you’re interviewing for jobs while still employed, interviewers will naturally be curious about why you’re leaving your current position. But what they actually want to know isn’t as straightforward as some might think.

The following tips will help you navigate this tricky interview question and structure the kind of answer they’re looking for.

Why do interviewers ask “why are you leaving your current job?”

Whether you’re just looking for new opportunities or simply hate your job, interviewers want to understand the reasons behind your decision. They’re trying to find out if you’d be likely to leave a new role quickly, or if your values match the company’s.

To come off as proactive and professional, it’s a good idea to not only brush up on helpful interview tips but also learn how to present your answer in a way that doesn’t raise any red flags.

Good reasons for leaving a job

Reasons for leaving a job can vary widely. Here are some of the most common reasons to leave a job that won’t be a red flag for employers:

• To look for better career growth and development
• To learn new skills and gain new experience
• To seek better job security or stability
• You want a better work-life balance
• You’re interested in greater financial rewards or benefits
• You want more flexible working hours
• You need to relocate
• Your current company is restructuring, or your position was made redundant
• The company’s values no longer align with your own
• You want to go back to school and earn a degree

If you find yourself wanting to leave your job because of other reasons, like leaving a toxic workplace, for example, frame your answer in a positive light during the interview. Complaining to a hiring manager about your current job will only hurt your chances of getting a job offer.

Let’s take a quick look at how you can approach this tricky interview question in your interview:

@resumegenius How to skillfully answer “Why are you leaving your current job?” with these 👍 reasons. Whether or not you hated your job, here are some better ways to answer this interview question. ✅💯 #newjob #interviewquestions #interviewtips #interviews #careerchange #quittingmyjob #switchingjobs ♬ Chillest in the Room – L.Dre

“Why do you want to leave your current job” sample answers

There are many reasons why you might want to leave your current job, but it’s important to choose a reason that is positive and reflects well on you. Explaining what you’re looking for in a new job also helps highlight why you’d be a good fit for the role you’re interviewing for.

When preparing your answer to why you want to leave your job, follow these tips:

• Keep your response brief (a minute or two)
• Avoid talking negatively about your current employer
• Demonstrate your interest and how you’ll be committed to the new role

Let’s look at three sample answers to help you navigate this interview question:

How to explain leaving a job for personal reasons

If you’re leaving your job for reasons you’re not comfortable sharing, like an overly demanding work environment or poor management, you can still be honest without scaring off interviews.

Here’s an example answer for a web developer candidate who’s looking for a better work-life balance without going deep into detail or mentioning any negative experience at their current job:

How to explain leaving a job for a career change in an interview

If you’re leaving to transition into a new career because you’re passionate about a new industry or feel like you’re stuck in a career rut, here’s a great way to frame your answer to a potential employer:

How to explain leaving a job with no growth opportunities

Whether you’ve learned all there was to learn at your current job or feel you’re stagnating professionally, here’s a sample answer about growth opportunities that’s honest and highlights what the candidate’s looking to gain in a new role:

How to answer “why are you leaving your current job”

Preparing your answer ahead of time will help you tackle this challenging interview question.

Here are three tips to follow to help you nail your response when asked why you want to leave your job:

1. Give a clear reason

You need to demonstrate that you’ve put a lot of thought into your decision to change jobs and that you’re excited about this new position.

To avoid confusion, tailor your answer to the job you’re interviewing for by specifically explaining what appeals to you about the opportunity over your current position.

It’s especially important to give a clear reason for leaving your job because prospective employers may contact your former employer to see if your reason for leaving checks out.

2. Stay positive

Don’t share negative information about your current employer or your workplace in general.

It’s important to be positive and always show gratitude for everything you’ve learned from your current role. Future employers want to know how you’ve grown as a professional in your current role and providing them concrete examples will help illustrate this. Remember to make it clear you’re looking forward to how this new role fits into your career path.

3. Keep your answer concise

It’s essential to keep your answer brief and simple so you can focus on how this new opportunity is a great fit for you.

Your response should be focused on how you’re looking forward, not on what you’re leaving behind. Being concise in your answer will make sure you don’t overshare.

What not to say when explaining why you’re looking to leave your current position

No matter your reasons for wanting to leave, it’s critical to present your answer to the question “why do you want to leave your current job?” in a positive and professional manner.

1. Avoid citing money as your reason for leaving because it could easily be interpreted as a red flag by the interviewer. As a prospective job candidate, you should always find non-financial incentives that will drive you to give your best work.
2. Avoid mentioning reasons that are unrelated to your work or career as your main motivator, like wanting a shorter commute. While it’s okay to leave your current job for personal reasons, you shouldn’t say they’re your primary reason.
3. Avoid vague answers. An interviewer won’t be impressed if you use a vague answer like “it wasn’t the right fit”.

You don’t always have to delve into specifics, but you should be as open and honest as possible about why you’re seeking to leave your job. At the end of your answer, circle back to what attracted you to the job you’re interviewing for and what you’re looking forward to.

Additional interview resources

Here are additional resources to help you pass your interview:

• Answering “why are you suitable for this job?”
• Answering “tell me about yourself” in an interview
• How to answer “what do you like least about your job?” positively
• Answering “what motivates you?”
• Great sample answers to the question “what is your greatest achievement?”
• 15 interview tips to get hired
• Answering “where do you see yourself in 5 years?” correctly
• 4 examples to help you answer “why do you want to work here?”
• Great sample answers to the interview question “why should we hire you?”
• How to answer “walk me through your resume” correctly
• How to ask for feedback after an interview