While so many people are trying to find a job or putting up with one they don’t like just to stay employed, a prospective employer may wonder why anyone would voluntarily leave a job.
“I hated my boss.”
“I hated my job.”
“My co-workers were idiots.”
These may be honest answers, but certainly not ones that mark you as a desirable employee. We all know nothing is one-sided, so the reverse may have also been true. There are lots of reasons to leave a job, even if you don’t have another one. You may feel compelled to leave a job, but don’t expect a prospective employer to understand your reasoning or overlook your decision and hire you anyway. So, how do you answer this question? Here are some possible responses:
1. You wanted to move back home. Just saying that will make you sound like you missed your mommy or daddy so much you were homesick and couldn’t make it on your own. Moving back home because you feel connected to the area and felt that it offered a lot of opportunity is a good answer.
2. You were fired. This is a difficult question, but you need to answer it directly and confidently. Assuming it wasn’t because of any illegal action, you can explain that the company’s expectations exceeded your contributions, and it was agreed that you should part company. That’s a nice way of saying it was a performance issue. No need to give detailed explanations or a lengthy defense. Add that you valued your time there and learned a lot from your previous employer and co-workers and are ready for your next challenge.
3. You were laid-off. Unless you were the only one let go, being laid-off from a job is no longer a strike against you. Companies are downsizing and consolidating positions all the time, so while it was difficult for you, it shouldn’t be a red flag to an employer.
4. The job was a poor fit for your skills. If you say you were over-qualified, you can come off sounding like you felt you were too good for the job. If it was over your head, they may question your ability to handle the open position’s job duties. You can explain that the job wasn’t what you had expected, or had changed shortly after you took the job.
5. Health reasons. The stress of the job was too much to handle, and it literally made you sick. Of course, that’s NOT the answer. But making a good decision about your health and relating how it prompted some positive life and health changes can be a plus for you and make a good impression on a future employer. With health care costs skyrocketing, employers are impressed with sensible adults who take care of themselves and are able to handle the job.
What tough questions do you need answers to? List your tough questions in the Comments below.
Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a consultant, blogger, motivational speaker and freelance writer for communicationsjobs.net. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in Training magazine, Training & Development magazine, Supervision, BiS Magazine and The Savannah Morning News. When she’s not writing, she enjoys singing with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and helping clients reinvent their careers for today’s job market. You can read more of her blogs at communicationsjobsblog.com and view additional job postings on Nexxt.
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