Most people think that the question of why they are no longer with their last employer is a pretty cut and dried, straight-forward easy answer.
Wrong!
Sometimes what should be a simple enough answer turns into a rambling nightmare where the job seeker trips over his tongue because he has not prepared a response to the question.
For candidates who have worked on every other aspect of the job search – resume, cover letter, list of references, presentation – here are four tips on how to respond to questions about why they left their last position.
Get to the Point
People who ramble appear to be covering something up. Job seekers should be able to state in one to three sentences why they left their last position or want to leave their current one.
Be Honest
It’s alright to put a positive spin on the reason, but don’t lie. If a job seeker is fired, he needs to own up to it without going into detail about his rotten boss or how everyone was out to get him. Acknowledging he was let go because of a poor match between the organization’s need and his skill sets is a reasonable explanation.
If the job seeker was laid off, he should be sure to differentiate between this and being “let go” or fired. Adding information about the size of the reduction in force will send a message that the candidate wasn’t singled out.
Avoid Worn Out Reasons
Two of the worst reasons for leaving a position are for more money or because there was no room for growth.
Particularly worrisome is when job seekers quit a full-time paying position to become unemployed so they can look for something that pays more money. Not to mention that job seekers who are highly motivated by dollar signs are too easily tempted to move again when a higher offer comes along.
Candidates who move because there is no room for growth need to be clear about what the new opportunity and company has to offer; otherwise, the recruiter or hiring manager may think twice if they feel there may not be sufficient growth opportunities to satisfy the candidate.
Instead candidates should focus on what this new position and company have to offer. Consider things such as a different industry, a change in career focus, another side of the business or added responsibilities.
Be Professional
That means not to talk negatively about a current or past employer. More often than not, it reflects poorly on the candidate (rather than the boss or employer) and makes him appear to not be a team player or to be difficult to get along with.
What is important for candidates to remember when deciding why they are looking for a new opportunity is to keep in mind why this new position and company would be the best move or a step up from their present position. This way the potential new employer will understand why the job seeker quit his last position and how hiring him will be a benefit.
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