Interview Questions #5

Why are you leaving (or did you leave) this position?

There is an advert I watched donkey years ago and this expression from the advert is ever fresh on my mind – Change is a constant thing in life, but change for the better is always appealing. I once used this line when asked why I was leaving my current employment, well I think it worked.

Be creative and stick to your greater goals which you think the new organisation may provide.

Often times the reason many candidates give is that they are looking for a more challenging job or role; this maybe a good reason if only you convincingly define and explain the kind of challenges you mean. This is an expression used too often, be prepared to explain.

Let’s hear from the experts

TRAPS: 

Never badmouth your previous industry, company, board, boss, staff, employees or customers.  This rule is inviolable:  never be negative.  Any mud you hurl will only soil your suit.

Especially avoid words like “personality clash”, “didn’t get along”, or others which cast a shadow on your competence, integrity, or temperament.

BEST ANSWER:

(If you have a job presently) If you’re not yet 100% committed to leaving your present post, don’t be afraid to say so.  Since you have a job, you are in a stronger position than someone who does not.  But don’t be coy either.  State honestly what you’d be hoping to find in a new spot.  Of course, as stated often before, you answer will all the stronger if you have already uncovered what this position is all about and you match your desires to it.

(If you do not presently have a job.) Never lie about having been fired.  It’s unethical – and too easily checked.  But do try to deflect the reason from you personally.  If your firing was the result of a takeover, merger, division wide layoff, etc., so much the better.

But you should also do something totally unnatural that will demonstrate consummate professionalism.  Even if it hurts , describe your own firing – candidly, succinctly and without a trace of bitterness – from the company’s point-of-view, indicating that you could understand why it happened and you might have made the same decision yourself.

Your stature will rise immensely and, most important of all, you will show you are healed from the wounds inflicted by the firing.  You will enhance your image as first-class management material and stand head and shoulders above the legions of firing victims who, at the slightest provocation, zip open their shirts to expose their battle scars and decry the unfairness of it all.

For all prior positions: Make sure you’ve prepared a brief reason for leaving.  Best reasons:  more money, opportunity, responsibility or growth.

POINTS TO NOTE & THINGS TO DO

1. What the interviewer is looking for here is loyalty; especially if you have had very frequent job changes within a short period of time.
2. They want to know if you are a recruitment error, if you would stay on the job, if the organisation can keep you.
3. Begin your response by stating positive values of the previous employers or what you have gained professionally from the company you are leaving (or left) before stating the reason for leaving
4. What are the values of the new organisation? Use them as your selling point
5. What is your career path or career goal? Are you trying to meet them?
6. There is nothing bad in being fired or laid off – don’t feel sorry for yourself – show that you are resolute and courageous enough to face the challenges that lie ahead.
7. Show that you understand business decisions and how such decisions are for the long time good of the company and yourself.
8. You can point out that your unit or some units were affected in the downsizing.  
9. You can show how valuable you are to the company by assisting them with some freelance jobs, consultancy or pro bono services.
10. Do not get involved in fault finding – yours or the company’s – no one expects that you would work with any company forever.

Click the link below for more articles on Job Interview questions…

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