Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Zety.com.
Your reason for leaving a job may be pursuing new career options, hoping for a better work-life balance, or seeking a higher salary. And they’re all valid.
But when you need to explain why you left your last job during a job interview, these aren’t always the best answers.
So, how do you correctly present your reasons for leaving a job? Read on to find out.
Here are the best reasons for leaving a job and seeking new opportunities.
1. Family Circumstances
It’s a no-brainer that people put family first. Starting a family or taking care of a family member are among the most common reasons for taking a break from work.
In fact, nearly half of those who quit a job in 2021 did so because of child care issues!
So, if you feel that:
- You can’t spend enough time with your family because of your current job
- Your job duties prevent you from taking care of important personal matters
- Your work hours make it impossible to handle family obligations
Then you definitely have a good reason to leave your job and take a break or find a job that suits your personal life better.
2. Health Issues
That includes both physical and mental health. You are not a robot with replaceable parts, so you need to take care of yourself. Don’t take your health for granted.
If your current workplace:
- Doesn’t provide a safe work environment
- Forces you to work when you’re not feeling well
- Can’t accommodate your health-related needs
- Doesn’t offer an environment suitable for people with disabilities
Then it’s perfectly understandable to leave a job.
3. Professional Development
According to one report, only 40% of employees said their companies invest in upskilling.
That’s a disappointing result, considering that the lack of professional development is one of the most common reasons for leaving a job. So, if you:
- Feel that there are no opportunities at your current company anymore
- Have a good idea of how you can develop high-income skills elsewhere
- Know that other jobs can provide you with development opportunities
Then it’s probably time to move on.
4. Pursuing Education
Many employees use free time to broaden their horizons through online courses and traditional education. Some companies also encourage their employees to develop their professional skills via in-house training sessions.
However, it’s not always possible to combine a full-time job with your learning efforts. For example, when:
- You want to switch to a new career that requires a different degree
- You need a degree or certification to advance in your chosen career
- You’re planning to move abroad and need to master a foreign language
It might be worth leaving your job and committing yourself to education 100%.
5. Company Restructuring
Working for a business undergoing significant changes can make you feel unsure of the future. Mergers, acquisitions, layoffs — you’re not sure what’s going to happen. No wonder you’re thinking about leaving.
If your company:
- Doesn’t address your concerns related to the changes
- Wants to change your current position and job duties dramatically
- Or considers massive layoffs
Then you have a good reason to leave your job and find one that offers more stability.
6. Leadership Style
Some organizations have a very laid-back management style, giving employees a lot of freedom. Others are more conservative. The baseline is that you don’t have to love your direct supervisor, but you need to have a good working relationship with them.
So, when your manager:
- Lacks leadership skills necessary for the job
- Doesn’t believe in the value of employee recognition
- Puts too much pressure on you
- Or bullies you in any way
It’s definitely a good reason to leave your job and never look back.
7. Bad Work-Life Balance
Are you constantly working overtime and still can’t meet the targets? Do you have to work nights and weekends? Work-life balance is one of the factors contributing to employee satisfaction — and dissatisfaction, too.
So, if:
- You communicated your struggles to your manager, but that didn’t help.
- You tried multiple ways to organize your work time better, and they all failed.
- You tried stress management techniques but are still deeply worried about work.
- You feel burned out.
Then it’s a very good reason for leaving a job and finding a more relaxed environment.
8. Unsatisfactory Benefits
Low salaries and poor employee benefits were among the top reasons for the Great Resignation. Are they bothering you, too?
When you see that:
- You could easily earn more for the same work you do at a different company
- Other companies in the same industry offer better benefits
- You’re unlikely to get a raise within the next year
- Your company isn’t considering improving the benefits they offer
You can consider that a good reason to leave your current job.
9. Business Is Failing
Working for a business that’s underperforming isn’t very satisfying. It also doesn’t guarantee the job security you might be looking for.
Yes, loyalty matters, but it won’t pay your rent should you suddenly discover that your job doesn’t exist anymore.
Consider whether:
- It’s very obvious that the company is losing money
- All the upper management has quit overnight
- Your colleagues and managers are considering leaving
Then don’t stay on that sinking ship for too long.
10. Unsatisfactory Performance
Maybe you realized you’re not a great fit for the role. It isn’t necessarily your fault — the position could’ve been advertised incorrectly. But the result is that you’re worried that you’re failing, and no amount of effort on your side is helping.
When:
- You’re constantly underperforming no matter what
- The job is completely different from what you imagined
- Your manager put you on probation
- You start noticing the signs that your boss wants you gone
Then it’s a sensible reason for leaving a job and finding one that suits you better.
To sum up, there are multiple valid reasons for leaving a job. However, a potential employer may not enjoy hearing about them during a job interview.
Read on to learn how to answer “Why are you leaving your current job?” in a way that satisfies both the interviewer and you.
How to Explain Your Reason for Leaving a Job in an Interview
OK, so you’re actively searching for a new position. There’s a high probability that a recruiter will ask why you are leaving your current job.
Why? Because your future boss wants to know if you’re a professional. They want to hear that you left on good terms and didn’t cause any inconvenience to your previous employer. If that’s not the case, then you need to know how to paint the truth in a better light.
Here’s a list of possible answers you can use during a job interview:
- “I’ve decided to pursue a job that would give me more flexibility in terms of working hours.”
- “I’m planning to relocate to a new city.”
- “I needed to prioritize my family, which wouldn’t be possible with my previous work duties.”
- “My current employer can’t accommodate my needs.”
- “I had to focus on improving my health.”
- “I want a job that aligns better with my professional goals.”
- “My previous employer didn’t offer career development that would interest me.”
- “I wanted to transition to a different career path.”
- “I want to pursue further education in XYZ field.”
- “The company changed in a way that no longer aligned with my values.”
- “My job duties have changed significantly, and I didn’t feel satisfied with that.”
- “The management style at the previous company made me uncomfortable.”
- “I’m looking for a job that offers better work-life balance.”
- “I didn’t feel valued at my previous workplace.”
- “The company I’m working for doesn’t offer competitive compensation or benefits.”
- “I want to work for a company that offers better long-term job security.”
- “The company I’m working for announced layoffs.”
- “I feel that my skill set and experience can be used better at a different company.”
You can use these ready-made answers and simply adjust them to match your situation. But it’s always better to have your answer ready.
Read the following job interview tips to learn how to answer “Why are you leaving your current job?” confidently.
1. Think About Your Personal Reasons for Leaving a Job
First, make a list of your own reasons for leaving your previous or current job. You can pick some from the previous list or think of other reasons. Here are some questions that can help you:
- What are your professional goals? Where do you see yourself in five years?
- What kind of work do you enjoy most?
- What’s your current career stage?
- What do you love and hate about your job?
- What’s your work style? What kind of work environment do you prefer?
- Does your job align with your personal and professional values?
Answer these questions to find your true reasons, then pick one to three major ones you can explain during the interview.
Bear in mind that it’s better to pick the ones that concern your professional life instead of personal circumstances.
2. Combine Honesty With Professionalism
When the recruiter asks why you left your last job, answer truthfully — but don’t be too honest. For example, say that you didn’t feel valued by your superiors instead of saying that the company paid peanuts.
If you’re unemployed, don’t try to hide the real reason for that, even if it was something negative like getting fired. See what you can say in the following example:
- Right: I’ve taken a break from full-time employment to reconsider my career choices and commit myself to finding a job opportunity that would truly match my professional expertise.
- Wrong: I was fired and couldn’t find a new job for several months.
3. Keep Your Tone Positive
When explaining your reasons for leaving a job, focus on the positives by showing that you’ve taken action to change your life for the better.
Rather than saying, “My last job was extremely stressful because I dealt with angry customers,” try “I’ve realized I prefer back-office work rather than client-facing roles.”
Answering this question is also a chance to sneak in a bit of flattery toward the potential employer and their business.
4. Make It Concise
There’s no need for a long story about your last job. Keep your answer limited to one to two sentences.
Then, move on to explaining why you want to work at the new company and why they should hire you.