Answering the Job Interview Question: “Why are you looking for a new job?”
The “Why are you looking for a new job?” question can be one of the most awkward questions to answer if you aren’t prepared, especially if you have been laid off or fired. If you make the mistake to answer this question too transparently chances are you will not get the job. In this post, we will show you how to make a great impression by speaking positively and effectively about your previous experience, your skills, and the new company’s culture.
Variations of this question
“Why are you looking for a job?” · “Why do you want to change jobs?” · “Why don’t you want to stay where you are?” · “Why do you want to leave your current employer”
What the hiring manager is looking for
When the hiring manager asks you why you are looking for a new job, they are basically trying to discover any red flags or reasons they shouldn’t hire you. They assume the things that made you unhappy in your previous position would most likely make you unhappy in your next position.
What your goal should be
Your goal in answering this question is to sell yourself not to vent your frustrations. Do not speak negatively about your current/previous company, job role, manager, or peers. The hiring manager will think you will do the same to them at some point and will not want to hire you. The best way to sell yourself is to focus on career growth. You should always highlight your desire to gain more responsibilities, bigger challenges or career opportunities, even if you were laid off or fired.
Preparing for this question
Start by thinking of two to three things that you have really enjoyed at your current/previous role and company. You also want to think about how to explain your reason for wanting another role in a positive, growth-centered manner. For example, if you were passed up for a promotion, you could explain that there weren’t enough opportunities for growth and you are ready to take your career to the next level. And the last thing you need to do to prepare is to think about how your skills and passions will be a good match for the company you are applying for.
Answer Structure
Your answer should be no longer than 2 minutes and should contain the following elements:
- Start by sharing one or two things you enjoyed about your past or current role. This should take no longer than 10–20 seconds.
- Example: “I enjoy my job as a project manager at Gizmo Apps. I work with great people and help to solve some challenging problems.”
- Next, explain the reason for your job search. Remember, framing your reason from a growth perspective keeps your answer positive and shows you are passionate about learning and doing a great job. This part should take 30–40 seconds.
- Example: “About a year ago I was introduced to Product Management when the Group PM asked me to work on a project for her. It was a stretch assignment and I immediately fell in love with the PM role. Since then, I have worked as an unofficial PM on several projects for the company. I am now ready to make the jump into Product Management, but there are currently no junior level PM roles available.”
- Last, explain why this role and company are the right ones for you and how your skills and passions will make you a great candidate. This part should take 30–60 seconds.
- Example: “I want to work at Coco Digital because I have heard excellent things about your Associate Product Manager program. I understand you have excellent training and mentoring from some of the best senior level PM’s in the industry. From your job description, it sounds like you are looking for people with strong analytical and organizational skills. I graduated with a Statistics Degree from BYU and have 3 years of project management experience. I’m confident that I would be an excellent fit for this role.”
Extra tips
- If you have been laid off, emphasize the company’s desire to restructure in step two above. For example, “The company that I worked for restructured and my department was eliminated. During my time off work, I’ve had a chance to ponder about my passions and talents and have realized that Product Management is a career I would like to pursue. About a year ago…”
- If you are relocating, it’s okay to make this known during step two as well — “I am relocating due to family reasons.” But remember, don’t end there; always finish with your desire to grow and how you will be a good fit for the company.
- Check out our related articles: Answering the job interview question: “Tell me about yourself.” and Answering the job interview question: “What are your strengths?”
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