Why You Left Your Last Job

On any job interview, there's a good chance the interviewer will ask you why you left your last job or why you want to leave your current one. Potential employers want to know whether you're likely to leave the job if they hire you or whether you have some faults they need to know about. A few tips can help you answer the question with composure and ease.

• Be brief and to the point. If you ramble on for too long, you might give the impression that you're trying to justify your actions.

• Emphasize what you're looking for rather than what you left. Reciting a cliché such as, "The job didn't challenge me," gives an employer the impression that you lack motivation. Instead, tell him what you want in a new job, such as new opportunities.

• Be honest if you were fired or laid off. If you were fired, explain what you learned from the experience. If the company went through large layoffs, indicate how many other people were let go. Be brief, and don't give more information than what's asked of you.

• Don't cite superficial reasons, such as more money or a shorter commute. These can raise red flags that you might not be committed to the job or that you might leave if you get a better offer elsewhere. Instead, emphasize how the job meets your professional needs.

• Don't bad-mouth your former employer. This shows a lack of maturity and professionalism and might give the interviewer the impression that you have trouble getting along with others in a work environment.

• Be prepared to answer follow-up questions, such as why you think this new position will be different from your old one. Make sure you're ready to explain what you expect to get from the new position that you didn't get from your old job.

If you're prepared for the inevitable question and answer it briefly and honestly, emphasizing what the new position has to offer, you'll smoothly avoid a potential pitfall in your job interview.

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