How to answer this interview question:

[chiefmickeymouse]

Why do you want to leave your current position?
DH has an interview on Tuesday. The real reason is the company has a terrible record of firing the people who do his job, and he constantly feels the sword of Damocles hanging over his head. He can't say that, obviously.

Does anyone have any ideas for a good answer? He's considered saying there aren't opportunities for advancement, training has dried up, etc. but these all seem a little weak to me. I'd appreciate any input.

The job is doing the same thing he does now at a different company, so he can't say he doesn't enjoy what he does. Money would be about the same, as well as hours.

 

[tomeaine]

Hrmm..I would go with the looking for a position with a growing and stable company that has room for advancement

 

[crisi]

If the company itself is in a market that is down or has financial troubles - that is always a good reason - my husband left a company with some well known financial issues and simply saying "I'm looking for more stability" works.

If they have a record of firing people, he can say that he doesn't feel the company is committed to the role they brought him in to do. Most people have had the experience where they've been brought in to do one thing, then there isn't staff, funding, prioritization, whatever, to actually DO that thing.

Don't mention training (which comes across as "I want to be paid to sit in class").

Good luck - I voluntarily left a similar situation to stay home for a year. The three previous teams in my role had been let go, and six months after I left, the team I had was let go. My biggest fear was not getting let go (which would have meant severance and unemployment) but that they'd do to me what they'd done to me previously - which was lay off everyone else, and then redefine my job into something useless. Right about now they should be hiring a new team with promises of "this is a big deal to us" and "you have our support."

 

[MomToOne]

I usually go with "Professional Growth", followed with how the specific new job would allow for that - I think I'd have room for more advancement, the ability to take my skills to the next level on more complex problems, challenge of learning a new business problem and/or tools, etc.

At other times I've also gone with
- decreased travel (when I was leaving a job that had me on the road a lot),
- company stability (when a company was on the verge of closing) and even
- forced relocation (when a company was moving my job to another state).

Honestly, as someone who interviews people a lot, I don't want to listen to someone complain about their current management, hear how awful the company is, etc. - it shows me you may be lacking an internal "filter" - but at the same time I hate the bogus canned answers as well. Try to walk the fine line that tells the truth, but doesn't show complete contempt for your current job and the people you work with. Be positive, but honest. We all have switched jobs, and know how to read between the lines.

ETA: I think many people ask this question not to hear what you say, but to hear what you DON'T say. We are testing that internal filter. Everyone who asks this question expects not to get the full story. We just want to know if you are savvy and mature enough not to TELL the full story!

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

If the company itself is in a market that is down or has financial troubles - that is always a good reason - my husband left a company with some well known financial issues and simply saying "I'm looking for more stability" works.

If they have a record of firing people, he can say that he doesn't feel the company is committed to the role they brought him in to do. Most people have had the experience where they've been brought in to do one thing, then there isn't staff, funding, prioritization, whatever, to actually DO that thing.

Don't mention training (which comes across as "I want to be paid to sit in class").

Good luck - I voluntarily left a similar situation to stay home for a year. The three previous teams in my role had been let go, and six months after I left, the team I had was let go. My biggest fear was not getting let go (which would have meant severance and unemployment) but that they'd do to me what they'd done to me previously - which was lay off everyone else, and then redefine my job into something useless. Right about now they should be hiring a new team with promises of "this is a big deal to us" and "you have our support."

The company is doing well, so I can't say it isn't growing and stable. It is stable for some jobs, just not the one DH does. Do you think saying "the company isn't committed to the role that brought him in to do" (which is exactly what is going on) has a negative connotation? I know you are supposed to avoid criticizing your current company.

 

[akaler2010]

I agree with your statement:

Do you think saying "the company isn't committed to the role that brought him in to do" (which is exactly what is going on) has a negative connotation? I know you are supposed to avoid criticizing your current company.

I think it is negative, so try to find a more positive way to get the same message across. This job seems to be a better fit for my skills and abilities or something.

Good luck to DH!

 

[RitaE]

Do not ever, ever ever spend time complaining about your current company.

"I'm interested in a change because I'm looking for an opportunity that will blah blah blah blah and I feel your company can provide that by blah blah blah blah."

 

[averysmom]

Why do you want to leave your current position? DH has an interview on Tuesday. The real reason is the company has a terrible record of firing the people who do his job, and he constantly feels the sword of Damocles hanging over his head. He can't say that, obviously. Does anyone have any ideas for a good answer? He's considered saying there aren't opportunities for advancement, training has dried up, etc. but these all seem a little weak to me. I'd appreciate any input. The job is doing the same thing he does now at a different company, so he can't say he doesn't enjoy what he does. Money would be about the same, as well as hours.

Opportunities for advancement, new challenges.

 

[pigletliz]

Do not ever, ever ever spend time complaining about your current company.

"I'm interested in a change because I'm looking for an opportunity that will blah blah blah blah and I feel your company can provide that by blah blah blah blah."

Never disparage your current (or former) company/boss/co-workers in an interview. There is no way that you come out looking good or professional.

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

I agree with your statement:

Do you think saying "the company isn't committed to the role that brought him in to do" (which is exactly what is going on) has a negative connotation? I know you are supposed to avoid criticizing your current company.

I think it is negative, so try to find a more positive way to get the same message across. This job seems to be a better fit for my skills and abilities or something.

Good luck to DH!

That's what I thought. It's tough when you want to be honest, but you can't, then you have to give one of the canned answers the HR people are all sick of hearing!

 

[richmond282]

I would suggest saying something about looking for a new more challenging job or how a particular skill set will be utilized in the new job.

 

[pigletto]

Dh just had this question last week for an interview that he felt went really well. Because they solicited him and because he likes where he is, he simply stated "exciting opportunity" and commented on his desire to do x,y,z in the private sector (he's currently public) with their firm.
The truth is he really likes where he is but it has him living away from town 5 nights a week. We didn't want to bring that up at all because if we're viewed as desperate we'll get a lowball offer.

I'd always make it less about (in fact not all) what you're leaving, and all about what you want to be a part of.

ETA) and with some research you can find out key points that are specific to the company to work into that answer ,so that it isn't generic.

 

[Eureka]

I've been thinking about this stuff lately bc my company is restructuring and at some point my job duties will change and I don't know if I will want to be doing what I'll be doing versus what I was hired to do. I think here is nothing wrong with saying he'd like to move in a different direction, learn some new skills, have a different focus etc. good luck to him, I may be in his place soon (I've already survived a round of layoffs but don't know what's coming next).

Oops sorry just realized you said the new job is doing the same thing. He could always say the current company is restructuring and stability of a well-respected company is attractive.

 

[crisi]

I agree with your statement:

Do you think saying "the company isn't committed to the role that brought him in to do" (which is exactly what is going on) has a negative connotation? I know you are supposed to avoid criticizing your current company.

I think it is negative, so try to find a more positive way to get the same message across. This job seems to be a better fit for my skills and abilities or something.

Good luck to DH!

As a hiring manager, no, I don't. Its understandable to me that companies sometimes aren't committed to the role - but you say that and leave it there. Not "they've fired previous teams."

(Is he in audit? Internal auditors are always turning over because their job is to tell companies what they don't want to hear)

On the other had "opportunities for advancement" have you not making it to the next gate when I interview. I'm hiring you for THIS job, not for you to start looking to be promoted into a job we don't have.

 

[Aliceacc]

Find something about the new company that doesn't exist in the old. More along the lines of why do you want to work for US?

 

[ShannyMcB]

Does the new company offer something they are proud of? For instance are they known for community involvement? or the like? Can always play to that...I want to be part of a company that stands for more than just business