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A job interview will test your abilities, skills, strengths, weaknesses and aspirations. But above all, it’s going to be a reflection on why you’re looking to change jobs!
You may not expect this question, but interviewers will ask you, “why do you want to change your job?”. The purpose of this question is to assess whether you’re aware of the reason for job change. Interviewers also use this question to determine why you’re interested in their organization.
Learn how to deliver winning answers to the “why do you want to change jobs?” question with sample answers, tips and what not to say!
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Interview Question: Why Are You Looking For A Job Change?
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Reason For Job Change Answer Dos And Don’ts
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Reason For Job Change Examples
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Job Change Reasons To Impress
Interview Question: Why Are You Looking For A Job Change?
Each interview question is designed to evaluate whether you’re a good fit for the role. Providing a reason for job change is just as important as talking about your strengths and weaknesses.
Keeping in mind that you’re being evaluated for what you say will help you steer clear of any negative comments or reasons to change jobs.
Here are some helpful ways to ace the reason for job change interview question:
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Positive answers will invite positive feedback from the interviewer. Try to tailor your answer toward growth and development to achieve your goal.
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A reason like a career advancement shows the interviewer that your reason for job change is to learn more and become better at your job.
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Talk about some of your learning experiences as stepping stones to where you want to be.
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Reasons like moving cities are more legitimate, building you a strong case. You can discuss reasons why you had to move cities to add substance to your answer.
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Highlight your wins or accomplishments at your previous job. You can include successful lead generations or learning and development efforts.
The best reason for job change will incorporate positive experiences, opportunities or achievements in your last role. Emphasizing what your previous role taught you will build a strong foundation on which you can elaborate.
Reason For Job Change Answer Dos And Don’ts
The job change question is like an extension of the “Why us?” interview question. When you’re preparing a reason for job change in interview, you can tailor your answers to emphasize your skills and strengths. More importantly, you have to incorporate what you know about the organization in your answers. Highlight those skills that align with the job description, skills that fulfill the organization’s needs.
There’s no cut-and-dry answer for your interview, but you can focus on some aspects to make sure you do your best.
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Focus On The Positives
You may be tempted to talk about bad bosses or workload, but steer clear from anything that makes you appear negative. As your potential employer, they want to know what you learned from your previous role—how that’ll help you in your new role. Positive insights include professional relationships, new opportunities and on-the-job learning.
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Avoid Sharing Confidential Information
If you were privy to sensitive organizational information, you shouldn’t share that during an interview. It’s important to respect professional boundaries otherwise it can reflect badly on you.
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Map Your Professional Journey
The best answer for reason for job change in interview is to present it as career growth. Talk about learning more and doing more than you previously did. Reasons like seeking new, improved opportunities, collaborating with others and building professional skills can supplement your answer.
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You Want To Find Something Better
One way to answer the reason for job change question is to highlight that you’re looking for something better. You may have worked with a start-up previously, but now you’re seeking a more advanced role. This helps you tie your professional experience with the job requirements.
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Prepare What To Say
Finally, preparation will help you anticipate this question. If you’re thrown off track, you may end up saying something amiss. Write down a few quick notes on what to say (and what not to say).
Reason For Job Change Examples
Applying what’s been discussed, let’s look at a sample answer to the job change question.
I’ve been working as an accounts manager with CAP Inc. for three years. Now that I’ve learned everything on the job, I want more client experience. I’m comfortable with research, developing ideas and implementation. I want to take it one step further and pitch my ideas to clients. I was drawn to this role because of the opportunities for lead generation and conversion.
The candidate’s answer reflects positively on their previous role. They’ve elaborated on what they learned—and how they’re planning to use that in their new role.
Job Change Reasons To Impress
Your reason for job change needs to be tailored to your experiences, expectations and motivations. Instead of giving generic answers, focus on how to make them unique. Harappa’s Ace The Interview course will teach you helpful concepts and frameworks to craft impactful answers. With our panel of expert faculty, you’ll learn from industry leaders on what they think are persuasive interview answers. Impress your interviewer with engaging responses they can’t say no to!
Explore topics such as General HR Interview Questions, What are the Common Questions to Ask an Interviewer, How to Reply to “Why Should We Hire you for Freshers“, “Why Do You Want to Work Here” & “What are Your Salary Expectations“ from Harappa Diaries and crack your next interview.
