How To Respond To The Question “Why Are You Looking For A New Job?” “Can you tell me why you’re looking for a new job?” is an interview question that many job seekers find difficult to answer. It appears to be a harmless question, but there’s little doubt that your interviewer will be closely studying your response. why are you looking for a job
How To Respond To The Question “Why Are You Looking For A New Job?”
This article will show you how to respond to this question while you are interviewing for a new position.
Why Interviewers Ask It
“Can you tell me why you’re looking for a new job?” is one of the most difficult questions your interviewer may ask. It may appear to be straightforward. Although it is a complex and deep question, it reveals a great deal of information about you and your motivations, so be prepared to answer it carefully.
This is a question that hiring managers ask for a variety of reasons. One of the most important reasons to stay is to figure out what it is that you dislike about your job – whether it is your connection with your employer, your job satisfaction, whether you have outgrown your job, or anything else. The way you respond to the question reveals more about yourself than it does about the organization you’re leaving.
Interviewers want to know what kind of employee you will be before they hire you. Do you shy away from difficulties or do you meet them head-on? Are you a team player who enjoys working with others? Do you have a good response to constructive criticism? Although it is a complicated question, the way you construct your response might provide the interviewer with valuable insight into whether or not you are a suitable fit.
Nutritious -Foods to avoid as you age
It is critical to provide a well-thought-out response. Hiring managers search for red flags and make a note of the aspects that they don’t like throughout the interview.
It is also possible that you will be asked this question because corporations want to know more about your motivations in order to better serve you. It is important to understand why you are there and how you came to be in this particular situation. The bottom line is that hiring managers want motivated and eager individuals who are committed to exceeding expectations in their jobs.
Having a genuine interest in the firm or in this line of work might go a long way in establishing rapport. It suggests that you’re in it for the long haul and intend to learn and progress. Employees that are engaged and motivated tend to perform better and stay with a company for a longer period of time.
“Can you tell me why you’re looking for a new job?” offers all of this information in a single response. It goes without saying that thinking things through before responding is really crucial!
How to Answer “Why Are You Looking For A New Job?”
Given the importance of this question, figuring out how to answer it can seem daunting. That’s why it’s so important to spend some time preparing for this question before you’re asked it!
To help you answer in a way that benefits you, here are some crucial tips to keep in mind.
1. Be Truthful
Honesty is always the best policy. Lying gets you nowhere and could hurt your chances not only with the company you’re talking to now but others you want to work with in the future. Word travels fast, and hiring managers can often determine if you’re skirting the truth.
It’s not always easy to talk about why you left an old job. That’s especially true if you were terminated (here’s a handy guide if you’re not clear on the difference between being laid off and being terminated). But don’t try to cover things up by creating a lie. Be truthful and plan your wording so you focus on how you have taken control of your situation.
So, how do you broach the subject of layoffs or past conflicts? Having said that, you also don’t want to go into too much detail! Oversharing can turn a potential employer off. You don’t want to suggest, for example, that the only reason you want a job is to reduce your commute or to earn more money. A delicate balance must be struck. How To Respond To The Question “Why Are You Looking For A New Job?”
A thoughtful response to the question “Why are you looking for a new job?” demonstrates that you have considered what you want and why you are changing jobs. It’s honest, straightforward, and to-the-point.
2. Talk About Your Skills and Capabilities
This question is a great chance to talk about your skills. How? It’s all about linking your experience to why you left.
Maybe you’re looking for opportunities to advance your career. Alternatively, you might have outgrown your old job and didn’t have any way to get a promotion. Whatever the case is, use that moment to highlight your skills.
It’s a good chance to mention what differentiates you from other candidates and shine a light on what makes you the perfect fit for the role.
3. Keep Things Positive
So, how do you approach your former company about terminations or conflicts? The greatest strategy is to put a positive spin on things.
It’s always a good idea to begin by mentioning something positive about your previous employer. Begin there to establish a feeling of professional decorum right away. It may be difficult, but dig deep to find something positive to take away.
Perhaps you developed new talents, or your previous position assisted you in honing current ones. Lead with it, whatever the case may be.
When discussing the unfavorable parts of your past employment or why you left a previous firm, emphasize the positive aspects. If you were fired, illustrate how you’ve developed and what you learned from the experience.
Hiring managers recognize that everyone makes mistakes. What matters is that you learned from the experience and took measures to improve. Concentrate on it, and you’ll be able to come up with a terrific response that supports your stance.
4. Don’t Point Fingers
Here’s a crucial piece of advice. It’s simple to place blame on others and throw fingers in their direction. Especially if you’re interviewing with a company that is a direct competitor of your prior employer, the temptation to “talk trash” may be much stronger.
However, you should avoid doing so at all costs. Always keep in mind that news spreads rapidly, and you don’t want to burn any bridges. Talking critically about your prior employer, boss, managers, or colleagues might make you appear petty and self-centered.
If you don’t get the job you’re applying for now, what happens if you don’t get it? In essence, if all you did throughout your interview was disparage your previous employer, you’re letting the new hiring manager know how you’ll behave if you ever leave the firm.
It’s not a good way to get things going in the morning. When you’re asked, “Why are you looking for a new job?” it’s important to be honest. Instead, it is preferable to concentrate on the positive aspects of your previous position and to try to say at least one positive thing about it.
5. Focus on the New Opportunity
Finally, always try to find a way to bring the conversation back to the new job opportunity in question. It is not appropriate to dwell on the past while answering the question “Why are you looking for a new job?” “Why are you looking for a new job?” Find a method to bring the subject full circle and direct it back to the job opportunity you are discussing.
Say, for example, that the details in the job description you’re applying for sound like they would be a better match for your abilities. Alternatively, you might discuss the company’s culture and state that your abilities appear to be an excellent match for it. In either case, the act of establishing the bond will leave a lasting impact.
How to Prepare for This Question
You shouldn’t rely on coming up with a good answer in the moment when it comes to this question. Adequate preparation is a must.
The tricky thing about this question is that your interviewer can frame it in many different ways. Furthermore, it can come up at any time. You have to be well-prepared and capable of making little adjustments on the fly to be successful. How To Respond To The Question “Why Are You Looking For A New Job?”
Use the tips above to get a general idea of how to answer this question. Choose your words carefully and go over different options. Then, say it out loud and in front of others your respect and ask for their feedback.
Prepare enough to know the basics of what you will say. You don’t have to know your answer verbatim. In fact, rehearsing an answer and reciting it can potentially make you come off as inauthentic. Know your answer well enough to not stumble over your words and get caught off guard.
But during the interview, mold your answer to how it’s asked. As long as you have the core points in mind, you should have no problem sounding genuine and providing a great answer.
Things You Should Avoid in Your Answer
Being candid and relaxed is always a plus. However, there are some things you should avoid saying no matter how well you think the interview is going. “Why are you looking for a new job?” is an interview question that can trip you up if you’re not careful. How To Respond To The Question “Why Are You Looking For A New Job?”
Here’s some advice that should help.
Don’t Name-Call or Badmouth
According to what we’ve already said, blaming others and speaking negatively about your former company will never work in your favor again. It makes no difference if the new firm is a direct rival or if the interviewer begins to disparage your prior employer over the course of the interview.
Negativity should be avoided at all costs; instead, concentrate on the positives.
Don’t Get Into the Finer Details
When answering this question, one of the most common mistakes is to get overly involved in the details. Your interviewer may ask for clarification or may want you to elaborate on a particular aspect of your response. That’s fine, but you should keep things concise and keep the conversation focused on your abilities and the new opportunity.
When you start going “off script” and talking about things you didn’t plan on talking about, you run the risk of saying something you’ll later come to regret. While it’s important to be honest and discuss what the interviewer is looking for, avoid getting too caught up in the finer details that could land you in trouble. How To Respond To The Question “Why Are You Looking For A New Job?”
Avoid Talking About Salary
There are plenty of opportunities to talk about salary expectations. Answering this question isn’t the time. Even if your most prominent reason for leaving the previous company is money-related, it’s best to avoid salary talk at this stage. You don’t want to give the impression that your only motivation is money.
Retool your answer and focus on other things. For example, you could say that your skills outgrew your old position instead of saying that your previous employer wasn’t paying you enough.
The only exception is if the interview directly mentions your previous salary. That’s the clear “go ahead” from the hiring manager.
Steer Clear of Lies
As always, never lie! Lying is unacceptable in a job interview, and one of the worst times to lie is when you’re talking about your time at a previous company.
Be honest, even if the truth doesn’t necessarily paint you in the best light. You can adjust your wording and focus on the positives instead.
Don’t Be Overly Vague
Last but not least, don’t even think about providing this answer:
“I just wanted change” or “it wasn’t a fit.”
These answers are too vague. They don’t provide any of the information the interviewer is looking to learn. And even worse, it often sounds like you’re trying to hide something. Another possible issue with these answers is that if taken at face value it could indicate that you’re unpredictable and likely to move on whenever you get bored.
Sample Answers
Use our tips above to help you answer “Why are you looking for a new job?”. This question is bound to come up when seeking a new position, so it’s best to have something in mind for when it does.
To help you get some ideas, here are some great example answers.
Sample Answer 1: Looking for New Opportunities
“I’ve worked at my current position for several years and have had many successful experiences. In that time, I’ve refined my management skills through taking on new responsibilities and more intensive projects.
I feel that it’s time to explore new challenges and take the next steps in my career. I’ve followed your company for many years and am a fan of the work you do. I believe that my skills are a great match, and I’d love the opportunity to be a part of your team.”
Sample Answer 2: Ready for New Challenges
“My time at my previous job helped me grow my [specific skills]. For that, I’m forever grateful. However, I no longer feel challenged by my work.
I believe that I’m ready for new challenges. I’m ready to make a difference in another position while growing and developing new skills.”
Sample Answer 3: Addressing Termination
“My goals and aspirations didn’t align with the position. While I tried to make things work, I realized that I was not a suitable fit for my previous job. Being let go was a learning experience, and I’ve taken time to reflect on what is important to me and assess my strengths.
After learning more about your company’s vision, I believe I’m better suited to have an impact here. I’d love to share what I’ve learned and how I can bring the lessons of my previous job to this position.”
Conclusion
Now that you’ve learned how to respond to the question “Why are you looking for a new job?” it’s time to put your knowledge into practice. why are you looking for a job change
Prepare for this question in advance so that it is a breeze for you to respond and that your first impression is a good one. When other applicants falter, you’ll shine brighter than they do!
why are you looking for a job,
why are you looking for a job change,
why are you looking for a new job? yahoo answers,
reason for exploring new job,
why are you looking for a new job sample answers,
why do you want to leave your current job sample answer,
why are you looking for a new job sample answers,
why are you looking for a job,
why do you want to leave your current job sample answer,
looking for new challenges and opportunities,
reason for exploring new job,
what are you looking for in a new position,
why are you looking for a job change,
why are you looking for a new job yahoo answers,