“Why Are You Looking For A Job Change?”: Ways To Answer 2023

In the interview room, things can get heated when your interviewers start asking questions you don’t expect. A prime example is “why are you looking for a job change” which can cause you to tense up and result in uncontrollable stuttering. Nowadays, people look for a job change due to many reasons but not everyone is capable of phrasing their reasons in a proper manner. If you read to the end of my article, you should be able to put together sound answers for all questions about job changes that come your way. 

Question About Job Changes: Breakdown

At a glance, the question of “why are you looking for a job change?” seems to cover something that is not a direct concern of employers. However, you need to know that nearly every employer at the moment wants to hire motivated employees. By asking you questions about job changes,  interviewers get to gauge your motivation through your answers. Needless to say, if interviewers notice “red flags” in your answers, it’s possible that you will be disqualified. 

How To Answer The Questions

Since asking questions is how interviewers gather information, you can change the way they see you if you answer properly. Down below is a list of advice that you must keep in mind once it comes to answering the question of “Why are you looking for a job change?”.

New Challenges

Most people love to stay in their comfort zones and only a few have what it takes to stand up to new challenges. In the case that you search for new challenges, it’s wise to focus on how eager you are at tackling challenges if given the chance. 

“I spent 3 years working for my previous company for about 3 years and everyone there helped me perfect my craft. Unfortunately, I have gotten comfortable to the point that I couldn’t notice my growth which harmed both the institution and my career. New challenges always rev me up and keep me motivated which is exactly what I see in your company.” 

Discuss New Trends

Feel free to bring up topics like technology to change the flow of the interview and create a solid connection between parties while explaining the reasons. For instance, you may mention a recent technological innovation that changed the standard of the industry which makes you more productive.

Be Honest

At times, if not all the time, being honest does not hurt and might save you a lot in the long run. Let’s say you were laid off as a result of unavoidable circumstances like scaling down operations. The best course of action here is to tell the truth, however, you must be as detailed as possible. You will want to make it clear that your layoff was not the result of mistakes on your end. 

Highlight Goals

Highlighting goals as you respond to job change questions lets interviewers understand how dedicated you are. That being said, you need to be careful not to sound selfish, i.e. your goals should align with the goals of the company instead of contradicting them. 

Praises

Everybody loves when they hear someone saying good things about them and that applies to interviewers. Of course, to avoid giving off a desperate vibe, you should keep your praises professional and work-related. Here is an example: the company that holds the interview provides excellent outside-of-work activities like mentorship, training, etc. Let them know how productive you will be if you get the chance to go through mentorship, training programs, …

“I learned that you have a regular training and yearly mentorship program in which you provide guidance on career development to your employees. I was truly impressed by your dedication to nurturing employees’ potential and this is what truly excites me about joining your team.” 

Include External Reasons

To sound more authentic, you can throw in external reasons that require you to change jobs. Still, it’s best that such reasons complement mentioned ones instead of standing out independently. For instance, after mentioning any of the above reasons, you may let the interviewer know that you recently relocated to Uttar Pradesh.

“While working in Bihar, your company was always talked of due to your training and mentorship programs. Your commitment to optimizing operations resonates with my goals, and now that I moved to Uttar, I am now looking forward to having this experience with you.”

Sharing Secrets Of Previous Employer: Insights

It’s always unwise to share the secrets of companies you have worked for in the past. From the point of view of interviewers, you will look like a person that fails to keep their mouth shut and your disqualification is all but guaranteed. Aside from that, if you signed a non-disclosure agreement beforehand, revealing insider information is going to land you in hot water. 

Things To Avoid During Interviews 

There is a chance that you might be looking for a job change due to personal reasons but that should not mean you have to overemphasize them. On occasions, doing so gives the impression of a self-centered person who cares little about the company as a whole. Additionally, whatever you do, don’t speak negatively about previous employers as well as colleagues.