“Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?”: Insights 2023

All in all, it’s possible to approach the question of “Why do you want to leave your current job?” in several ways. If you come across that question in unofficial settings, feel free to answer it in a casual manner.  However, if you face that question during interviews then you must answer it professionally. Take a look at my article if you want to nail the answer and land your dream job. 

An Analysis Of The Situation 

To put it plainly, people leave their current job for all sorts of reasons, objective as well as subjective. Today, relocation (for instance, moving from one city to the other) is the most common reason that compels employees to quit their current companies. Also, it’s not uncommon for someone to search for new opportunities to untangle their schedules and adjust their work-life balance. Aside from that, when employers refuse to renew the contracts, their employees must find work elsewhere. 

How To Answer The Question

Growth

If you constantly look for career breakthroughs, you will eventually realize that different companies offer different growth potentials. If you have reached maximum growth at your current company, you can only grow more by taking on new challenges. If you opt for the growth approach, you should be able to display motivation and employers around the globe always have use for motivated employees. Take the time to explain to the interviewer your growth obsession as well as the way it’s going to benefit the company in the future. 

“I love growth and for a time, my achievements helped me gauge my growth and I am excited about my pace. Through me, my fellow colleagues learned that there is a way they can draft their goals that also align with the company’s. Unfortunately, during the past three quarters, I didn’t achieve considerable achievements and it seems that I have reached an optimal point with the company. That is why I want to challenge myself and grow further”

Opportunity 

Being human is to be greedy and what seemed best two years ago may now seem mediocre. While the opportunity approach may sound a bit selfish at first but people have the right to improve their lives. That being said, if you adopt the approach, avoid committing negatively about your current company and the opportunity that it gave you in the past. 

“My employer gave me the best working environment which I have ever experienced in my whole career. Concurrently, I deliver the best results whenever I am mentored by a senior in my field. Despite the good working environment, I had no mentor and this never did any good to either me or the company. In your company, I have noted that there are a bunch of individuals who I aspire to be. Working with them will ensure that I deliver the best which will be a win for both the company and me.”

Laid Off

It is normal to get laid off so there is no need to feel embarrassed and shy away from the question. Many fear saying the truth as they think they will have a hard time explaining why they were laid off. You may have been fired and you feel bitter about your past employer but do not let your emotions take over during interviews. Explain to the panel the way the company made you work and its impact on your growth. 

“The company was going through digitization and I was part of the team which was laid off as a result of the same. Aside from that, I never knew I had leadership skills till my previous employer tasked me with a lead role in one of their projects. During my tenure as a project manager, I was able to help the company cut off unnecessary costs by adopting cost-saving measures. What caught my attention was when I learned that leadership and management are the core skills for this role. My past success could not allow me to let these skills go unutilized and I would like to recreate my previous success with your company.” 

Can I Quit On My Own Initiative?

Regardless of your attitude to your current job, you should not walk out all of a sudden. That action is not in line with employee codes of ethics and if you had signed an employment letter, your employer may take legal action. The right way to do this is to scan through your appointment letter for the resignation notice period then draft a letter to the HR department. The letter should feature your intention to quit, the reasons behind it and the request for a reference letter if you want one.

Is It Wise To Change Jobs To Address Burnout?

While you always have the option of leaving your job whenever you feel burned out, you may want to leave that option at the bottom of the list. There could be other reasons which make you feel burned out other than the job itself. Ask yourself these questions: Have you tried changing your sleeping pattern? Do you even practice self-care?