You left your last job. How do you explain why?

1 Be honest but tactful

The first rule of thumb is to be honest about why you left your last job, but avoid badmouthing your previous employer, manager, or coworkers. Even if you had a negative experience, you don't want to come across as someone who holds grudges, blames others, or can't handle feedback. Instead, focus on the facts and the lessons you learned from the situation. For example, you can say that you left your last job because you wanted to pursue a different career path, learn new skills, or take on more responsibility. You can also mention any positive aspects of your previous job, such as the projects you completed, the skills you gained, or the relationships you built.

2 Highlight your achievements and goals

Another way to explain why you left your last job is to highlight your achievements and goals as a structural engineer. You can show how you contributed to the success of your previous projects, and how you applied your knowledge, creativity, and problem-solving skills. You can also share how you developed your professional skills, such as communication, collaboration, or leadership. Then, you can link your achievements and goals to the position you are applying for, and explain how you can add value to the new company. For example, you can say that you left your last job because you wanted to work on more challenging and diverse projects, or because you wanted to join a company that shares your vision and values.

4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?