Things to bear in mind during interview: Reasons for a job change

Why are you looking for a job change? It is one of the questions most commonly asked during an interview.

Well, you probably have good reasons for wanting to change job but it is not a good idea to share them bluntly with a potential new employer. Nevertheless, an explanation is generally expected and you must be prepared to answer this question in such a way that it doesn't affect your chances of getting hired negatively.

So here we are sharing ways in which you can tackle this important interview question.

Do I need to give my reasons for changing job?

Yes you should have a well-formulated and plausible reason why you want to change your job. If you don’t, the interviewer may become suspicious: Perhaps your silence on the matter means you are about to be let go or you may not get on with your boss. In short: Silence speaks louder than words and leaves room for speculation.

Focus on the new job

If you are lucky and leaving a job keeping your current manager in confidence, it would be easy to focus entirely on your new job but if the reasons for leaving include dissatisfaction, disappointment, or frustration, try to keep them to yourself and do not speak about them during the interview.

Rather focus on the positive aspects of the job you are applying for and keep the conversation focused on your career goals, plans, ambitions, and opportunities for development in the new job.

Never Bad-mouth your old boss

It is a general rule to never bad-mouth your boss. Even if he\she is the main reason for your leaving your current job, cribbing and complaining about them won't portray you in a good light either, and nor will it go well to a prospective employer as they will assume that you will say the same thing about them later.

What if you were fired from your old job?

It is a bit harder explaining why you want to change jobs if you were fired by your previous employer rather than leaving voluntarily - unless, of course, you were made redundant. There is no shame in being made redundant and you can be open about this. If there was another reason for you being let go, then it is perhaps better not to draw too much attention to that during the interview. Try to shift the focus on your skills and what you can bring to the job you applied for. Make sure you are honest without going into too much detail if you are asked directly.

7 points to bear in mind when justifying a change in job:

• Give some thought to the reasons for your job change
• Present your motivations in a plausible manner
• Formulate your reasons positively and put them into the context of your future goals
• It must be clear why you are attracted to the new position
• Don’t try to justify yourself
• Be confident when stating your reasons for wanting to change jobs
• Avoid empty platitudes and give your personal reasons for wanting to move?

Hope these points will help you while answering this tricky question during your next interview. If you need further help register here - Accelerate your Career Growth!

If it does help, do let me know in the comments, I'd love to hear from you.

• What are your reasons for a job change?
• Did you find this article helpful in planning your answer for the next interview?

Here's wishing you Good Luck!

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About Author

I am?Priyanka Ramteke, Founding Director at?SocialVive, a #DigitalMarketing Agency based in Delhi, India.

With more than a decade spent working with Government Ministries, Large Conglomerates as well as Small Businesses, I understand the needs of my clientele and help them devise customised #DigitalMarketing solutions that help their business expand exponentially in this digitally competitive world.

I also love to mentor young professionals in building a strong career and attaining new heights of success in their corporate journey.

??My expertise lies in LinkedIn Marketing, Digital Marketing, Talent Acquisition, Performance Management, Employee Relations and Engagement, Change Management, Conflict Management, Corporate Presentations, Career Development, and mentoring young minds for success!

Worked with Times Group, Dainik Bhaskar, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Ministry of External Affairs, and Ministry of Food Processing to name a few.

?? Follow?Priyanka Ramteke?for regular on #DigitalMarketing and #CareerDevelopment.