Interview advice - 'why do you want to leave your current position.'

lauzt1987

Hi. As the title suggests, looking for some last minute advice for an interview I have tomorrow. The company is approximately the same size as where I am now and I'd be doing roughly the same job.

The truth is , I don't really like where i'm working at the moment but I know you're not supposed to be negative about your current employer. When they ask why i'm leaving, I don't want to talk about career progression or a new challenge etc in case there aren't many career opportunities.

How do you answer a question like this when you're moving to a different company but doing the same job?

Any advice much appreciated! Thanks.

93123

My first suggestion would have been career progression, but you don't want to say that.

There are several sample answers on this link: http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewquestionsanswers/a/interviewleave.htm

Idiophreak

I'd just be really positive, say "i'm in no hurry to leave there, I'm quite happy and get a lot out of the work [which is good, as you'll be doing the same work at the new place]...but I've always been keen to work for you because x y and z" - use it as a chance to show off what you know about them and why you want to join. Just be careful to make sure you *do* answer the original question.

andrewjf

Talking about new challenges is probably the easiest way to play it, and is a separate thing to career progression. So I think you're on safe ground.

Just say you're looking for new challenges, and opportunities to apply your existing skills in a different environment.

Also, is there anything in particular that you can say you're interested in, which the new company does differently to your existing one?

szam_

Personally, something along the lines of;

"While i enjoy my present job, i feel i could do with a fresh challenge to see where this takes me".

That way, you're not being too forthcoming about the possibility of maybe progression, you're not being negative about your current employer, and you're eager for a new challenge.

If its for the same type of work, be careful, i applied for a job a few months back, in the interview i sold myself on skills, then someone said "surely you'd be bored with just doing this?" I got turned down. As luck has it (long story), I'm starting at that same company in a higher position on the 17th

lauzt1987

Thank you so much for the advice everyone. I love what I do but my boss is awful and there are some seriously unethical practices going on that I won't go into. I'm just not happy here anymore so would love to get this other job. Thanks again. x

InsideInsurance

How long have you been at your old role?

If its been a fair while then it is reasonable to say something along the lines of wanting to diversify and broaden your skill base by seeing how other organisations do the same - this works particularly well if you only have had one employer in the particular function/ line of business etc

Cycrow

"i beleive i have achieved all im going to at my current job and im looking for new challenges"

obviosuly it depends on how long u've been at the job, if its a short time, then that wont make much sense.

you could also ask in the interview about career progression within the company.
to make it sound like you are planning to say in the company for the forseable future.

try not too slag off your old job in the interview, and always put a positive spin on it