How to Tell an Interviewer Why You Quit Your Last Job

How to Tell an Interviewer Why You Quit Your Last JobHow to Tell an Interviewer Why You Quit Your Last JobInterviewers typically want to know about why you left your last job and the reasons behind your decision to move on. Common questions include Why did you quit your job?Why did you leave your last job?Why are you looking for a new job? When you respond, youll need to give an answer thats honest and reflects your specific circumstances, but avoids negativity. That is, even if you quit because your boss welches difficult, or becauseyou disliked the company, now is not the time to share. What the Interviewer Really Wants to Know Interviewers like to ask this question because it reveals a lot about you, such as Did you leave this position voluntarily, or were youfiredorlaid off?Are you on good terms with the company?Does your reason for quitting seem valid or reasonable? How you answer this question offers a window into your on-the-job character and values. How to Answer Why D id You Quit Your Job? This can be a challenging question to answer. Perhaps you left your job due to long hours and impossible deadlines. If you do not phrase that carefully, you might appear lazy or unmotivated, which is offputting to employers. Your best bet is to keep your answer short. Be honest, but frame it in a way that puts you in a good light. Keep your response positive (no venting about your previous employer) and try to pivot to discussing why the job at hand isan ideal match for your skills, knowledge, and experience. If youre still working but about to quit, then alter your responses accordingly. Every situation is unique, so be sure to tailor your own response to fit your circumstances. Examples of the Best Answers To be honest, I welchesnt considering a change, but a former colleague recommended this job to me. I looked into the position and was intrigued by the role andby the company. What youre offering sounds like an exciting opportunity andan ideal match for my qualifications. ExpandWhy It Works This is so flattering to the company If you dont overdo the compliments, making it clear that this specific position brought you into the job market is appealing to interviewers. I was able to take advantage of an early retirement offer due to company downsizing and now I am ready for a new challenge. ExpandWhy It Works This to-the-point answer gives the facts without any tinge of resentment or negativity. I was laid-off from mylast positionwhen my job was eliminated due to downsizing. ExpandWhy It Works This is another just-the-facts response that does a nice job of avoiding emotions or negativity. I recently achieved certification and I want to apply my educational background andtechnical skillsin my next position. I couldnt accomplish this goal in my previous job. ExpandWhy It Works This answer makes the candidate seem like a real go-getter- eager to grow skills and toput those new skills to work. Employers find those traits positive. I left my last position in bestellung to spend mora time with an ill family member. Circumstances have changed and I am readyfor full-time employmentagain. ExpandWhy It Works While often in interviews its a good idea to avoid getting too personal, this is a good example of an acceptable reason to leave a company. Other strong answers to consider I quit my job because my supervisor retired. I felt that after many years of working in the office that it was time for a change and it seemed like the ideal time to move on.I resigned to focus on finding a job that is closer to home and will use my skills and experience in a different capacity.I didnt have room to grow with my previous employer.I have been volunteering in this capacity and love this kind of work. I want to turn my passion into the next step of my career.After several years in my last position, I am looking for a company where I can contribute more and grow in a team-oriented environment. I am interested in a new challenge and wan t to use my skills and experience in a different capacity than in the past.I am interested in a job with more responsibility.I was commuting and spending an hour each day traveling back and forth. I would prefer to be closer to home.The position seems to correlate with my skillset. Unfortunately, in my last job, I wasnt able touse my training and experiencefully.The company was downsizing and I thought it made sense to find another position before my job was eliminated. Tips for Giving the Best Answer There are all kinds of reasons to leave a job. Maybe you want more money, perhapsyoufeltthe company was in constant chaos, your new managernever provided guidance or direction, or you were laid off. However, not all of these responses should be raised during a job interview. You need to be honest, but also strategic in your response. Avoid any answers that reflect poorly on you. Here are some tips on how to develop a response that will be well received Be honestYou dont have to te ll the whole truth. Just be sure to focus on the realreason you are leaving. For example, you can say you were frustrated by the lack of opportunities. Start by describing some of the things you accomplished, and then pivot to saying you were roadblocked as far as being able to accomplish more. Youll score bonus points if you can tie your answer back to why the job youre applying for is a better fit because youll be afforded more opportunities. Keep it short and positiveThis is one question where you might want to keep your response brief since there are a lot of minefields. A simple sentence- maybe two- is likely sufficient. If possible, try to frame your departure in positive terms. PracticePractice your responsesso you come across as positive and clear.Practicing (especially in front of a mirror) will help you feel more comfortable answering this difficult question. This is particularly true if you were laid off or fired. In a situation like that, give a short, clear, and unemoti onal response. What Not to Say Avoid negativityDo not speak poorly about managers, colleagues, or the company. You may speak negatively about a coworker only to learn thathe or she has a close relationship with the interviewer.However, you can speak broadly about corporate goals or mention that you disagree with the direction the business is taking. Be sure not to get personal in your response. Industries can often be small and you dont who knows who. Unprofessional commentsAre you bored at work? Underpaid or underappreciated? So sick of everything about the job? Nows not the time to let it all out. You dont need to overshare or get really personal about your motivations for departing the job. Make sure your answer is professional. Possible Follow-Up Questions What would your manager say about the circumstances around your departure?How extensive were the layoffs at the company? A short and simple response is best. No need to go into extensive detail.Be honest. If your refer ences are checked, fibs may be uncovered.Stay positive. Avoid complaints about the company, your coworkers and supervisor, or aboutthe circumstances around your departure. An emotion-free, factual response likely works best here.

It takes 4 days for Americans to start enjoying their vacations

It takes 4 days for Americans to start enjoying their vacationsIt takes 4 days for Americans to start enjoying their vacationsSteeped in a Protestant work ethic, Americans have a complicated feeling about being away from the office on their vacations, a new study shows. The study, commissioned by Apple Vacations and conducted by OnePoll, polled 2,000 workers and found that it took people a startling four days to stop thinking about work on their vacations.People were fraught about their well-earned getaways in other ways80% found it hard to get away from work to take a vacation, and left part of their vacation time unused37% felt guilt over leaving uncompleted work behind26% felt that taking time off for a vacation could get in the way of a vorrckenIt also seems that the younger you are, the guiltier you feel about taking a vacation. Almost half (47%) of all Millennials felt guilty about taking a vacation, versus 19% of people aged 55 and older.Expedia 2018 Vacation Deprivation Study A vacation study by another travel website, Expedia, also found American workers found vacations difficult to settle into, a low priority, and occasionally guilt-inducing.Instead of four days, the study found it took the typical American worker two to three days to truly relax on vacation.In 2018, the United States took the least amount of vacation time in the world 10 days. The only other countries that matched that number were Japan and Thailand.Americans left 4 vacations days unused.13% felt guilty about taking vacation time but guilt level is down 17% from 2017.40% of Americans have canceled a vacation because of work.For a country that enjoys an untold number of leisure activities, it seems that actual vacations the ultimate leisure activity remain a low priority for Americans. Call it FOMO for the office.

This is the exact number of employees that have lied to their boss

This is the exact number of employees that have lied to their bossThis is the exact number of employees that have lied to their bossEthics in the workplace have always been a wobbly area. While doing business is based on honesty and respect, people can easily rationalize that they might occasionally need to lie to get ahead or cover for themselves.Workplace transparency site Comparably released a study based on survey data from 23,000 employees on workplace ethics.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraWho lies to get a job?Men lied slightly more (19%) than women (13%) when it came to getting a job whether it was beefing up a resume or spinning a yarn in an interview. Its not clear if these lies were whoppers, exaggerations, or white lies or a combo platter.Broken down by department, employees in human resources lied on a resume or during an interview nearly 10% more often than worke rs in any other department. Think about that next time youre calling into HR for a talking-to over a minor transgression.Things got even more interesting within departments when broken down by gender. In admin, women were almost twice as likely to have lied or exaggerated on a resume or in an interview. Men in engineering were three times as likely to have done so. In legal, zero women said theyd lied to get a job, but 29% of the men said they had.Lying to the bossNearly a third of employees said theyd lied to their boss at least once, with men and women at about equal measure.That number changed by experience level, however. Forty-two percent of entry-level workers said theyd lied to their boss at least once. However, for workers with over 10 years of experience, that percentage is only 22%. Perhaps their experience taught them that honesty is the best policy.Paradoxically, one-third of employees surveyed also wanted to improve their communication a skill that might render lying u nnecessary.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people