Why are you leaving your current company?

It’s one of the most dreaded interview questions of all, and you can’t answer by saying that you hate your job or that your boss is the worst, writes Caleb Yen for Express Employment Professionals.

In lieu of such brutal honesty, it’s best to be optimistic and professional.

1. Don’t Lie. Tell the professional version of the truth. If it was your boss, what didn’t you like about him/her? Perhaps, his/her managerial style just wasn’t for you (“my previous boss didn’t give me much freedom to work on my own without oversight, and I’d like to explore a position with more responsibilities”) or they just complained every day (“there was a bit of a team morale issue at my last job, and I want a job at a company where everyone shares a mission and is excited to work”).
2. Avoid Negativity. If the reason you’re leaving your job is something you’ll encounter in this new one, you probably won’t get hired. Hence, why it’s so important to keep things light and positive.
3. Focus on the New Opportunity. There’s no need to spend a lot of time discussing your current employer. After you’ve summed up why you’re leaving, throw the focus back on the new job: “I left the old company because of XYZ reason, which is why I’m so excited about joining the ABC team!” Show the interviewer that their company is the right one for you.

Answering the question about why you’re leaving your company can indeed be stressful. However, if you’re honest, positive, and focus on the position you’re interviewing for, you’ll craft an answer that interviewers will love.

For more interview tips, check out the downloadable ebook Answering the Interview Question.

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Express Employment Professionals, the sponsor of VISTA Today’s Hiring Chesco, is in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Its international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, employing 526,000 people globally in 2020. Learn more.

The Chester County – Main Line, PA Express office is located at 215 Lancaster Avenue and serves the Greater Philadelphia area. Local businesses and applicants are encouraged to stop by, visit the website, or call 484-329-7930.