“Why are you looking for a new job?” is a question you’ll probably be asked during your next interview. Consequently, you need to be prepared with a succinct yet compelling response that increases your chances of receiving an offer.
In this article, I share how to develop an effective response to this common interview question, as well as an example answer.
3 Tips To Answer, “Why Are You Looking For A New Job?”
1. Alleviate the interviewer’s worries.
For starters, why do interviewers even ask this question? One reason is that enlisting new talent is challenging and expensive, so recruiters and hiring managers want to ensure you won’t be a flight risk. Additionally, companies want to ensure any issues from your previous employer don’t repeat themselves.
Accordingly, your role as a job seeker and interviewee is to alleviate any potential worries a hiring manager may have about your long-term future with their company. If you are looking to make a pivot to tech, for instance, you can briefly speak to why you are drawn to the industry. If you have an employment gap, you can also address that here.
2. Focus on the future.
There’s a caveat, though. Unless it’s relevant, you don’t want to let the conversation linger too long on the past or why you’re leaving your current company. Know that the job interview is not the time to focus on the negative, or even worse, air your dirty laundry.
Consequently, I advise instead using this question to pivot the conversation to why you are drawn to working for this specific company, as you want the interview to focus on your fabulousness (unique value proposition) and how it will benefit the company moving forward.
3. Keep it brief.
Lastly, be mindful of how much information you divulge during the interview. While you want to alleviate any worries about your prospects with the company, you don’t need to go into every detail of your current situation.
You can think of this question as similar to being asked, “Why did you break up with your ex?” while dating. You likely wouldn’t share every detail of your separation on a first date, and the same goes for your interview. Rather, focus on the relevant, necessary information. To put it simply, brevity is your friend here.
What Not To Say When Asked “Why Are You Looking For A New Job?”
You always want to avoid speaking negatively about your current employer, manager, or colleagues during an interview. Even if prompted, focus your response on what drew you to this new company rather than what is motivating you to leave your current position.
Additionally, while you might desire a higher salary or total compensation, you don’t want to emphasize this in your response to an interviewer. Instead, keep the conversation centered on your qualifications and how you will contribute to the organization.
How Long Should My Answer Be To “Why Are You Looking For A New Job?”
Like most interview answers, your response should be approximately 90 seconds to 2 minutes in length. If your answer is a bit shorter or longer, that’s fine; however, there’s really no reason for it to exceed 3 minutes.
You want to provide enough detail to alleviate the interviewer’s potential concerns about your future with the company and tell them what drew you to this organization, without boring them with your response.
Example Answer: “Why Are You Looking For A New Job?”
Now that I’ve covered the best practices, here is a sample response to inspire you:
“I have really enjoyed my 8+-year tenure with The Walt Disney Company. While I love the organization’s focus on the guest experience, which is similar to Amazon’s obsession with the customer, I am looking for a leadership role that is dedicated exclusively to product management. I am excited to bring my experience in establishing, scaling, and leading diverse performance marketing teams to Amazon.”
You will notice the answer directly addresses the question (the candidate wants a position 100% focused on product management) while simultaneously pivoting to the future (a career at Amazon) and turning the conversation to the candidate’s transferable skills and fabulousness (experience in establishing and growing diverse teams). Additionally, the answer is brief, coming in at fewer than 65 words.
Final Thoughts
Remember that this is just one of many questions you will likely be asked in your next job interview. Try not to stress too much about having the perfect answer.
On a final note, if you’re still feeling stuck, you might want to reach out to a coach who can support you in strategizing your response to common interview questions. You’ve got this!
