Job Interviews - How to Answer the "Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?" Question

It is common for hiring managers to ask why you want to leave your current job. How you answer that question can have a big impact on your chances of getting the new position. So don't blow it!When answering the "Why do you want to leave your current job?" question, my advice is to be honest (to a point), positive and upbeat.

There are many reasons to leave a job. Most people are looking for career advancement opportunities or new challenges. Sometimes companies get into financial difficulty and have to reduce their work force. Where I live, many people would leave their current job simply to have one with a shorter commute!

Those are pretty straightforward reasons that anyone would understand.

Job Interviews - How to Answer the "Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?" Question

Then there are people who want to leave because they do not like their job or their boss. But NEVER say anything negative about the company or people you are working for. If you do, the interviewer may think of you as a complainer who has a problem with authority or cannot get along with others.

So, even if the reason you want to leave is that you hate your job or do not get along with your boss, give a different reason for wanting to leave. You do not have to lie; just be discreetly selective with your answer.

Sample answers:

"I've worked with ABC Company for five years, and during that time I've achieved all of the goals I set for myself. I enjoy my job, but my advancement opportunities there are limited. I'm looking for new challenges with a larger organization, like yours. With my experience in (whatever), I'm sure I could contribute to your company's mission (be as specific as possible here) and continued success."

OR...

"To be honest, I don't want to leave. I've enjoyed my work at XYZ Company and have had great success there. But the company is going through a tough time and is downsizing its staff, so it's time for me to move on. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. I've admired your company for years and am excited to have this opportunity to interview with you. I feel my experience at XYZ Company will enable me to help you with...(whatever)."

OR...

"I like my current job, but I'm interested in changing career paths. I'd like to broaden my horizons and find new ways to contribute to an organization's goals. This position with your company would allow me to do that by...(whatever)."

Try to include specific information relevant to the company you're interviewing with. For example, if you know the company participates in community environmental events, mention that ("I'm also eager to work for a company that helps the environment.").

KEY: The more you use specific information that shows you are knowledgeable about the job and the company for which you're applying, the sweeter your answer will sound to the interviewer!

Read "The Job Interview Success System" (mentioned below) for more great job interview tips.

Job Interviews - How to Answer the "Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?" Question
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Bonnie Lowe has been helping job seekers get hired for many years, and is author of the book, The Job Interview Success System.

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Answer To What Are Your Weaknesses Interview Question

Interviewers who ask, "What are your weaknesses" do not expect you to admit to an embarrassing weakness. And while they know you've the rehearsed an answer to the greatest weakness interview question, interviewers want to see how well you handle it.

How to answer, "What are your weaknesses?"

You need to have several arrows in your quiver to handle this question. That's because some interviewers will press you to reveal a true weakness. When that happens, offer an answer and hope it satisfies your listener. If it doesn't, move on to the second answer. If that doesn't work, use the third and fourth answers in turn.

Answer To What Are Your Weaknesses Interview Question

Here are four answers to the weaknesses question. As mentioned in the last paragraph, they're intended to be used one at a time -

Answer #1

"I guess we all have weaknesses. But it's been a long time since I've thought about mine. I prefer to focus on my strengths and make them even stronger. That's why I've had such a successful career up to this point."

This is a good answer to the greatest weaknesses interview question because we're all born with strengths and weaknesses. To be successful, you need to focus on your strengths and use them the most. You must also be aware of your weaknesses and stop doing them.

If the interviewer says you haven't really answered the question, move on to....

Answer #2

"As I said, we all have weaknesses. But from what you've told me about the job, I know I won't be required to use a weakness."

At this point, you hope the interviewer will move on to the next question. But if she continues pressing, say...

Answer #3

"What I love about the job is that it allows me to use my strengths."

Finally, if the interviewer insists on another response, go to....

Answer #4

Talk about a technical skill that's not related to the position you're seeking; a skill you can easily learn. Then explain how you're working on "an area I've targeted for improvement." Here, you're replaced the word "weaknesses" with, "an area I've targeted for improvement."

You can say, for example, "I've gotten a bit rusty in my hands on computer skills since becoming a manager. So I'm spending time each week doing hands on work in order to stay on top.

In a nutshell

An interview is not a confessional. Whenever you're asked, "What are your weaknesses?" avoid talking about a shortcoming in your personality or admitting a true weakness. Both would be deal killers.

Answer To What Are Your Weaknesses Interview Question
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Randy Place, a career management consultant in private practice, and Internet host of Your Career Service - http://www.yourcareerservice.com Daily posts feature job-finding tips and career management advice. Topics include job interview tips, networking strategies, dealing with job loss, resume writing and personalized cover letters, getting ahead at work, how to handle standard interview questions and much more.

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How to Answer the Salary Question in a Job Interview

The job interview is progressing just great. You've established a good rapport with your interviewers and you feel really positive about the opportunity. But then that 800-pound gorilla of a question is tossed at you: "What kind of salary are you looking for?" You want to be cooperative, but you're torn. Do you answer the question and move forward? Or do you play the "you-tell-me-first" game?

Sometimes, a well thought out "non-answer" will earn the employer's respect; other times it will simply annoy. The experts can lean either way, so you need to understand the different schools of thought, then decide how to answer.

Interviews

Before the salary question comes up, you need to find out the appropriate salary range for someone with your experience in the kind of position you're seeking within your market. There are a handful of web sites that can provide this information. You should research salaries as well as information about the company as part of your pre-interview preparation.

How to Answer the Salary Question in a Job Interview

The idea behind trying to postpone an answer to the salary question is that if you state a salary too early in the hiring process, you lose two big opportunities. The first is to get them to love you before they know the price. Until they want you, you have no negotiating leverage. The other opportunity is to demonstrate your ability to handle an uncomfortable situation (i.e., being asked this tough question) confidently and respectfully, without caving - a prized skill in most jobs.

If you feel it's in your best interests to avoid the question, your reply should respectfully and professionally communicate three general principles:

* Your interest in the opportunity;

* Your expectation to be paid in line with market conditions and your experience level; and

* Your willingness to discuss salary history once you and the company decide you're the right person for the position.

To Answer or Not to Answer?

If you're applying for a sales-oriented job, where negotiation skills are critical to success, then by all means, demonstrate your negotiating finesse and your ability to diplomatically sidestep the question. If you're applying for an administrative assistant's position in a huge company with a rigid salary structure, there's not much point in negotiating.

When you should answer depends on when in the hiring process the question comes up. Some companies demand salary history with your application. Others will ask the salary question in an initial phone screen. The trouble is, at these early stages, they're most likely trying to screen you out, not in. Even at these early stages of the selection process you have a choice whether or not to provide a compensation number.

Whether you want to answer the question directly or indirectly, immediately or later, here are four principles to help you craft a professional answer to this inevitable question.

What to Say, When You Say It

Use the following examples as a guide. Modify them to suit your style and personality, and practice until you can say any one of them with a smile.

1. "I was paid well in my last (or current) position. The number was in line with market conditions and the results I delivered. I'm very interested in this opportunity, and I'll be happy to discuss my compensation history when we determine that I'm the right person for the job."

2. "I realize you need to be sure my expectations are consistent with the salary range for this position. To ensure that we're aligned, please tell me your range for this position."

3. "I'm reluctant to focus on just one factor at this stage, when other factors affect what makes an opportunity a great fit. What's more important to me are the position, the company, the people I'd be working with, and growth potential. So far, I'm impressed with what I have learned about this opportunity and I remain very interested in learning more!"

4. "The actual figure will depend heavily on a number of important variables, but my experience and research tell me that fair compensation for this position falls in the range of __________." [Note: Name a wide salary range toward the higher end of your expectations. For example, ",000 to ,000 per year" or " to per hour."]

Remember, your negotiating leverage goes way up once they're convinced they can't live without you. But some employers will insist on a number up front, so be ready to give one. If you don't give one, chances are the employer won't toss your resume in the wastebasket, says Michael Neece, chief strategy officer at PongoResume. "Your resume has already proven that they want to talk to you. I've never known of a situation in which a prospective employee was eliminated from consideration after an interview because he or she refused to answer the question."

Don't get caught off guard. Craft a response that feels comfortable for you and practice saying it. Think that sounds silly? Remember that being unprepared for the salary question can literally cost you thousands of dollars if you undersell yourself, or price yourself right out of consideration.

How to Answer the Salary Question in a Job Interview

By Rick Saia

© 2004-2008 Pongo Software, LLC. All rights reserved.
Pongo"Resume (http://www.pongoresume.com)

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