How to Answer “Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?” (2024)

Your job interview is moving along quite well when, suddenly, you’re asked one of those difficult-to-answer interview questions that can make or break your chances of getting the job. The question is: “Why did you leave your last job?”

When a hiring manager asks you this question, you need to know what to say to portray your previous position—and yourself—in the most flattering light possible. Here’s some help with answering this tricky interview question.

Why an Interviewer Asks This Question

An interviewer likely asks this question to assess their level of risk in taking you on as an employee. They want to know if you left your previous job for a good reason, if you left on good terms, and what your level of commitment is to your work.

If you left your job because of performance issues, a hiring manager might question what your performance will be at their company. If you job hop a lot, they may wonder if you’ll be a loyal employee.

Ultimately, your answer to this question can give an interviewer insight into who you are and how you’ve handled your professional work life.

Example Answers for “Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?”

1. Lack of Advancement Opportunities

“I was eager to advance in my career and independently lead more projects. But with such a small and tight-knit team, the management style wasn’t necessarily set up to support that level of ownership from employees.”

2. Wanting a New Challenge

“After spending five years with my last company, I’m ready to take on a new challenge and grow my skills. I’m excited to learn something new, and I know this role will allow me to use my prior expertise while also gaining new knowledge.”

3. Changing Careers

“I realized that my true passion is working as a writer. I’ve always loved the written word but decided to take my career in a different direction after college. Now, I’m ready to pursue a writing career, and I’m particularly excited by the possibility of working with [Company X].”

4. Fired

“Unfortunately, I was let go from my previous position. I think, ultimately, the job wasn’t a good fit, and I wasn’t able to learn the right skills to do the job to the best of my ability. My boss and I agreed that it was time to move on. I’m looking forward to using my best skills in my next role.”

5. Laid Off

“In my last role, the company suffered some financial hardships and had to eliminate my job, along with many others. I’m grateful for my time in that role, as it gave me the opportunity to increase my knowledge while forging some lifelong bonds with my colleagues.”

6. Family Responsibilities

“I decided to take time to start a family. I’m now ready and excited to jump back into the workforce and utilize my professional expertise and skill set.”

“Leaving my last job was an intentional decision to pause my career and focus on full-time caregiving for a family member in need. Personally, it was the right thing to do and was also a very fulfilling and eye-opening experience. During my time away from full-time work, I kept well-informed of the changes and evolution in this industry. Before diving into my job search, I proactively refreshed my skills in several areas, including [X, Y, and Z]. And now I’m excited and energized to return to work.”

Tips for Answering “Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?”

1. Be Positive

When speaking about your previous position, focus on as many positive aspects as possible. Naturally, most job seekers are looking for a new job because something was amiss in their last position.

As tempting as it might be to bash your old boss, you should never speak negatively about them. For starters, you never know how they might be connected to the person interviewing you.

It’s not up to you to disclose anything negative. If you do, the only thing that will look negative is you. When you are asked why you left your last job, make sure to remain positive and discuss something valuable and beneficial that you were able to take away from that position.

2. Be Honest

It’s crucial to be honest during difficult job interview questions. After all, you can’t paint your previous position to be something that it wasn’t. So instead of badmouthing your former boss, colleagues, or the company as a whole, be honest and say that the job wasn’t the right fit for you anymore.

Be prepared, though: you might be pressured to divulge more information. If you have to spill the beans, be sure to stay unemotional, calm, and even-toned in your responses. Try to take the spotlight off the negative and focus on what you’re hoping to be involved with in your potential new role.

3. Be Factual

Unless you loved your last job and are happy to talk about it in a positive light, it’s best to stick to the basic facts. Don’t offer up too many details, as you might wind up saying something that you’ll regret later.

When asked why you left your last job, you should mention the work you accomplished in your previous position, along with your ultimate plans for the future—as opposed to what you didn’t get to do or that your coworkers were catty.

By pointing out the facts—and leaving out opinions—you’ll be sure to give an honest, credible account of your work at your previous job.

4. Be Confident

If you left your previous job for the right reasons, you don’t need to dread this question or feel any guilt. Everyone quits and begins new jobs multiple times during their career life. Whatever answer you give, say it with confidence and be ready to move on to the next question.

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• How Do You Deal with Remote Work Challenges? What to Say in an Interview
• How to Answer Interview Questions About Your Layoff (Examples)
• How to Address Major Concerns During a Job Interview
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• 30 Common Interview Questions, Tips and Example Answers