How do you answer the question why you left your last job?

Answer 1

"Why did you leave your last job?" You should always address an interview question with honesty. However, you should also always try to frame your honest answer in the most positive way possible. For example, if you felt underappreciated and underpaid at your last job, instead of ranting about your overbearing boss and underappreciative corporation, you might say that your prior work didn't allow you to grow professionally or intellectually and didn't offer advancement opportunity. Always keep in mind that your interviewer is looking for a positive, motivated, hardworking candidate. No potential employer wants to hear your gripe about a prior boss or talk poorly about a previous employer. She or he wants to hear about your potential as a superstar at the position you are seeking.

Answer 2

Try to say something positive or forward-looking, such as that you were interested in the line of work you are applying for, or you wanted a new challenge, or you wanted to better yourself. You might say it was because there was no chance of promotion or you were not given opportunities to learn or to advance (if true).

Don't say it was because you couldn't get along with somebody.
Previous job wasn't challenging enough, felt I couldn't learn anymore in that job, salary didn't reflect the job I was doing, I felt there was no other step up the ladder, it was repetitive and no room to grow

Answer 3

If you voluntarily left, say that you felt you weren't challenged enough. You either say you were fired, made redundant, moved to a new area, wanted a fresh start or why ever you left your last job but tell the truth because you can be taken to court if they find out you've lied and they will find out.

Answer 4

If the job is similar to what you had, be fairly honest and say that the job didn't offer you the opportunity to learn and advance. One, this tells the potential employer that you want to continue to gain expertise in your field and two that you are interested in staying with the company that will let you do that.

DO NOT diss the former employer, he might have friends in the new company. These days, all similar companies have interpersonal relationships...and what you say might get back to them with disastrous consequences to you. NEVER say that you were passed over for a promotion that you felt that you deserved, just say that the advancement opportunities were limited for you.

DO NOT say that you had a fight with your supervisor! This tells the new employer that you are not a team player and that you are trouble. It would help if you could show that you are taking classes to advance your knowledge in the field, or that you are training for a different field.

If this is so, be also honest and tell the employer that you liked the company but that you wanted a new field of expertise and that his company is the better fit. Which very well might be the case. Employers do understand that if the janitor suddenly wants to be an IT engineer, frequently the man doing the janitor job will be laughed out of the office. The new employer would understand that.

Always be classy and take the high road. Never diss the former job, just say that you have other priorities. Be prepared with a fairly honest answer, and never give the opportunity to look bitter, disgruntled, or argumentative.