Reasons For Leaving A Job

There are many reasons for leaving a job without having a new one lined up, and not all of them are created equal. Some of your resulting resume gaps can be explained away by having “good” or “acceptable” reasons, like taking time off to raise a family, or going back to school. Coming out of a tough economy, even getting laid off doesn’t have the stigma attached to it that it once did. But what if you were the one who decided on quitting your job?

Additional responsibility, increased pay, and relocation are often ‘good excuses’ for leaving a job. However, many people quit for more personal reasons—because they couldn’t deal with a boss from hell, they felt stuck in a dead-end position, or they were tired of enduring poor treatment. In those cases, you’ll have to find a way to put a positive spin on why you decided to say, “I quit!” when you go on your next job interview.

That’s because the last thing you want to risk is having your interviewer thinking that you’re a quitter who couldn’t hack it, wasn’t a team player, or who was hard to manage. This is how can you explain in an honest way why you quit your last job without scaring off recruiters.

You left a demanding job because you were feeling burned out

Don’t launch into a tirade about how you were expected to work 80 hours a week or how your supervisor expected you to answer 11 p.m. emails. Instead, say something along the lines of: “I’m looking for an opportunity where I can leverage my skills and experience, while also balancing time with family and friends. I believe we perform our best when we have a healthy balance between work and life.”

Many companies are embracing—and even demanding—work/life blend.

If you have no other gaps on your resume and have a track record of working with companies for big chunks of time, an interviewer should be satisfied with that response.

You left to take care of a family member or health issue

Of all the good reasons for leaving a job, your duty to your health and your loved ones is at the top.

You can address that this was a very specific and one-time issue that is now resolved, and assure them the situation isn’t part of a pattern. That way, a hiring manager won't be worried that they’ll bring you on board only to lose you in a few months.

You needed a change

If you’re making a career change, is it because you simply reached the point where you couldn’t stand what you were doing anymore? If so, that’s not necessarily the best way to put it to a prospective employer. Instead, say something like: “I’m seeking out opportunities that will allow me to make full use of my newly acquired web design skills” (or whatever new passion or old interest you want to tap into).

Again, prospective employers are looking for stability, so do your best to demonstrate that you’re not just seeking this position on a whim, but that you’ve taken steps to prepare yourself and done industry research to make sure this is what you want.

You didn’t click with your former company’s ethics

There are times when resigning from a job might have been the smartest thing you could’ve done. That said, whether you felt uncomfortable about the way management treated young hires or you found out about some shady financial practices, bashing your former employer will not go over well (even if it’s well deserved).

Instead, try to turn the conversation onto the values you share with this new potential employer.

Make the shift to describe what you admire about the company you’re interviewing with, such as how they focus on diversity and inclusion, or strive to be environmentally conscious. This will also give you the opportunity to show that you did your homework.

You’re looking for more money or a promotion

You might have felt justified at leaving a job because you didn’t get a raise or title change in four years, but there’s a way to express that in an interview without coming off as bitter. Instead, explain that you’d reached the growth ceiling in your position and you are ready for your next challenge. This puts a positive spin on your departure and the ‘challenge’ portion implies that you will be a hard worker.”

No matter your reason for resigning from a job, here are a few more of general tips to keep in mind:

·         Less is more. Provide just enough information to explain your reason for leaving without going into too much detail.

·         Stay on point. Stick with sharing relevant information that relates to the company and position you’re applying to.

·         Be honest. While you can certainly frame how you quit in a positive way, you should never flat out lie about how things went down.

Show off your strengths

Though you may feel a bit tripped up on this question, remember it's not the only thing a hiring manager will take into consideration with regards to your candidacy. One way to start off on a good foot is with a strong resume that highlights your achievements. If an employer is impressed by your resume, it could help draw the focus toward the stuff you want to talk about: your skills and experience.