Valid Reasons for Job Change with Sample Answers

Are you in dire need of a job change? Do you feel stuck in your current job? Does your current work environment drain your energy? Well, when you do not feel valued in a field or want growth in your professional life then you look for different job roles.

However, finding a new job is not that easy. But even when you find a job, the harder question is how to give the right reason for job change to the interviewer. After all, you cannot tell them that you hated your previous job. Neither does it look decent to complain about your previous job colleagues or boss.

It is very important to answer the question of why you are leaving your current job positively. This is because it largely determines whether you will be selected for your new job. It also gives your employer a clear view of your personality.

Therefore, this article will help you find out everything that you need to know about giving the right reasons for this career move along with some tips and tricks that will help you to get your new job quickly. We have also discussed some great examples to help you understand and provide a valid reason.

What do Recruiters Want to Hear?

You have to state the best reason for job change because it shows interviewers how you are as a person. If you fail to provide an affirmative answer your chances of getting hired may get affected.

This is a commonly asked interview question to candidates already working in the industry. No matter how simple this question may seem but you need to prepare thoroughly for it.

The interviewer wants to know that you left your previous job for the right reasons. Some commonly accepted reasons include better career growth opportunities and more challenges in the job that will move you forward. They want to ensure you didn’t leave your job because of poor relationships with colleagues or poor work performance with college students.

Top 5 Reasons for Job Change with Examples

There are many reasons to change a job, whether it is to create a work-life balance, career enhancement or for a good opportunity. Switching jobs might be important for your professional and personal growth sometimes.

But in front of the potential employer, you must make sure you give the most direct and convincing reason for a job change. The secret to getting a new job is to keep your answers short, clear, and positive.

Here we have listed the top five reasons for a job change.

1. When you didn’t enjoy your previous job

This is one of the valid reasons to change a job. You cannot work that you have no interest in doing. But saying this to your new employer can be tricky. You cannot risk using the words ‘quit’ or ‘walked out’ because this will put them in a state of confusion and uncertainty.

If you have left your previous job because of monotonous work, you can give these reasons.

Sample:

• I re-examined my career goals and realized that my old job did not give me much exposure to reach my goals. That is why I am looking for new employment opportunities.
• I want to discover new opportunities within my field to find my best skills and improve upon them.
• I am currently looking for new opportunities that can help me grow as a professional.

2. Your career goals changed

This reason for job change is best when you have recently completed a higher degree or taken a break from your work. If you are changing your job because of new career goals, then you can give these reasons to your new employer.

Sample:

• I look forward to changing my career path for future growth potential and new challenges. I want to learn and build on my skills, as well as help the organization grow with my knowledge.

3. You were not appreciated at your job

Let us suppose that you worked for three years at a company. After giving in all of your efforts and hard work, you ask them for a promotion. But even after giving in extra hours and working overtime, you never got that promotion. You decided to leave that job.

If this is the reason for your job change then you can smartly present this reason in a positive way to your new employer.

Sample:

• I am looking for a job that can challenge me to improve my skills. I realized that I wasn’t getting enough challenges that could help me grow. That is why I decided to switch to a company that had more challenging work. I am looking for opportunities where I can grow professionally as well as personally. I started looking for companies that can provide me with the same. That’s when I applied for a job here.

4. You had personal issues

Life sometimes puts us in a position where we must give up on our professional life for personal reasons. This can range from family issues to health concerns and is definitely a valid reason for seeking a job change.

If you have changed your job for any personal reason, then you need to prepare a good reason for the job change. You can answer:

Sample:

• I couldn’t leave my city for a new job and accepted an offer that didn’t match my skill level because I wanted to be closer to my home for my parents. But now I’m looking for new roles where I can use my skills and knowledge and gain new learnings.

5. You were offered a better position

This is the most common reason for a job change. You don’t need to make up stories or lie about anything when this is the case. Besides, leaving an old job for a new one that not only pays you better but also helps you to grow as a professional is the best thing that you can do for your career. However, you don’t need to list each of those reasons to your new employer. Just be firm and directly tell them the reality.

Sample:

• I am looking for a better position in the company that matches my skills and future career goals, so I accepted it. I am looking for new challenges. Taking on challenges and receiving rewards inspires me to work with new energy daily. For me, financial aid acts as a reward for my hard work. In your organization, I can achieve my financial goal while working in my skilled field.

It is advisable not to add any additional reasons and to lengthen the answer. The shorter you keep it, the more real and professional it will look.

Tips for Giving the Best Reason for Job Change

The question of the reason for job change can be intimidating. In this situation, the worst thing that you can do while answering is fumbling with your words and present yourself as an underconfident person. And that can greatly influence your interview results.

It is therefore very important to have a firm attitude while giving your reason for seeking a job change. Here are five tips to keep in mind while stating the reason for the job change to your new employer.

Address your long-term goals

Whatever your reason for changing jobs, it is always safe to let the employer know that this new job will help you achieve your long-term goals. Before going to the interview, you should make a list of all the reasons why your new job is better than your old job. After this, you should be able to express all of these reasons with confidence and confidence. Mention your long-term goals to the interviewer, this will increase their confidence in you.

Be direct

When you are giving your reason for job change in an interview, make sure that you do not sound like you are making up stories. The employer doesn’t want to hear your life story about being mistreated at your old job or how desperate you are to leave that job. Get straight to the point and be honest and direct in your answer.

Go prepared

Before going for the interview, prepare a list of all the reasons for changing jobs. Be honest and respectful about your previous job. Having a clear point about why you want to leave your old job will make a great impression on the interviewer. This ultimately increases your chances of being selected.

Also, read the job description and job requirements before the interview. This will give an idea about the company and you can include related skills in your answer.

Be respectful towards your old job

Just because you’re leaving a job doesn’t mean you can speak badly of your boss or the job. It doesn’t matter why you’re leaving it, after all, you worked for it and it still gave you a lot of things to learn. So never show disrespect towards your old work. In fact, you should be able to appreciate what you learned at your old job in front of the new employer. Also, expressing sincere appreciation make you look positive.

Speak positively about your current job

It is better to speak good about the current job you are applying for than to speak badly about an old job. Also, don’t feel like you’re trying to escape from a bad situation. Answer in a way that this new job will add value to your career rather than trying to replace your old job. Tell the employer about all the positive reasons why you chose their company over others. This helps in building a better relationship with your boss and your co-workers in case you are selected.

Dos and Don’ts in an Interview

Your new job is a step in your career development. This is why how you present yourself in an interview matters the most as it will tell your future employer about your personality, motivation, career goals, etc.

Here are some do’s and don’ts of interviews that you should follow when explaining the reason for the job change.

What is the Best Reason for Job Change?

When asked in an interview, the best reason for switching your job is self-improvement. Likewise, self-improvement and career growth go hand in hand. You can mention that you want to work on a specific skill you need to master in your career. Or maybe, you want to take on more challenging tasks to learn and grow better.

It also includes taking on more responsibility or changing your career path to something new and different. But any reason that revolves around self-improvement is certainly the best reason to change jobs.

Prepare a Good Reason for Switching your Job

The way you present your answer is way more important than the actual reason that you give for a job change. Your chances of getting hired at the new job are largely determined by the way you answer the question –Why do you want to change jobs?

The choice of your words greatly influences your interview results. Coming back to the reasons for a job change, we have tried to incorporate some of the most valid reasons with sample answers that not only sound genuine but are also extremely direct and professional to use.

Moreover, the tips and tricks mentioned above will save you from unnecessary embarrassment during the interview. Since the reasons are many, examine your situation and reason out in the best possible way. Best of luck!

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