How to Explain Why You Left Your Last Job in an Interview (and on Your Resume)

As a career counselor, I conduct a lot of interview prep sessions and find that one of the most dreaded interview questions for job seekers is, "Why did you leave your last job?" It pops up in some variation in almost every interview, and for good reason. My go-to response when a client tells me they hate a certain interview question is to say, “Ask yourself why an employer might ask that question? What are they trying to understand or appreciate about you?”

Personally, I think that employers ask this questions to understand your motivations, assess your professionalism, and gauge your overall fit within their company culture. While honesty is crucial, how you frame your departure will significantly impact their perception of you. Yes, there are high stakes in the answer to this query. (That’s likely why people loathe it.) Here are some tips on how to navigate this question with grace and confidence. Below are just a few job interviewing tips to help explain why you left (or are leaving) your last position.

As you craft your response, make it clear that you left your last position because you were ready for a role offering you more opportunity, emphasizing your desire for growth and alignment with your career goals.

1. Stay Ridiculously Positive and Focus on the Future: Even if your departure was less than ideal, avoid saying anything even mildly negative about your previous employer. Diplomacy has to rule the day. It doesn’t matter if your last boss threw tantrums that would make Miranda Priestly gasp and you believe yourself fully justified in quitting after enduring years of abuse. The only things you will share is what you learned from the experience and what you're seeking in your next role. As you craft your response, make it clear that you left your last position because you were ready for a role offering you more opportunity, emphasizing your desire for growth and alignment with your career goals. How do you do that? Ask yourself what specifically about your last position left you unsatisfied. Try not to think about your boss or even any less-than-ideal colleagues. I know that’s difficult, but it’s critical. Years ago when I had a terrible boss, I was deeply frustrated by his tantrums and surliness, but it wasn’t why I was ready to move on. Although his behavior negatively affected me, I left because I had learned everything I could from him. He was a truly awful human being, but he did understand branding and marketing. Even so, there came a point in which I realized that he had nothing more to impart to me. I wouldn’t phrase it that way in an interview, but I might say something like: “I learned so much at [former company name], but I reached a point in my career where I felt like I’d mastered the planning and execution of marketing collateral for a variety of audiences. I realized I was ready to strategize in higher level branding efforts and to pursue an opportunity to collaborate with a creative team to tackle complex design challenges. I'm looking for a role where I can really stretch my abilities and be part of a dynamic, innovative team.” While I would have stayed longer if my boss had not been abusive, my prospective employer doesn’t need to know (or care about) that. That’s the thing about emotionally immature people. They may be really good at their jobs, but what they have to teach us is usually limited to a specific niche that they’ve managed to master and likely doesn’t take long to learn. Try to think of the toxic bosses of your past as people who did you a favor for nudging you to move on when it was ready. That’s all the space in your head they deserve to occupy.

Frame your response to highlight your professionalism and potential. Photo credit: Jose Castillo

2. Be Honest, But Strategic: Honesty is essential, but you don't need to share every detail. Frame your response to highlight your professionalism and potential. Dig deep to understand what you hope to get from your next position (beyond the paycheck). According to thought leader Daniel Pink, author of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, most people are motivated in their work by three main things – mastery, autonomy, and contribution. Are there one or more of those things you hope to find in your next position that were lacking in your last? If mastery – the desire to continue to learn and master new skills and knowledge – drives you, you could say something like, “I really hope to enhance my leadership skills and grow into a position with more responsibility and challenge” or “I felt like I’d mastered the [some skill you mastered in your last job] and was ready to learn more about [some skill(s) you hope to master/continue to master].” Those motivated by autonomy might say, “In my previous role, I gained valuable experience in [mention specific skills or areas]. However, I found the structure and workflow limited my ability to take initiative and implement my own creative solutions. I'm seeking a position where I have greater autonomy to contribute my expertise and drive projects forward, allowing me to take ownership and see ideas through to completion. I'm confident that with more autonomy, I can significantly contribute to your team's success." You may have noticed this last sample had a tinge of negativity when mentioning that, “the structure and workflow limited my ability to take initiative,” but the distinction here is that this phrase is an example of constructive criticism and not negativity for negativity’s sake. It’s a subtle distinction but a relevant one. If contribution – the desire to make the world a better place, solve complex problems, or help others on a more individual basis – is a motivating factor for you, a simple response that speaks to your desire to help solve problems that matter to you can resonate well. The sweet spot for this response is answering it a way that links it meaningful to your interest in working for your prospective employer: “I'm excited by the opportunity to contribute to [organization name]'s ambitious goals for solving the climate change crisis.” You can further enhance it mentioning specifics and/or statistics: “I was heartened to read recently that wind power could supply 20-35% of U.S. electricity demand by 2030 and potentially 90% of global electricity by 2050.”

Get to the point and focus on the relevant information. Don't ramble.

3. Keep it Concise: Avoid rambling or oversharing. Get to the point and focus on the relevant information. Below are some common scenarios and how to address them:

Layoff/Restructuring:

"Due to a company-wide reorganization, my role was eliminated. While I enjoyed my time there, I'm now looking for a role where I can utilize my skills in [relevant area] and contribute to a company's long-term success."

This response is honest, professional, and focuses on your future aspirations.

Seeking Growth/Challenge:

"I enjoyed my time at [previous company], but I reached a point where I wasn't experiencing the growth I desired. I'm eager to take on new challenges and expand my skillset in a role like this."

This emphasizes your ambition and desire for professional development.

Career Change/Pivot:

"While I gained valuable experience in [previous field], I realized my true passion lies in [new field]. I've been actively pursuing opportunities to transition into this area, and I'm excited about the potential to contribute my skills and learn from your team."

This shows your proactive approach to career development.

Toxic Work Environment:

(This is tricky. Tread carefully.) "While I appreciated the opportunities I had, the company culture wasn't the right fit for me. I'm seeking a more collaborative and supportive environment where I can thrive and contribute my best work."

Keep it vague, professional, and focus on what you want in a new role, not what you disliked. Just think about the opposite of what you disliked and use that word. For instance, if things moved too slowly or were overly bureaucratic, say that you would likely thrive in a “more dyanamic, fast-paced work setting.”

Personal Reasons:

"I left my previous role due to personal reasons that required my full attention. I've since resolved the situation and am now fully committed to pursuing my career goals."

You are not required to give details. Keep it short and professional. On the off chance that they do ask more questions about it, be prepared to describe what you learned from this experience. If you acted as a caregiver for an aging parent, for example, share how you picked up skills in active listening and learned to navigate Byzantine insurance policies.

Short-Term Employment:

"That was a contract/temporary position that came to its scheduled end. I was brought in to accomplish [specific task] and completed that successfully. I am now looking for a permanent position.”

This is a very common and accepted reason. If you have metrics or other quantifiable objectives to share, even better.

Practice makes perfect. Job interviews are arguably one of the most awkward encounters we experience in our lives. Your goal is to present yourself as a positive, motivated, and skilled candidate, so I highly recommend that you prepare your responses in advance. Practice out loud to ensure a natural and confident delivery. Anticipate potential follow-up questions and prepare insightful yet concise responses.

Try to think of your next interview as a conversation with a colleague rather than a rigorous interrogation. This mindset shift and thorough preparation will eliminate your discomfort and transform your next interview into an opportunity to showcase your professionalism and passion for your next position.

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Kristin Schuchman, MSW is a career counselor, business coach, and author based in Portland, Oregon who works with creative and mission-driven professionals. She writes resumes and coaches individuals seeking support for career indecision, next steps, work re-entry, advancement, starting a business, and work-life-balance. She offers a free 30-minute Zoom or phone session and presently works with clients in-person in Portland and remotely. You can find her books The DIY Website Workbook and Jump Start: How to redirect a career that has stalled, lost direction or reached a crossroads on Amazon.