How To Answer This Tricky Job Interview Question: 'Why did you leave your last job?'

With hundreds of jobseekers vying for the same position, hiring managers ask tricky job interview questions to whittle down their pool of potential candidates. Your response to these queries will not only reveal your qualifications, but your character and values as well. This will help the hiring manager determine if you are an ideal match for the role.

One tricky situation is when a potential employer asks you about your previous job. 

Sample questions can include:

• What made you resign?
• Why did you leave your last job?
• Why are you leaving your current job?

Why interviewers ask this: Hiring managers ask this because they want to know your reason for leaving your former job and if you left on good terms. This will help interviewers gauge your character and values–both as a person and as a professional. 

How to answer: When answering this question, do not talk poorly about your previous employer. You do not want to come off as a complainer. Instead, focus on being honest, positive, and forward-looking. 

If you were terminated due to poor performance, you can briefly mention the reason behind it. You can then demonstrate what you did to improve. For example, you can tell them that you have been taking online short courses to improve particular skills.

If you were laid off as a result of restructuring, explain to hiring managers why the company needed to let you go. You can also share the total – or estimated – number of employees that were retrenched with you. Doing so will show hiring managers that you were not terminated because of any issues with your work performance.

If you did not like your previous job, frame your answer positively. Begin by emphasizing that you learned a lot in your previous job and will always be grateful to your former colleagues and bosses for the experience. Then, connect your answer to the reason why you chose the organization you are applying to. 

For example, if you left because of a traditional, somewhat close-minded boss, say instead that you value collaboration and innovation. Expound on how this company’s culture and business strategies align with that–which is precisely why you want to be part of their team.

What to do if you are unable to answer

There will be questions that will get you tongue-tied no matter how hard you prepared for the interview. When that happens, remember to stay calm and take your time to think of an appropriate response. You can ask the interviewers to repeat or clarify the question to help you buy more time. 

However, if you are unable to come up with an answer, the best response is to be honest and let them know that you will think about the question. You can then use your follow-up letter to respond once you have thought of an answer. 

***

This article originally appeared on JobStreet.com. Minor edits have been implemented by the Cosmo.ph editors. Read the full story here to find out more about other tricky job interview questions you may encounter.

[ArticleReco:{"articles":["77676","77463","77612","77412"], "widget":"More from cosmo"}]

Source: Cosmo PH