There is no shortage of information on how to ace a job interview, and it is overwhelming when you take stock of the all the interview questions you must know how to answer. If you attempt to practice all of the recommended questions, you will never be prepared for the interview.
Based on his over 20 years of experience hiring employees at all levels at multiple Fortune 500 organization, Russell Tuckerton distilled his knowledge and understanding to identify seven tough interview questions that job candidates must get right. In a series of seven blog posts, we will provide a sample answer to each of the seven tough interview questions.
Answer to tough interview question, “Why are you looking to leave your current position?”
“Like many organizations in the media industry, XYZ Media is going through major restructuring and downsizing. Unfortunately, this has meant the elimination of many positions, including my own. I am disappointed, of course, because I am proud of many of the contributions I made. However, I now have an opportunity to put my skills and experience to work in a new setting such as your organization.”
When drafting your statement, consider these three points:
1. Keep It Short- Generally, the more you try to explain, the more difficult your explanation becomes. You will be prepared to answer follow-up questions, but only if they are asked.
2. Keep it Positive- Negative statements about your former boss or organization will only hurt you.
3. Keep it Truthful- A number of factors result in someone leaving. Pick the reason that is most positive and easiest to explain.
The response offered to the tough interview question, “Why are you looking to leave your current position?” is a guide, therefore it is the job seeker’s responsibility to tweak the advice offered.
This article is contributed by Right Management, www.rightmanagement.sg, the global career experts within the ManpowerGroup.