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Article from The Asian Wall Street Journal, 22nd November 2002
MOVING ON UP
Sitting nervously in front of an interviewer, there’s one question that many job seekers dread: “Why did you leave your last employer?”
Rather than launch into a creative tale, it’s best to stick to the facts, says Paul Heng, managing director of NeXT Career Consulting in Singapore. “You need to be as honest as possible, but spin things in your direction.”
Mr. Heng answers query from a reader on how to handle this tough question without sinking your job prospects.
I have been working for the same company for eight years since I graduated from college, and am ready for something new. One worry I have is interviewing for a new position – most employers will ask the same question: “Why do you want to change jobs?” This bothers me – I don’t know the best way to answer. I just think my current job is boring and I want to change the environment and learn more. Any suggestions?
[Name withheld, Hong Kong]
There’s one cardinal rule you should remember when answering this dreaded question: “One should never say ‘negative’ things about their ex-employer, ex-boss, ex-colleagues,” Mr. Heng says. To do so will come across as “sour grapes,” he says, and may raise doubts in the interviewer’s mind about your attitude and ability to work with a team.
This also applies to responding that you are bored with your job – this may give the impression that you’re not trying hard enough to find new challenges in your current role. Instead, find something positive or neutral to say, says Mr. Heng. “For example, say something about out-learning the job and not seeing other worthwhile opportunities to induce you to stay.”
There is a proviso with using this response, however. The tactic works best when you’re still employed, otherwise you can expect another different cult question: “Why did you leave without a job, especially during tough times such as this?” says Mr. Heng.
Still, even though it may be an issue financially, leaving a job without another lined up doesn’t necessarily hinder your future job prospects. Using the “out-learning” tactic is particularly positive if you left to further your education – it’s all part of becoming a better future employee by furthering your knowledge, says Mr. Heng. If you’re young and have no children but have left your job to seek out more challenging opportunities, employers may also not look too harshly on your unemployed status. Employers respect people who take time out for a little career soul-searching, he says. But if you have children, bear in mind that quitting a job without other income can come across as selfish, unless you have the financial wherewithal to do this without appearing to risk your children’s future.
If you left a job because of family or health reasons, Mr. Heng suggests answering honestly but be prepared to disclose a little personal information that you might not otherwise be comfortable discussing – explain the family circumstance or health issue, and why it’s not an issue now.
If you’ve been laid off, “tell it like it is,” Mr. Heng says. Remember to separate the job from you. “So, do not say ‘I have been laid off or retrenched.’ Instead, say something along the lines of – your job was made redundant due to a restructuring, management change, merger or whatever. People will usually accept this.”
If you have been fired, things can get trickier. If this is the case, basically offer a reason why there was a mismatch of expectations and performance, says Mr. Heng. “Try not to take 100% of the blame – perhaps communication wasn’t quite clear and you suddenly realized what you delivered wasn’t meeting expectations.”
You can always turn a negative employment record into a positive by explaining what you’ve learned from the experience – perhaps the importance of good communication with your supervisors about setting and meeting goals. “You’re smarter now,” says Mr. Heng. “You may have had to pay a very high schooling fee, but you learned.”
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