Why do you want to leave your current job?!!!!!! 8

[ChemEng84]

you are at an interview and you are asked this question what will you answer?
here are some suggested answers, please comment on them.
1) the payment is bad
2) i don't like the job
3) i look for a bigger organisation
4) i look for a better postion
5) i wish to change buissnes
regarding looking for a better organisation or position, what's the best answer if asked will you leave us if you find a better organisation or position?

 

[MikeHalloran]

Upon reflection, and remember that it's late on a Friday night and I had a good time, two things occur to me:

Choice 1 is the only one that I haven't used.

Choice 1 is also the only one that doesn't make you appear to be a malcontent or other kind of problem employee.

... which I guess means that I am a malcontent _and_ a problem employee.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[msquared48]

To gain an opportunity to utilize my existing engineering skills on a wider variety of projects, plus be exposed to a more diverse engineering experience in order that I may expand my engineering knowledge and eventually pass my engineering license exam.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

 

[abusementpark]

I guess it all depends on your situation and what the truth actually is. It is a very precarious question to answer and there are a few things I would bear in mind.

I would refrain from presenting your current employer in a negative light. Do your best to conceal any bitterness you may be currently harboring. I would also be careful about talking too much about the pay being bad. You do not want them to think you are a mercenary willing to sell your soul to highest bidder.

Overall, I think the best points to harp are why you want to work for their company, not why you want to leave your current employer.

 

[SomptingGuy]

There are aspects of my current job that I find really fulfilling, but they don't come around very often. I'd like a job where they do.

(This was pretty much what I said during my last exit interview)

- Steve

 

[tygerdawg]

The interviewer is just throwing you a softball to see if you're bitter and angry. Don't ever let that show. Give them some platitudinous corporate-speak like:

The company is going through some struggles due to the market and the future looks grim. I'm expanding my options.

We've been in a slow-growth mode for some time now and I feel I've gone as far as I can go with the company. I'm looking for a growth opportunity.

My spouse took a new job and I'm looking to relocate closer.

The company has changed it's corporate strategy and ...

Business is poor...
We've lost a huge contract that would fund our operating expenses...
The newpaper reported the CEO was indicted for stealing from our pension fund...

Whatever. Be creative, but diplomatic and upbeat. Show forward-thinking about serving your company as well as advancing your career.

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Virtuoso Robotics Engineering

http://www.bluetechnik.com

 

[jpankask]

Never cast your current employer in a bad light and try to put a positive spin on everything.

1)Instead of saying your pay is bad, state it more as your current pay does not seem to be in line with your value or what similar companies are paying for someone with your experience and capabilities (be prepared to back this up with specific examples of what you offer and maybe even postings you might have seen). Also, if you are going to use pay as a reason for leaving, you absolutely need to have other reasons for leaving as well. If your only reason for leaving a job is to make more money, the interviewer will likely not consider you highly as you will be seen as someone at risk of leaving as soon as the next higher paying job comes along.
2) Again, be prepared with specific examples of things you don't like. If possible, make sure these things don't exist at your prospective employer.
3) OK reason, but again, why? What specifically are you looking for at a bigger org that is not available at a smaller one.
4) Another good reason. What specifically constitutes a "better" position for you.
5) Understandable, be prepared with why.

Most interviewers will really not care about the reason as long as you can back up your reasoning. They are looking for confirmation that your goals are in line with the company. Certain answers may send up a red flag but if you can show that you have a good reason for that answer and your answer fits in with the company, you will have a good shot at the job. Always be truthful and positive in your reasoning. A good interviewer will be able to ferret out whether you are just telling them what you think they want to hear.

 

[BigInch]

The only reason to ever give during an interview is, "I want a challenge at a company that appreciates performance."

"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?" - Will Rogers (1879-1935) ***************

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.live.com/

 

[ChemEng84]

ok but if i say i want to go to another better position or organisation wouldn't the interviewer aske me why then won't you leave us for a better position or organisation?!!!!

 

[Henneshoe]

Unless you can tell them you were working as an elephant trainer and you developed an allergy to elephants so now you've decided to pursue chemical engineering, the interviewer is always going to be able to turn the answer to this question around on you. (If they feel like it.) Mostly the question is meant to be a difficult question to answer so the interviewer can see you skills with some pressure on you. As jpankask said, keep the answer positive and everything will be good.

If they follow up with, "Won't you leave us for a better position?" Tell them hell yeah. Why would any reasonable person stay at a job if they find a better position somewhere else. (I mean better in the larger sense, not just a pay raise or a better title)

 

[DKirkham]

I will chip in my 2 cents from an employer point of view--I have interviewed more people than I can remember.

1. If a guy says he can weld, then I walk out in the shop with him and ask him to weld something. We have a really bad welding machine in the shop and I usually ask them to weld on that TIG. You have to be GOOD to make a nice weld with it. I had one guy come in and make a mess. He then gave me a million excuses from bad metallurgy, bad argon, bad stick, to the moon as to why he couldn't weld it. I didn't even ask him to call back. I don't need an "excuses guy" in the shop.

I did this with another guy and when he made a mess, he apologized and said, "Well, I guess I am not as good of welder as I thought I was." I hired him on the spot, at higher pay than he was asking--even though we did not have an opening at the time. Years later, he still works for me and is running a big chunk of the shop.

As for all the negative and bitter comments above, I can tell you they are absolutely true. If someone comes in and tells me they hate their boss, then I probably can't see a reason to have them hate me too.

I am looking for people who:
want a challenge
want to learn new skills
want to lead other people
want to better themselves
get along with others--so I don't have to babysit them
don't take themselves too seriously (have a sense of humor).

David

http://www.kirkhammotorsports.com

 

[BigInch]

ChemE,

Just tell them you don't feel challenged where you are, you've talked to them about it and the company was unable to move you into a more suitable position. Be specific about what you are looking for in moving to a new company and show them that in your opinion you have the necessary skills, experience and desire to justify the increased responsibility that you are asking for. Then simply let them know that, if they agree, you would be very pleased to have an offer from them.

David, Very good list.

"If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?" - Will Rogers (1879-1935) ***************

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.live.com/

 

[KENAT]

In summary, your answer should be something about how you want a challenge or to grow or some other personal growth BS. Just try to make it sound at least half genuine.

There are exceptions, for example, if I ever found anything in my home town to interview then my answer would be something like "I'm sick of working out of town and would like to spend more time with my family". I'd probably throw something in there about personal growth but the above it true.

Another answer for me would be that my background is in aerospace/defense and that's where my interest lies, at the moment I can't work in that field due to clearance/citizenship issues, however once these are sorted out then I'll probably apply to some aerospace/defense places and part of my answer would be that I want to get back into aerospace/defense.

So there are other acceptable answers, in my opinion, but generally the 'personal growth' version is a safe bet so long as you can make it sound genuine and not a canned answer.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[macmet]

So, this is a question where honesty is not the best approach?

What about saying something like "At this point in my life I'd like to live in a city like _______." Would that work? Because I've said that before.

 

[DKirkham]

BigInch,

Thanks!

I can not stress this enough. Look at it from management's point of view.

I want someone who I won't have to babysit and who I can "let go" (not in the fire sense) and not think about. I want to be surprised by how innovative they are and how they solved problems. I am impressed with people who foresee problems and save us money. I am especially impressed when they solve problems without spending a ton of bucks on the problem.

I don't want them complaining to me about this and that--I probably already know about what they are complaining about anyway.

I don't want to wonder where they are and what they are doing. I don't want to see them talking on their cell phone or surfing the internet all the time (I may not say anything, but I assure you I remember who does and who doesn't come time for raises).

I want you to admit mistakes promptly and bring problems to my attention promptly--no matter who makes them. I forgive honest mistakes promptly and fire those who hide mistakes even faster. Frankly, one of the most impressive things you can do is promptly admit you really screwed something up--then I feel I can trust you with the really important stuff.

I do not want to be asked every 5 minutes what to do. Remember, I want to do MY job too--innovate, think of new products, experiment on cool things--not have to constantly babysit and and be a cheer leader (which is a major part of what management does and no one realizes it).

That is how you make yourself valuable to an employer. That may not have answered the question directly, but those are the points I'd try to hit in an interview.

David

http://www.kirkhammotorsports.com

 

[epoisses]

I think as long as you have enough self-control to be positive and not be bitter or sarcastic about your current employer, the best approach is total honesty.

I hate it when people give me a politically correct BS answer just because they think they are supposed to give a politically correct BS answer. It just shows they have no clue how to best use the limited time of the interview, instead of insulting my intelligence.

 

[EmmanuelTop]

Epoisses,

That is an excellent answer from you, and thanks for sharing your experience. BigInch and David are also making a good point.
I think there is a general issue with replacing the honesty with politeness, which is a mistake in my opinion. As long as you are honest, and without any bitterness or personal anger towards your management, I can't see any problem with expressing your personal opinion(s).

Someone has said that "the management already knows what they are doing bad, and they certainly don't need you to tell them about it - they are aware of it, but don't want to change it". I don't have any problems in repeating those things to them, as long as I feel affected by the bad policy.

I believe there can be no serious professional engineer who will consider another company/position only because of money. You always want a challenge, new experience, and diversity in career - money and references will come anyway, if you like what you are doing.

 

[SomptingGuy]

The grass is greener. Define "greener".

- Steve

 

[HgTX]

epoisses:

I think we've already had this discussion on another thread, but your approach only works when one is leaving a good job for a better job. Bad jobs do in fact exist, and good people do leave them. And in a case like that, honesty is out the window, because no amount of cheerful tone of voice and happy facial expression can make one not seem inappropriately bitter when saying negative things about one's previous employer.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[KENAT]

"Because I'm sick of all the lay-offs and figure eventually my name will be on the list so I'd like to jump first"

How's that?

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?