In this guide
Interviews and salary conversations
How to answer “Why are you leaving your job?”
Honest, forward-looking ways to explain leaving a job, including redundancy, a difficult manager, a short stay or being dismissed, without criticising anyone.
Why interviewers ask
They are checking three things: that there is no hidden problem they should know about, that you will not leave this job for the same reason, and how you talk about past employers, because you may one day talk about them the same way.
Turning reasons into answers
| Real reason | How to say it |
|---|---|
| No room to progress | “I've taken on as much as the role allows and I'm ready for responsibility for a whole process.” |
| A difficult manager | “The team's direction changed and the role became less hands-on with customers, which is the work I want to do.” |
| Redundancy | “My role was one of several made redundant when the company closed its regional office.” |
| Burnout or workload | “I want a role where I can do fewer things to a higher standard.” |
| Relocation | “I'm moving to the area for family reasons and looking for a long-term role here.” |
| Pay | “I'm looking for a role that reflects the level I'm working at now.” (Then raise pay later, not as the headline.) |
When the reason is difficult
Illustrative example
Explaining a dismissal
Before
“It wasn't really my fault, the manager had it in for me and the targets were impossible.”
After
“I was let go after missing sales targets in my first six months. Looking back, I took a role that suited a different style of selling from mine. Since then I've been doing account management on a temporary contract, where I've kept every client I've been given, and that's the kind of work this role involves.”
Plain, brief and followed by evidence. You do not need to volunteer every detail, but do not deny or disguise a dismissal if asked directly.
Illustrative example
Explaining a very short stay
After
“The role turned out to be mainly data entry rather than the analysis described at interview, and I decided early that it wasn't the right fit. I'm being more careful now to ask detailed questions about the day-to-day work, which is why I asked about the reporting cycle earlier.”
If you are still employed
Keep the focus on what you are moving towards. You do not need to explain why you have not left yet. If the interviewer asks whether your employer knows you are looking, it is fine to say you are keeping the search confidential and ask that references are only taken after an offer.
What to avoid
- Criticising a former manager, colleague or employer, even if justified.
- Long explanations of what went wrong. One or two sentences is enough.
- Contradicting what you wrote on an application form or resume.
- Saying anything you would not want repeated in a reference check.
Common questions
Do I have to say I was dismissed?
You do not have to volunteer every detail, but if you are asked directly or an application form asks, answer honestly. Misleading an employer can lead to an offer being withdrawn or a dismissal later.
How do I explain leaving several jobs quickly?
Give one short, consistent reason for the pattern if there is one, such as fixed-term contracts, then show what makes this role a better long-term fit.
Put it into practice
Prepare with interview practiceDrafted with AI assistance and checked against Luceria’s editorial standards. Examples are illustrative, not real people’s results. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.