What is the best way to answer the job change interview question? Our guide outlines several top answers and how you can elaborate on them.
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Job interviews prove to be a tightrope walk between authenticity and staging. You advertise and present yourself in the best possible light, but at the same time you shouldn’t just throw empty phrases to yourself.
The best ways to answer the job change interview question
The question about your motivation to change jobs gives the HR manager a good insight into your previous employment relationship and your expectations of the new job — accordingly, it is asked in pretty much every job interview. We will therefore show you 6 possible answers which show social skill and ensure you make a good impression.
The 3 guidelines
There are basically 3 general guidelines for your answer according to your motive for change:
- Don’t let your answer act as a justification or an excuse. Be confident in your answer and let the HR manager feel this security too.
- Give examples and go back and forth a little. In this way, you make your answer concrete and tangible for the other person.
- Don’t hide behind hollow phrases! Your answer should be clear and, above all, individual so that you remain authentic and stand out from the crowd.
That means: don’t just take the following examples one-to-one. They are considered possible answer directions and should be adapted to your personal intentions. To help with this, we have formulated follow-up questions for each possible answer. Ask yourself these questions yourself in preparation for your interview so that you have a clear and precise answer ready.
“I want to get to know a new industry”
This answer shows the joy of knowing and an openness to new things. However, you shouldn’t leave it at this brief answer and specify instead:
- Why are you interested in this industry?
- What do you gain by moving into this industry?
- Why do you want to leave your previous branch?
- Why is the new company a good choice to enter this industry?
“I would like to develop professionally / personally”
The desire to expand your skills profile and to reach the next career level serves as an ideal reason for a job change. Don’t hide behind a lot of gossip here, but define clear goals:
- Which development opportunities are particularly important to you?
- What are your exact goals in your career?
- Why can’t you achieve this with your previous company?
- Why do you think that you will achieve your goals with this particular employer?
“I want to get to know a new work environment”
With this answer it is important that you do not digress into bad comments about your previous employer. Disputes or even bullying are of course completely understandable motivations for a change of employer, but you should remain professional and serious during the interview — and criticism about the old boss does not achieve this. Better to focus on the new employer:
- What is your preferred working environment?
- What does a good work environment mean for you?
- Why do you think you will find this with your new employer?
- Is the work environment about the office situation, dimensions or other structures for you?
“I want to move into an international/national/regional direction”
Your previous company is only active nationally and you are aiming for a larger context? This is a valid reason to change jobs. But here, too, it is important to differentiate:
- What exactly is it about the international context that appeals to you? Language skills, traveling, a change of scenery?
- What professional knowledge do you hope to acquire through an international activity?
- Why do you think you will find them with your new employer?
“I feel like taking on new challenges”
This is a good reason for a job change, but caution is advised here: Do not portray yourself as a slipper par excellence. It is better to explain to the recruiter:
- What specific challenges are you aiming for?
- When is this criterion met for you? Through new projects, larger tasks or employees to be managed?
- Why don’t you find these challenges with your previous employer?
- Why do you think that you will find the desired challenges in the new company?
“The job change has family reasons”
A move with your partner, a new family member, more time with the family – these are all legitimate reasons for a job change. Here you have to be careful with your formulation: Focus less on your motive for changing jobs and more on the motivation behind it.
Make it clear to the HR manager that your interest in the job did not just arise out of expediency. It is better to emphasize how much you are interested in their company, what opportunities you see in the job and why your employment will result in profit for both sides.
