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#Post#: 47345--------------------------------------------------
"Why do you want to leave your job?"
By: Victoria Date: February 14, 2020, 1:21 pm
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((This part got cut off originally; it was sent to Ask A Manager
but I haven't heard from her)): I'm an attorney with 5 years of
experience, first as an intern, with one company. I'm ready to
depart.
I obviously can’t say everything I want to say (toxic culture,
always putting out fires, incompetent/virtually no
administrative assistance, manager is checked out), and was
thinking about saying “Since I joined the department, it’s
become fully staffed at a very high level, and I’m the most
junior person. It makes sense for the organization, but it also
means that there opportunities for my professional growth are
becoming sporadic.”
I’m particularly concerned about threading the needle between
“I’m doing too much admin work” and “I haven’t been doing so
much admin work that I’m not a competent attorney,” and I’d love
some suggestions or feedback on what exactly to say.
The new job would also be in the city I prefer to live in
(rather than the suburbs, where I am now), but I think that
would more organically come up in the "Why do you want to work
here?" line of questioning, rather than the "Why do you want to
leave?" bit.
#Post#: 47347--------------------------------------------------
Re: "Why do you want to leave your job?"
By: wolfie Date: February 14, 2020, 1:42 pm
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Have you been with the company you are leaving for a while? If
so then "I am looking for new growth opportunities." would work.
If you haven't worked there for very long then "The env is not a
good fit for me"
askamanager.com has good ideas for this.
#Post#: 47348--------------------------------------------------
Re: "Why do you want to leave your job?"
By: TootsNYC Date: February 14, 2020, 1:43 pm
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[quote author=Victoria link=topic=1633.msg47345#msg47345
date=1581708062]
I obviously can’t say everything I want to say (toxic culture,
always putting out fires, incompetent/virtually no
administrative assistance, manager is checked out), and was
thinking about saying “[s]Since I joined the department, it’s
become fully staffed at a very high level, and I’m the most
junior person. It makes sense for the organizati[/s]on, but it
also means that there opportunities for my professional growth
are becoming sporadic.”
[/quote]
I vote for not spending all that much time talking about that
organization; keep the focus on you. So, "I've pretty much
learned all the new skills I can there, and there isn't a good
pathway to wider responsibility or a higher position. I'm ready
to expand my skill set and broaden my experience, and I'd like
to move up."
Don't dwell on it, don't overthink it.
You're ready to grow and to move up, and the opportunities to do
that where you are have become pretty much exhausted. You've
done as much as you can there, and now it's time to move on.
You could also say, "I'm looking for a place with good admin
support, so I'll be free to focus on X areas."
#Post#: 47358--------------------------------------------------
Re: "Why do you want to leave your job?"
By: Victoria Date: February 14, 2020, 3:51 pm
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[quote author=TootsNYC link=topic=1633.msg47348#msg47348
date=1581709390]
[quote author=Victoria link=topic=1633.msg47345#msg47345
date=1581708062]
I obviously can’t say everything I want to say (toxic culture,
always putting out fires, incompetent/virtually no
administrative assistance, manager is checked out), and was
thinking about saying “[s]Since I joined the department, it’s
become fully staffed at a very high level, and I’m the most
junior person. It makes sense for the organizati[/s]on, but it
also means that there opportunities for my professional growth
are becoming sporadic.”
[/quote]
I vote for not spending all that much time talking about that
organization; keep the focus on you. So, "I've pretty much
learned all the new skills I can there, and there isn't a good
pathway to wider responsibility or a higher position. I'm ready
to expand my skill set and broaden my experience, and I'd like
to move up."
Don't dwell on it, don't overthink it.
You're ready to grow and to move up, and the opportunities to do
that where you are have become pretty much exhausted. You've
done as much as you can there, and now it's time to move on.
You could also say, "I'm looking for a place with good admin
support, so I'll be free to focus on X areas."
[/quote]
I like this answer, but I'd be making a lateral move and I don't
have the experience to be moving up for a couple more years at
least. I'm also not sure if there are advancement opportunities
(or any admin support) at where I'm going, so I don't
necessarily want to imply that I'd need either of those things.
What about "I've pretty much learned all the new skills I can
there, and there isn't a good pathway for me to take on wider
responsibilities, so I'm ready for a change."
#Post#: 47360--------------------------------------------------
Re: "Why do you want to leave your job?"
By: TootsNYC Date: February 14, 2020, 4:20 pm
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that sounds good.
My biggest point was to not spend much "airtime" on talking
about that organization and its structure, and make YOU the
subject of the sentence.
"I'd like to broaden my experience (or hone my focus on the more
valuable parts of my job in preparation to greater
responsibility)."
Also, you can actually say things like "somewhere with more
administrative support" or "a firm with a more strategic focus."
That implies a criticism of the old place ("ah, she gets stuck
doing admin work and doesn't want to") without actually saying
it. It's an acceptable way to frame it.
I say this w/ lots of etiquette stuff: Don't talk about what you
want to get away from (you already know "dumpster fire" stuff,
but also don't talk about the overstaffing), and focus on where
you want to go TO. What you DO want. "I want more time to expand
on the core skills" or "I want to be part of a strategic team."
Also, it's been 5 years, and at only one firm, so someone who is
ambitious will of course be ready to move to a different
organization, if only for cross-pollination reasons ("I'd like
to be exposed to a differently organized firm/firm of a
different size"), and also because often to get a big jump, you
need to move out. I know this is a lateral move, but you can
talk about "the right time to make a move and expand my
knowledge of the industry."
#Post#: 47481--------------------------------------------------
Re: "Why do you want to leave your job?"
By: Hmmm Date: February 17, 2020, 3:19 pm
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Focus more on why you want to work for them, what you're
bringing to them, and less about why you want to leave.
I've had a great experience since starting as an intern with x
firm and have established a strong base in "specialty" area. I
believe that with your firm, I'll be able to use leverage that
foundation for the benefit of your clients but also grow my
skills and competency in speciality area.
#Post#: 47695--------------------------------------------------
Re: "Why do you want to leave your job?"
By: Winterlight Date: February 21, 2020, 10:16 am
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I generally go with a bland answer for this. Most companies
don't care why you're moving, so, "I'm looking to expand my
professional horizons," is fine. You definitely don't tell them
in an interview about toxic workplace, etc. For one thing, they
don't know you, and they might end up deciding that someone with
this little discretion is the actual problem here!
#Post#: 52456--------------------------------------------------
Re: "Why do you want to leave your job?"
By: Shores Date: May 28, 2020, 12:56 pm
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I never tell the truth, it’s not their business, it’s my
business and it’s personal information. Give a bland, generic
reply like “seeking different work experiences”. Give them a
reason that can’t be taken negatively so as to not have blowback
later.
#Post#: 52475--------------------------------------------------
Re: "Why do you want to leave your job?"
By: Kimberami Date: May 28, 2020, 3:02 pm
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"I am ready for new opportunities. I've heard wonderful things
about your firm. I would be a good fit here."
#Post#: 52478--------------------------------------------------
Re: "Why do you want to leave your job?"
By: TootsNYC Date: May 28, 2020, 3:53 pm
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I'd say, give an answer that highlights why you'd be great at
this job or this company.
Especially in the interview, always look forward.
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