Explain Your Reason For Job Change Like A Pro! [8 Ways To Reply]

10 mins read

At some point in our careers, we all start thinking about a job change. There may be different reasons for this, such as career growth, interest in an alternate career path, or unhappiness with the current work environment. People are always looking for new opportunities and jobs to accelerate their careers. If you, too, have a reason for a job change and are looking to explain it in an interview, then this is the article for you.

No matter the reason for job change, when people apply to new companies, they are met with common questions, “Why are you looking for a job change?” Often, it is difficult to come up with a spontaneous answer.

This article will help you answer this question with utmost ease. The article will provide you with the best reasons for a job change. It will also make your interview journey smoother by offering you sample answers.

Reason for Job Change: Common Examples

What’s a common reason for job change? Career growth. But that’s just one of the many reasons. Here are some others that applicants can use during an interview:

• There are not enough career development opportunities in the company.
• The role does not offer autonomy to make decisions.
• There is a hostile work environment or toxic work culture.
• There is unfair compensation.
• The company makes its employees do overtime, without paying them for the same.
• There is limited to no work satisfaction.
• There is poor management.
• There is dissatisfaction with the quality of the products/services.
• You feel underappreciated.
• The job required frequent traveling and it was a constraint.
• Layoffs were happening in the company.
• There was no job security in the previous position.

The reason for job change can be mostly negative - employees are either unhappy with the work culture or are not paid enough for their job roles. However, changes in the work culture dynamics also contribute to people going for a job change. These changes tend to be positive and contribute to the personal growth of the employees.

Reason For Job Change: Hybrid Work Culture

The pandemic heralded a new type of work culture where it is common for people to choose remote work. A great many workplaces have established flexible and hybrid work cultures as the norm.

However, this change in working style and changing work dynamics have also influenced job choices. Now many people see the benefits of modern work styles and want to switch from their existing jobs.

Several recent surveys indicated that over 70% of the employees in the age group of 18-24 years consider going for a job change within a year. For the age group of 45-55 years, the percentage is roughly 60%.

Urban India is witnessing this change due to some positive factors. These factors are:

• Right wage: Going for a job change at a suitable time can provide a greater salary hike than staying with the current organization.
• Healthy Work-life balance: Some jobs demand more time and energy, leaving us exhausted. Individuals may opt for roles or industries where a healthier work-life balance is easier to achieve.
• Flexibility: Having the flexibility to work from anywhere can also be the reason for job change. People with families and other responsibilities seek a job that offers flexibility.
• Upskilling: Changing your job also allows you to get a job with different skill sets. It also establishes a strong foundation for career development.

Reason for Job Change Best Answers

While there's no single "best" reason for a job change, having a well-thought-out and compelling answer to the question "Why do you want to change your job?" is crucial when interviewing for a new position.

This section will provide some sample answers to the question, “Why do you want to change job?” depending upon the reason for job change:

When you want to move for a higher pay

This is the most recurrent reason for job change. However, your answer should not focus on just the financial gain. Also, draw attention to your hard work and other qualities.

So, when you are asked, “Why are you looking for a job change?” you may answer the question like this:

“I am driven by challenges that motivate me to work hard. Along with recognition of my work, I believe adequate appraisals are a great reward for hard work. I see how this organization can help me achieve my financial goals while working in my skilled field.”

When you are looking for more opportunities

It’s always great to showcase that you are seeking new career growth opportunities in an interview. It will highlight your active attitude toward setting long-term future goals.

An answer to this question can look like this:

“Although my organization gave me plenty of growth opportunities, now I want harder challenges. The job market is competitive, and I want to stay ahead of others. Your organization will offer me opportunities and help me develop professionally.”

When you want flexibility in the job

Flexibility in the job is becoming popular as it allows people to fulfill other responsibilities towards family and friends. If your reason for job change is greater flexibility, then you can use the following response in an interview:

“I recently became a parent and have added responsibilities to look after my family. I want a flexible job where I can accommodate work and family responsibilities.”

When the company’s ethics/company culture is not good

A good company culture helps employees become productive. On the other hand, if it is a toxic workplace, it creates conflict between employees and management. However, one should abstain from sharing negative comments about former employers.

Thus, in this case, the answer to “Why do you want to change your job”, can be:

“I want to join a company that supports ethical values. It helps in creating a positive and friendly work environment in which everyone can flourish. I have heard about this organization from so many people, and I like how employees are valued here.”

When you want to change your field of job

If you want to expand your portfolio and try your hands at a new job role, you may want to apply for a new job. Here, the reason for job change is the search for new learning experiences.

In this case, the question, “Why do you want to change your job?” can be answered like this:

“I want to take up this job because it aligns with my interests. I have spent the past 1.5 years, learning [skill name]. Unfortunately, I am not getting opportunities at my current position to use these skills. However, while going through the job description, I learned that your company will provide me opportunities to apply these skills and learn about them.”

When you have to travel too much for your current job location

Often, the office location is far away from home, adding several hours of commute to the work day. Certain jobs may also require individuals to either relocate or travel for several days or weeks. Not every individual may be on board with constant travel, or up for relocation. The situation can also change with time, i.e. an individual who was up for traveling initially, may not want to do so later on in the job.

If this is the case, then the reason for job change is to save time and/or travel less. You can answer by saying:

“My reason for the job change is the office location. It takes me two hours to get to work in the morning. In the evening, it takes more time due to the peak hours of traffic. Since I cannot afford to relocate to a nearby office location. I want to change my job so that I have to do minimal travel. I want to focus on my professional life in the time I save.”

When the work hours are not suitable

You may have a job where the working hours are not suitable. It could be an early morning job, or you could have a night shift. If this is the reason for job change, answering this question is not difficult.

A sample answer to "Why are you looking for a job change?" can be like this:

“I was working for a company where my shift would start at 9 pm and would 6 am. This impacted my work-life balance. While it was a great way to learn and adapt, I now wish for better balance and thus, am looking for a job with better working hours.”

When the new company has a better brand name

Everyone wants to work for a company that has a good reputation in the market. You can inform the potential employer that you want to join their company because of its goodwill.

The answer to "Why are you looking for a job change?" can be:

“It has been my dream to work with XYZ company. The company has a wide network of professionals. It is also known for its work culture. It will be a matter of pride for me to work for you.”

Tips To Answer "Why Do You Want To Change Your Job?"

There are certain points you should remember while describing the reason for a job change in an interview.

Avoid being pessimistic in your response. To do so, avoid or rephrase the following reasons that are generally looked down upon by interviewers:

• Never bad-mouth your current or previous company and bosses.
• You should not talk negatively about your previous colleagues.
• Do not directly tell the hiring manager that you are changing your job for money.
• Never confess your clashes with management or colleagues.
• Do not directly complain about the company’s poor work culture and strict policies.
• Don’t be vague.

On the other hand, you should exhibit a positive attitude and use the following points:

• Be confident in answering the questions.
• Show optimism for future career prospects. Tell the interviewer that you want to learn transferrable skills or take on a new role.
• Show it was not an impulsive decision, rather, you took responsible steps toward the job change. The current employer should know that you take calculated measures. It will also ensure them that you will not leave a job due to impulsive reasons.
• Be on good terms with the previous employer and do not burn bridges. It will reflect professionalism and good interpersonal skills.

If you use these tips, you will find it easier to answer the interviewers' questions. In the next section, we have some sample answers that you can use during interviews.

Hope this article made the daunting process of a job change easier. Now, when you are asked, "Why do you want to change jobs?" you will be able to ace the answer. So, go ahead and apply for new job roles with confidence and pride.

For more such articles, stay tuned to Unstop!

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