7. How to Confidently Answer the "Why Did You Leave" Question
If you left a job recently, it's important to have a good story about why you left.
It's good to be positive, gracious, and clear. Don’t over-elaborate on what happened—that may lead to difficult questions. Be able to tell them how you benefited from the position, what you achieved and what your responsibilities were. Even if it was a nightmare situation, highlight what you learned from it.
➡️ TODAY’S TASK (ESTIMATED TIME: 10-MINUTES)
EXERCISE: Outline an explanation of why you left your last role, reframing any negatives into positives, where possible.
I suggest you reframe negative experiences into positive learnings. Reframing is really all about being able to say, “The glass is half full rather than half empty”. If you want to come across well in an interview situation, this is a really useful approach.
For example, if you had a boss who couldn’t give clear messages, you could reframe the situation, saying that you learned a lot about communication. If you had a huge workload, you could reframe the problem, saying that you learned how to manage multiple competing priorities.
Here are the key steps to explain a difficult story
Explain what happened in a positive light
Attribute positive intention to those involved
Outline what you learned from the experience
Address possible misunderstandings about what happened
State your current plans with clarity and conviction
How can you explain a business or self-employment that failed?
Your story could be something like this,
"I started a business in the XYZ industry, doing everything from operations and sales to project management and relationship management. Then, after X years in business, I decided to make the difficult decision of moving on.
However, I have to say that I learned so much from the process: I created a business plan, bespoke services, pricing strategies and marketing plans. I did everything from marketing and selling to delivering the services. I built strong relationships with clients by understanding their needs and concerns before going above and beyond to provide an outstanding experience."
🎉 Congrats on completing today's task! 🎉
By crafting a clear, gracious explanation for leaving your last role, you're well-prepared to impress in your next interview. Your ability to highlight learnings and achievements will undoubtedly set you apart. 🚀💼👏
Keep up the great work and continue to see the glass half full! 🌟✨
00:00 Introduction: Tackling the 'Why Did You Leave?' Question
00:04 Emphasize the Positive: Focusing on New Opportunities
00:25 Framing Your Departure Positively
00:54 Attributing Positive Intentions
01:34 Taking Responsibility for Your Career
02:19 Honesty and Transparency in Your Explanation
02:44 Ending on a Positive Note
Follow me:
/ kennedyronan
/ ronankennedycoach
/ @ronankennedy
www.ronankennedy.ie