You know that there are many reasons you may have left your last position. But when you’re interviewing for a new job, the potential employer only wants to know one thing. Will you repeat the same behaviors when working for them? They’ll ask questions that get to the bottom of your working style and overall personality. So, regardless of the reason, how do you address why you left your previous job? Here are a few common scenarios and what to discuss.
A major life event.
Some people leave a position due to a spouse’s job transition, the birth of a child, or the needs of a sick or elderly family member. There have been times in our culture where these things were seen as negative, but with the increased awareness of work/life balance, companies are changing their perception. In this case, discuss the reasons you want to return and how you’ve maintained your skills throughout your time away.
Termination.
If you were fired, you may feel like you need to embellish the reasons for a potential employer. But don’t be dishonest. Lying about your reason for leaving your last job can be unraveled with a simple reference phone call, which can decrease your chances of being hired significantly. Instead, be honest about the reasons, own them, and discuss how you’re making changes to your behavior so they don’t happen again.
Other opportunities.
Sometimes you leave a previous job to take on other opportunities. These could be something you were looking to try that didn’t work for you. Or they could be a positive that simply didn’t pan out like you expected. In this case as well, simply enforce why you want to work with their company, not just any company. Personalize your interviewing process each time.
Challenges with management or co-workers.
It’s not uncommon to have personality clashes with management or other people in the workplace. And it’s okay to recognize that there are certain personality types that you’re not compatible within the workplace. But you need to leave any negative impressions out of the interview. A manager is not likely to hire someone who confesses that they have had a poor working relationship in the past.
Engaging in different work.
Or maybe you’re simply looking for a different career path than the one you were on. Maybe you graduated from trades school and are now looking for your first position in a shipbuilding environment. Whatever the case, make sure you sell yourself and your skills and experience from any past job to encourage an employer to see the positive effects of hiring you.
Work with a leader in shipyard staffing.
Are you looking for a new interview opportunity? Contact the recruiter at Hutco to learn more.
