Looking at motivational questions

Interviews can be a strenuous exercise at the best of times, and while it is important that you do not appear rehearsed or wooden when being interviewed it is essential that you sound fluent and authoritative. Thinking about the type of questions that you might encounter prepares you for success. This series covers a range different questions and follows the same structure - providing a commentary to help you think through your answer; some insights into both +ve and -ve indicators that interviewers will be on the look out for and finally some possible question variations

Motivational Question: Why do you want to leave your current job/employer?

Answer Commentary: this is an important question. As an interviewer I never ceased to be surprised by what people said in response to this, fairly predictable, question and how they could get caught up in the ‘tale of woe’. Keep yourself professional at all times. Talk about enjoying your current role but looking for more challenge, a different location, something new. If you are leaving due to a significant issue think very carefully about how you explain it and do not get drawn into saying more than you intended. Be honest but do not be self indulgent.

Marking:

• +well thought through reasons
• +demonstrates commitment to current employer and intention to ‘leave well’
• +honest
• -sounds false
• -divulged very significant issues with employer, colleagues etc

Variations: What would you employer have to do to keep you? Why are you choosing to leave at this point in your career?

See all questions