3 reasons for leaving that won’t harm your next application

The prospect of interviewing for a new role can be intimidating and scary. It can seem even more daunting when explaining reasons for leaving particular roles, especially if the tenures were not favourable.

Below, we’ve identified 3 reasons for leaving that hiring managers would not challenge.

You got a better offer

If you are successful in your field, it is probable you will get contacted by another company directly (usually a competitor) or by a head-hunter, approaching you with a lucrative opportunity that may tempt you away from your present role. In some circumstances, this new role may be too appealing to ignore; offering you with perks and benefits or career progression that you may not get in your current role. A hiring manager would not be concerned about a move of this nature. Any changes in employment for this reason can simply be summarised as “I was offered a better position with another organisation and accepted”.

You changed your career path

Despite having great success in a particular role or industry, there may have been a time in your career you decided to take a different path. Maybe you wanted to continue studies or train in a new field or alternatively, maybe you took a job that that was in a slightly different field or industry. Transitioning between roles for this reason would not be viewed negatively by a prospective new employer and could be covered off by saying “I decided to take some time away from my career to study [for my Masters]” or “I was excited to work in the [recruitment] industry, so accepted an opportunity with [JPS Selection] despite predominantly working in software sales until that point”.

Personal Circumstances

Unfortunately, the unexpected can sometimes happen and personal issues can arise that were not foreseen and that need to take priority over work. Personal Circumstances can vary in severity; resulting in breaks of employment that can range from months to years.  A break in employment for this reason, can be explained in the following way “I took a break from work [in order to care for an elderly family member]”

When it comes to addressing the reasons for leaving a previous role, it is best to keep it simple. Whilst your reasons for moving on may not always be something you wish to share with a new potential employer, taking the time to develop a way to convey them will benefit you in any interview scenario. Let us know your thoughts by emailing us at [email protected].