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Why Did You Leave Your Last Job? The Right Answer for Interviews
By Aysha Hussain
August 06, 2007
The job-interview process is grueling for even the most experienced individual, but what happens when you're faced with a question you aren't prepared to answer, including the inevitable "Why did you leave your last job?" For those individuals whose reason for leaving was because of a negative experience such as discrimination, unhappiness with the lack of diversity or because they had a disability they aren't comfortable revealing, what's the right answer?
DiversityInc asked a panel of experts how to handle this sometimes difficult question.
Know Your Rights
Jonathan Segal, an employment attorney with Wolf, Block, Schorr & Solis-Cohen, says legally, you are not obligated to answer any question you might feel uncomfortable discussing.
But while it may be OK legally to decline to answer a question, it can give interviewers the impression you are hiding a "dark secret," advises Belinda Pianezza, web-site development and content manager of HR.com.
Pianezza stresses that instead of avoiding this question entirely, job candidates should try to emphasize what makes them the best candidates for the positions.
"If a candidate is not feeling comfortable with answering, they should try to re-focus or turn around their answer to incorporate their skill sets and qualifications," says Pianezza.
Honesty, Always the Best Policy
Is honesty always the best policy, no matter what? Kathy Haskins, vice president of human resources at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (No. 15 on The 2007 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity® list), says yes.
"You want to make sure the interviewer is drawing the right conclusion. Describe that honestly and openly," says Haskins.
Pianezza adds that most HR managers appreciate honesty, despite the circumstances. She says it is better to be honest about your past situation because in most cases, HR managers are already aware of the job candidates' personal reasons or conflicts for leaving.
"Employers will ask for references, and most do check them out, so they will find out eventually if the candidate is not being completely honest," Pianezza notes.
Be Clear, Not Too Descriptive
If an interviewer is persistent in asking a question you do not want to answer, it is still best to avoid disclosing specifics, Segal advises. Instead, job candidates should let the interviewer know in simple terms that the reason for leaving was for "personal reasons." For example, job candidates should say either "For personal reasons, I would prefer not to answer that question" or "It was a personal family/workplace issue." This response is sufficient.
Stay away from emotional connections, adds Haskins.
Be Positive
If you choose to be descriptive in your response, be sure to offer a positive perspective on what happened in your last place of work. Doing so shows your ability to let go of the past while also acting professionally, says Haskins.
In answering the question, Haskins recommends job candidates focus their response on not being able to meet personal goals.
"The culture wasn't one that I felt I could be the most productive. I could not really grow," advises Haskins.
Pianezza says it's best to always be tactful and diplomatic in your answers and to emphasize your qualifications and why you'd be the best at the job.
(See also: 5 Tough Job-Interview Questions (And How to Answer Them)
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