"Why are you leaving?" Seven honest answers that work

"Why are you leaving your current job?" comes up in almost every HR round. The interviewer is not looking for drama. They want to know your reasons are sensible and that they will not repeat in the new job. Here are honest answers to why are you leaving that work for the most common situations.

The rule behind every good answer

Talk about what you are moving towards, not what you are running from. Keep it to three or four sentences, and never criticise your manager or company.

Sample answers

1. You want to grow

"I have learned a lot in my current role, especially in building APIs at scale. I am now looking for a team where I can take on system design and own larger features, which this role offers."

2. Better pay

"My responsibilities have grown over the last two years, but the pay has not kept up. I am looking for a role that matches the work I am already doing."

3. You were laid off

"My role was part of a company-wide restructuring that affected [number] people. It was not about performance, and I used the time to strengthen my system design skills." See how to explain a layoff in an interview.

4. Long commute or relocation

"I am relocating to Pune for family reasons, and this role lets me work close to home."

5. The company changed direction

"The company has shifted its focus away from product work, and I want to keep building products."

6. You want a different domain

"I have worked in telecom for six years, and I want to apply the same backend skills to fintech, where the problems are new to me."

7. Toxic environment

Do not say "toxic". Say: "I am looking for a team with clearer processes and more collaboration, which I learned is how I do my best work."

What not to say

• Anything negative about your manager or colleagues
• "Just for money", with nothing else
• A long story. Short answers sound confident

Practise your answer out loud, together with tell me about yourself, because they are often asked back to back.