How to Answer the Interview Question “Why Are You Looking for a New Job?"

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

At some point during an interview process, you may be asked why you're looking for a new job. Learn how to frame your answer and why interviewers ask this question in the first place.

[Featured image] Smiling interviewee meets with two prospective employers.

Key takeaways

When answering, you can share your long-term career goals and respect for the potential employer’s values while responding in the form of a story.

  • You may encounter this question while interviewing with a recruiter, the hiring manager, or a team member.

  • Employers may ask this question to understand your career goals, assess your fit with the company, or ensure that your interests align with those of the company.

  • You can focus on your goals and the company’s mission when explaining why you’re looking for a new job.

Discover how to shape your answer to this question and why interviewers may present you with it. If you’re ready to enhance your communication skills in preparation for a job change, enroll in the Dynamic Public Speaking Specialization, where in as little as two months, you can learn about composure, storytelling, communication strategies, and more.

Why do interviewers ask the interview question, “Why are you looking for a new job opportunity?”

The question “Why are you looking for a new job?” can arise for a few different reasons during an interview. Employers may want to understand your career goals, assess whether you’d be a good fit at the company, or make sure your interest in the role aligns with the company’s larger mission. For example, they may be looking for someone who has a passion for their industry, and it could be a potential mismatch if you emphasize that you want to change jobs to make more money. 

Sometimes, they may be trying to glean why you’re interested in leaving your current company. Logistically speaking, companies spend a lot of money hiring and training talent, so they may ask you about why you’re looking to determine whether you’ll be a strong and long-lasting fit for the role. 

When you might be asked, “Why are you looking for a new job opportunity?”

You may be asked, “Why are you looking for a new job?” or variations like “Why are you interested in changing jobs?” at various stages, and you may get asked the question during more than one interview with a company. Here are three times when you may come across this interview question: 

  • Recruiter: When you complete an initial phone screen or interview screen with a recruiter, they may ask why you’re looking to change jobs.

  • Hiring manager: Typically, meeting with a hiring manager is a longer and more involved process than your screen with a recruiter. They may want to assess your reasons for pursuing a new role. 

  • A team member: When you meet individually or in a group with different team members, you may be asked why you’re looking for a new job.

“Why are you looking for a new job?” Best answer

Whatever your reasons for looking for a new position, it can be beneficial to focus on your goals in making such a move. You can address other factors, such as pursuing a higher salary or greater work-life balance, in other phases of an interview. 

When it comes to this question, it’s a good idea to focus on what you hope to accomplish—and what you may help the company achieve—in changing jobs.

 

Focus on your goals.

Your career is an arc through which you ideally gain more experience, acquire new skills, and keep growing. Frame your answer by touching on your long-term career goals, such as taking on a higher-level role or finding a position with greater growth potential, and how the role you’re applying for will help you achieve those goals.

Touch on the company’s mission.

As you discuss your goals, try to integrate the company’s mission—and your interest in it. Interviewers want to know you’re a good fit for the position and the company, so showing that you’ve thought in a meaningful way about the work itself can augment your answer. 

For example, you might explain that you enjoy a more structured approach to problem-solving and appreciate the thought and consideration the company puts into its product design. Or you might explain that you haven’t had as many opportunities to be creative in your past work, and you’re excited by the innovative way the company handles social media.

Read more: Social Media Content Strategy: How to Build a Successful Plan in 8 Steps

Tell a story.

Interviewing may seem like a back-and-forth exchange of questions and answers, but when you approach it as a larger story you get to tell, you can take control of your narrative. As you think through your goals and how they feed into the company’s work, try to craft a story that you enjoy telling. 

Many stories follow a straightforward beginning, middle, and end structure. In your case, the beginning can be your career goal, the middle is what excites you about the company, and the end is how working at the company is a step toward achieving your goal. 

Be positive.

In speaking about your goals, you may need to address what isn’t working in your current position. For example, when you say you’re looking for more growth opportunities, the implication is that you may have hit a wall in your job. If that is the case, avoid speaking negatively about your role and company. Instead, reframe any potential negativity into what you want to accomplish with your next move. 

We’ve compiled a list of reasons for leaving a job and ways to discuss those reasons, which may also help you frame how you answer, “Why are you looking for a new job?”

Why are you looking for a new job? Interview answer example

An example that answers the question, “Why are you looking for a new job?” while remaining positive, telling a story, touching on the company’s mission, and centering your career goals, might look like this: 

I’m looking for a new job because I’ve spent the last couple of years gaining experience in my current role, and I’ve come to realize that I want to use my skills in a different industry. This company could offer me the chance to work with different subjects, which I find fascinating. In the future, I would like to pursue certain topics that this role could allow me to gain experience with.

To stay current regarding trends in the job market, join Career Chat on LinkedIn. You can also explore these other free resources:

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