Today’s KIQ could be construed as somewhat intrusive – even nosy. However, their answer (or non answer, as the case may be) will reveal a lot about an applicant’s suitability and values.
Work history is an important part of the hiring process; it lets you know whether an applicant has the necessary skills for the job. But there’s one question most resumes fail to answer: their reasons for leaving each job. This is something that it definitely pays to know about. As financial advice site The Balance explains:
The applicant’s response tells you about his or her values, outlook, goals, and needs from an employer. You can determine what prompted the job search.
There are a number of ways a prospective employee could answer this question. They might list a litany of grievances with their current employer. They might say they’ve been with their company for X number of years and require change. Or they might brusquely tell you it’s none of your business. All of these responses tell you something about the applicant, whether they realise it or not.
How would you answer this question? Let us know in the comments.
[Via The Balance]
Comments
One response to “Killer Interview Question: Why Are You Leaving Your Current Employer?”
I can tell you now as someone who works in HR, most of us no longer feel the need to ask this, it’s more the kind of question a recruiter like Maxima or Hudsons is going to want to ask.
Typically questions about what you do/don’t enjoy about your current role or employer give better clarity and quality on candidates,
That said, if you are faced with this question my advice is to be forthright and ensure you give a comprehensive answer. If you say you were not challenged, explain where you got roadblocks, did the work become to simple? was there no training pathways? If you were unable to advance your career, clarify if it was a low attrition/growth company or if pathways were unclear.
90% of Hiring is determining someones motivation and value, onboarding isn’t cheap and I personally want to get it right the first time! I prefer to only see people in interviews again when they move up internally, not because we are doing an exit interview after 6 months!
As someone who is having a change of career, this is such a simple answer, I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve had to deal with fighting, slurs and attacks from “customers” I’m a night supervisor at a roadhouse and more than once I’ve had to move customers out back so they’re safe from the drugged up and drunk assholes who’re attacking anyone and everyone, while Im standing between them and the door.
Ahh life in the NT. Where you can end up standing between someone who’s been stabbed and someone trying to stab em again while waiting for cops to arrive.