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This is a question that is asked in
almost every job interview. The interviewer wants to
know, "Why are you available?" The answer you give
regarding your departure from your last company will be
either simple and straightforward, or very challenging -
depending on your circumstances.
The following are three possible
categories to answer the question of why you are
available:
Need a Change/Challenge
Even the simple, straightforward
answer can raise suspicions if the wrong message is
conveyed. What if you are just tired of your job, don't
like your boss, or need a change? Everyone is entitled
to a new position or challenge now and then, right? Of
course, but the tricky part is telling the interviewer
the reason you are leaving but not sounding like you're
"burned out" on your current job.
"I am looking for a new challenge.
I have been with my current company for two years and
don't find the work as interesting as I once did. I am
looking for a company where I can take on new challenges
and learn new things."
If your answer has too much
emphasis on "challenge and change," the employer becomes
concerned that you may be dissatisfied with this job
once you've learned new things and met the challenges.
The interviewer is listening for patterns, and if you
were bored on your last job, what makes you think you
won't get bored on this job?
Changing the tone of your reply to
be more pro-active is a stronger answer.
"Since there are no advancement
opportunities within the company, I decided it would be
a good time for me to look outside. I have set some
career goals for myself, and I know that I cannot
achieve them at my current company. My goal is to work
for a larger company with a possible career path."
This answer has a tone of control
and planning. When you think as an interviewer, it will
help you see "their" point-of-view and will address the
concerns "they" have about your leaving a company.
Laid Off
If you are among the millions of
people who have been laid off in the last two and a half
years, you can simply state, "I was laid off." This
answers the question but still leaves a lingering doubt
in the mind of the interviewer, - "Why were you laid
off?" The more specific your answer, the more effective
it will be.
"There were six rounds of layoffs
at my last company. I survived five rounds, but when it
came to round six they had to cut deep. My position was
eliminated along with half of my group because the
project we were working on was cancelled."
Not everyone will have such a
definite statement to make. Whatever your situation is
it will be helped by including facts and figures to
explain the circumstances surrounding your layoff.
"10% of the workforce was let go,"
or "One out of every ten jobs was affected,
company-wide."
When you quantify a statement it
has more depth. When you tell the interviewer whether it
was 10 or 1000 people were laid off helps put the
situation in perspective.
Fired
If you were fired, you probably
dread being asked this question. Not only have you been
fired, you have to talk about it - over and over. How
you deal with questions about being fired will depend on
how you have resolved the issue with yourself.
Whether you were let go under
unfair circumstances or for something you did and
regret, scripting your answer ahead of the interview
will help you. You don't want to bad-mouth your former
employer or sound like a victim (even if you were).
Practice your answer with someone in a mock interview
and obtain feedback on your comfort-level while
discussing your situation.
Preparing Will Make a
Difference
Any question can throw you off
balance during the interview, but there are certain
standard questions that you can almost expect to be
asked every time. For example, "Why did you leave (or
are planning to leave) your last company?" is a question
that you can bet will be asked in one form or another in
almost every interview. You will feel more confident and
focused if you script and practice answering this
question before it is asked.
Carole Martin, America's #1
Interview Coach has specialized in the subject of
"Interviewing" for the past 15 years. See if your skills
pass the test by taking the free practice interview at
http://www.interviewcoach.com/interviewlogin.html .
Don't be caught without the right answers, take the free
coaching course at
http://www.jobinterviewcoachingcenter.com. |
