Have you ever quit a job? Why?
Have you ever quit a job? Why?
Why the interviewer is asking this question:
This is a back-end question. In other words, the interviewer is asking you about the back-end of the job, not the front-end. Why would you leave a job that you previously agreed to accept? Do you simply get bored after 12, 24 or 36 months? Or was that your way to get a pay increase when you could not get it internally? Or are there other reasons which would motivate you to make a job change?
The best approach to answering this question:
If you haven’t yet quit a job (which is often the case for candidates in their first job after college), the answer is “No” and the interviewer may move on to the next question. However, the interviewer might come back to ask why you are leaving your current job, so be prepared. In answering this question, you should focus on moving forward in your career in a way which was not possible at your employer. If you were proactively recruited for the new role, say so.
An example of how to best answer this question for experienced candidates:
"I did quit my last job to take on my current role when I was recruited specifically for that role. I wasn’t looking for another job at the time, but I was approached by a recruiter who felt I would be a good fit for the role. It offered an opportunity for growth and advancement that wasn’t available with my prior employer…"
An example of how to best answer this question for entry level candidates:
"I haven’t actually quit a job, but I did complete my internship last summer successfully and left there on good terms. They made me an offer to return after graduation, although I am still considering my other options…"
An example of how you should not answer this question:
"I quit my last job because of the way they treated me. Have you ever heard the song Take This Job And Shove It? Well, that’s what I wanted to say when I left, but didn’t. I guess the downside is that I ended up unemployed for over a year after I quit. But I just couldn’t take it anymore…"
About the author: Brian Krueger founded CollegeGrad.com in 1995 and is the former Vice President of Global Talent Acquisition at Amazon.com, where he led a global team of more than 100 recruiters. He is the author of College Grad Job Hunter, the best-selling entry level job search book, and has interviewed more than 10,000 job candidates over a 20-year hiring career at Fortune 500 companies. He wrote the interview advice on this page.
Interview questions vary by field. See what the job actually involves, what it pays, and what employers expect: browse career profiles for 700+ occupations, or jump to the most-searched: Registered Nurses, Software Developers, Accountants, Physical Therapists, Teachers.
Similar interview questions:
Why did you leave your last job?
What is it about your current job which makes you want to leave?
Why are you currently interviewing?
What are your top reasons to quit a job to move on to another?
Further review: know the answers to these 100 Standard Interview Questions to be fully prepared for your interview!