‘Why are you looking for a new job?’ (Sample Answers+Templates)

"Why Are You Looking for a New Job?"

This question WILL pop up in pretty much every interview. Yes, even Google asks it!

Hiring managers may phrase it differently - "What makes you want to change roles?", "What brought you here today?", or "Tell me about your transition process." But the intent is the same.

They want to sniff out what motivated you to look elsewhere. Are you desperate to jump ship for unclear reasons? Just bored? Got secretly fired?!

Oversharing your laundry list of frustrations or calling your boss the “devil-who-must-not-be-named" won't help! Nor will stumbling through your answer in anxiety. 🙅

You need an honest yet strategic response.

One that puts you and your skills in the best light possible without throwing your last employer under the bus.

This guide will teach you: 👇

• Why interviewers NEED to know the backstory
• How to explain your reason for change positively
• Mistakes that might blow your chances
• Sample answers + ready-to-use templates for different leaving situations

So take a deep breath, grab your notes, and let’s get you prepared!

Why do interviewers ask this question?

Interviewers want to understand:

👉 Are you seriously interested in their role and company? Or just randomly applied without thinking it through?

👉 What motivates you to look for something new? Are you running away from a bad boss or a toxic work culture? Or are you drawn to exciting new opportunities and challenges?

👉 Will you be a good culture fit and stay for the long run? Or will you jump ship again soon for unclear reasons?

So be prepared to directly address: 👇

✅ Why you are TARGETING this company/position now

✅ What interests you about the role and mission

✅ How your background makes you an excellent match

How to answer ‘Why are you looking for a new job?”

Let me give you a rundown of important things to keep in mind while creating your answer.

📌 Be honest but strategic

How much you share depends on your reason for leaving.

If it was layoffs or company issues, be transparent.

But if you had a difficult boss or lack of growth, gloss over the negatives while focusing on your skills.

For example - “I was caught in corporate restructuring, but I’m excited to take my skills to an agile growth company like yours.”

📌 Focus on the positive

Rather than being blunt, it's OK to put a positive spin on your reason for change.

You don't need to call out an awful work culture. Focus the discussion on why this new role interests you.

You can be honest later once you have proven yourself on the job.

For example - “I’ve been in the nonprofit sector for some time but am keen to take on new challenges in the corporate world and make a social impact through CSR initiatives like yours.”

📌 No need to overshare or vent

Keep it concise and political, highlighting your fit and motivation for the new opportunity rather than deep issues making you leave.

For example - “I’ve topped out in my current role given the small team and business size. Joining [your company] would allow me to take on more visible projects and manage larger marketing budgets and teams.”

Share enough context but don’t drill down too far into past job problems. Instead, redirect the focus to your excitement about this potential new employer and role.

Mistakes to Avoid

What not to do when explaining your job search: 👇

1. Appearing desperate

Don't make it look like you will take any job offered because you hate your situation so much.

❌ "I'll do anything to get out of my current role. The leadership is completely inept and the work culture is so toxic it's unbelievable."

✅ "I'm looking to join a faster-paced startup team now while leveraging the execution skills I built at my more traditional large employer."

2. Bashing current employer

As mentioned above avoid digging into the negatives about bosses, culture, or company issues. Stay poised and keep the focus on your interest in the new firm.

❌ "My manager has no vision and the C-suite doesn't have a clue what they're doing. Their short-sighted decisions led me to leave."

✅ "After witnessing some organisational realignment, I began exploring roles better suited for my skillset. When I found this opening, supporting key growth plans aligned perfectly."

3. Lacking enthusiasm

Do show excitement about the potential new job's mission, leadership, culture, and day-to-day role. Don't leave the employer wondering if you have any actual interest or passion.

❌ "I guess this gig would be fine. Better commute time."

✅ "After researching X Technologies' groundbreaking work in AI applications, I got excited to know more about the complex datasets and modelling approaches this team employs."

Sample Answers + Ready-to-Use Template for Different Situations

The sample answers are for 3 major reasons why one is looking for a new job (layoffs, changing industries or looking for better opportunities).

The answers are related to domains like engineering, data, product and marketing with templates.

▶️ If you’ve been laid off:

Engineering:

"The EdTech firm I worked for needed to reduce headcount after funding dried up in this tight VC market.

In my 2 years there, I honed skills in Typescript programming, accessing REST APIs, and test-driven development that I’m eager to apply.

A role here would allow me to bring that expertise in maintaining robust enterprise SaaS applications to impact an even larger student user base."

💡Ready to use answer template:

"I was recently impacted by a round of unexpected layoffs at my last company due to budget cuts/a merger/loss of a major client/other financial factors.

It was an unfortunate shock, but I remain passionate about contributing my skills to this industry. With over X years of experience in areas like [key capabilities], I can deliver strong value.

I was drawn to [new company’s] stability and growth trajectory supporting business [goals served].

My background aligns perfectly with core initiatives around [mission/products/strategy] here that would allow me to leverage my strengths.”

▶️ Switching Industries

Engineering:

"I've been working at a SaaS company building tools for sales teams. But I'm excited to take my experience developing enterprise software over to the e-commerce industry instead.

I'd welcome the chance to help craft the APIs and cloud databases for an online retailer like your company. My backend engineering skills around security and scalability would be valuable as your platform grows."

Data Science:

"For the past few years, I've analysed website data to optimise Google Ads performance. Now I'm hoping to jump into the autonomous vehicle industry instead to work on predictive maintenance models.

My SQL and Python skills could help troubleshoot sensor issues faster. I was interested in this role at your self-driving startup because I could gain experience with a totally new transportation data stack."

Product Management:

"Recently I led planning for mobile banking apps. I'm ready to switch gears into gaming app product management next.

I know my expertise around building engaging user flows and retention features that would be useful as your studio plans new interactive title releases this year.

And it would allow me to follow my passion for gaming into this creative entertainment."

💡Ready to use answer template:

"I've gained foundational skills in [Current Industry] developing/analysing/managing [Example Projects]. However, I'm now excited to apply my expertise in [Skills] more directly toward [New Industry] companies like yours.

The [Role Type] position here would allow me to [Goal 1] and [Goal 2], while leveraging my proven [Core Competencies] that translate well. I know my experience [Relevant Success] would enable me to have an immediate positive impact on [Initiative/Product]."

▶️ Seeking New Growth Opportunities

Data Science:

"After two years of honing my Python modelling skills on marketing data sets, I'm hoping to expand into more advanced computer vision applications.

When I learned about your data team's work on image recognition for self-driving car systems, I was very intrigued, as it perfectly matches my interest in neural networks and deep learning that I wish to specialise in."

Marketing:

"Recently, I have been limited to executing localised email campaigns instead of shaping high-level strategy.

When I discovered this global product marketing manager role and read about launch plans for your tech hub, it felt like the ideal next step for me to translate technical details into messaging that resonates with your target audience."

💡Ready to use answer template:

"As a [Current Title] at a smaller [Type Company], I’ve developed strong [Skill 1] and [Skill 2] abilities. But I’m ready for more mentorship to round out my expertise alongside senior leaders.

Joining a larger, global organisation like yours could provide enriching exposure to [Lacking Areas] at scale through projects like [Relevant Initiatives].

With more complex strategic priorities here helping diverse customers, I feel this could accelerate my skills to the next level to become an even more well-rounded [Future Title]."

Wrapping it Up

And that’s a wrap!

Use these handy answer templates to craft your responses.

No need to memorise anything word-for-word though. Having some outlines makes it way easier to show off skills and passion when asked "Why are you looking for a new job?"

Focus on highlighting your skills, passions, and cultural fit rather than venting frustrations.

I also highly recommend doing mock interviews 1-on-1 with a mentor to practise in real life. Getting feedback to tweak your answers can help you come off natural while nailing each question. ✔

With over a decade of experience, I have guided multiple candidates like you to master interviews and land their dream job.

Schedule a free consultation to discuss how I can set you up for success in upcoming interviews. ✨

You can also browse other top-rated mentors: 👇

Just click any link above to connect with mentors aligned to your experience level, industries of interest, and interview pain points.

Interview prep doesn't have to be miserable - it can be fun once you find your groove. Here's to acing those questions and moving forward to bigger things!

More common interview questions to practise: 👇

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'Why do you want to work here?' Best Answers + Templates