Customer question on: why are you leaving your job

One of the questions that has me having nightmares is “Why are you leaving your job?”

I can’t very well say, “I am burned out” nor does ” It is time to move on” work. The latter usually gets me that “What is wrong with you” look.

Plus the “I am exploring going back to school” answer gets me that look like I am hiding a serious issue. Lets face it, I am in my 50’s and interviewers tend to look at me like I am a liability. I go in confident and I know they are thinking this person is not going to stay long, she is going to retire soon so why hire her. Thank you for any advise or suggestions.

-Judie

Don’s answer to: why are you leaving your job for job seekers in their 50’s

I think one of the best ways to answer this question is to tell your interviewer you are leaving because your current job is not as challenging as it once was and that if you are not continually challenged, work becomes boring and you’re not one to sit around all day and be bored. You could even throw in that you asked your boss for more challenging work, and after 3-4 more months your situation has not changed and your job remains unchallenging, hence the need to find new and more challenging work. Now of course, these are just suggestions and ideas and would need to be reworded and put into your own words so your statements are factual.

Only in your 50’s? Is that all? You’re a youngling compared to some of the people I work with. I just helped a 67 year young woman land a $125K management position. I’m not saying I can do that for you because I can’t – She landed the job; I didn’t. I just helped with her confidence and technique and she did the rest. If you see your age as a problem, then so will your interviewer.

Lead with your many years of stable and proven job experience, that you know how to get things done and most importantly, that you are a solution to their problems.

If you look at your age as a drawback or liability, then so will they and that will be your downfall and you’ll have a harder time getting hired. It’s more of a mindset than anything, but it’s very important to think positive and use what you have, and forget about what you do not have.

You you’re not 35, so don’t think that you have to be to get hired. If in your mind you think that you need youth to get a job, then your brain will work against you and make sure that you don’t get hired because you’re not meeting your own criteria. Your mind really does work that way. Henry Ford always said, “whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, either way you’re right.”

I’m not trying to get you all jacked up on being positive, just get you in the right frame of mind and to lead with what you do have and most importantly, your strengths.

-Don

No related posts.