Job interviews prove to be a tightrope walk between authenticity and staging. You advertise and present yourself in the best possible light, but at the same time, you shouldn’t just throw empty phrases to yourself. The question about your motivation to change gives the HR manager a good insight into your previous employment relationship and your expectations of the new job – accordingly, it is asked in pretty much every job interview. We, therefore, show you 6 possible answers, which show social skill and ensure you a good impression.
Basically, there are 3 general guidelines for your answer according to your change motive:
- Don’t let your answer act as a justification or an excuse. Be self-confident in your answer and let the HR manager feel this security too.
- Give examples and go back and forth a little. This is how you make your answer concrete and tangible for the other person.
- Do not hide behind empty phrases! Your answer should be clear and, above all, individual so that you remain authentic and stand out from the crowd.
That means: do not just take the following examples one-to-one. They are considered possible answer directions and should be adapted to your personal intentions. To help with this, we have formulated follow-up questions for each possible answer. Ask yourself these questions yourself in preparation for your interview so that you have a clear and precise answer ready.
«I want to get to know a new industry»
This answer testifies to the joy of knowledge and an openness to new things. However, you should not leave it at this short answer and specify instead:
- Why are you interested in this industry?
- What will you gain by switching to this industry?
- Why would you like to leave your current industry?
- Why is the new company a good choice for entering this industry?
«I would like to develop professionally/personally»
The desire to expand your competency profile and to reach the next career level serves as an ideal reason for a job change. Don’t hide behind a lot of gossips here, but define clear goals:
- What development opportunities are particularly important to you?
- What are the exact goals you are pursuing in your career?
- Why have you not been able to achieve them with your previous company?
- Why do you think that you will achieve your goals with this particular employer?
«I would like to get to know a new work environment»
With this answer, you mustn’t digress into bad comments about your previous employer. Disputes or even bullying are of course completely understandable motivations for a change of employer, but you should remain professional and serious during the interview – and blasphemy about the old boss does not achieve this. Better to focus on the new employer:
- What is your preferred work environment?
- What is part of a good work environment for you?
- Why do you think you will find this with your new employer?
- Is your working environment about the office situation, dimensions, or other structures?
«I want to move towards an international orientation»
Your previous company only operates nationally and are you aiming for a larger context? This is a valid reason to change jobs. But here, too, it is important to differentiate:
- What exactly is it that appeals to you about the international context? Language skills, traveling, a change of scenery?
- What professional skills do you hope to gain by working internationally?
- Why do you think you will find this with your new employer?
«I feel like taking on new challenges»
This is a good justification for a job change, but caution is advised here: Do not portray yourself as slipper par excellence. Better explain to the recruiter:
- What specific challenges are you aiming for?
- When is this criterion met for you? Through new projects, larger tasks or employees to be managed?
- Why do you not find these challenges with your previous employer?
- Why do you think that you will find the desired challenges in the new company?
«The job change has family reasons»
Moving with your partner, having a new family member, more time with the family – these are all legitimate reasons for a change of job. Here you have to be careful with your formulation: Focus less on your motive for changing jobs and more on the motivation behind it. Make it clear to the HR manager that your interest in the job did not just arise out of expediency. It is better to emphasize how great you are interested in their company, what opportunities you see in the job, and why your employment results in profit for both sides.
So, do you feel ready for your interview? Here you will find a list of motivation to change, which you would rather not state, and a checklist for preparing for a meeting so that you are properly prepared for everything.