Interview Insider is an educational series produced by neteffects dedicated to sharing the “inside scoop” on effective interviewing tips & resources that land jobs.

“Why are you leaving your current job?” the interviewer quips. You sit caught off-guard and staring into the abyss of their office blankly. Sweat beads on your forehead. ‘Because my current boss is a horrible person and I can't work for him a day longer.” you reply. Instantly, you regret the words that have just tumbled from your mouth. Soon after, you leave the interview only to receive and rejection email the very same day.Awakening from your panic-inducing nightmare covered in sweat, you discover that it hasn’t happened yet! You still have time to prepare for the interview for THE dream job and answer that interview question with ease.While the above may have been a nightmare-inducing scenario, the answer from the slumbering candidate is one that can slip right out from even the most well meaning (but overly honest) job seeker. Don’t let that nightmare become your reality! Be prepared to answer this common interview question.

Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job

Here’s how to answer the “why are you leaving your current job” interview question without raising any red flags:Keep things positive. Even if your boss was a horrible person, this is not the place to air dirty laundry. Frame your answer in a way that shows that you’re eager to take on a new challenge and that the roll you’re interviewing for will provide you that - or that the position is an all-around better fit.For example: “I’m excited to join your organization as the Jr. Software Developer because I feel that having an opportunity to work on a team where there is a commitment to mentoring and developing employees demonstrates that the employer want their people to grow with them, over time. I understand not every company is afforded the ability to provide such resources to their team, but this is something that is important to me. I want to grow my career with a company that I can continue my learning on the job and add ongoing value too now and over time.”You can keep it short and to the point with an answer like the following:“I am looking for a roll that will enable me to be a part of end to end product development, and I know that I would have such an opportunity with your company.”What if you were let go?It is acceptable to say exactly that. Don’t embellish or present the facts any other way. A simple, “Unfortunately I was let go in a round of cuts because the company made the decision to outsource my role.” (To note: you don't have to volunteer why you were let go, but it does help to answer any further questions an interviewer might have from such an answer.)You can add to it with: “I’m thankful to have had the opportunity and am looking forward to a new chapter as a Senior UI developer on the XYZ product team if it’s a good fit for us both, which so far, I feel that it is.”Interested in more Interview Insider tips and resources? Check out our other answers and topics here: https://neteffects.com/category/interview-insider/