Reasons to ‘share’ why leaving job

[Flamingomumma]

Hi if you were leaving a role due to an incredibly challenging work culture, rather than dislike of the role itself, if asked why you are leaving your role, what would you say was the reason? Currently doing a job app and it’s asking and I’m stumped what to say.

I’d say that I’m looking for a new challenge, with chance to progress within the organisation.

Career development and opportunities for advancement.

on repeat.

no need to disclose anything to anyone else, no matter how many times and in how many ways they ask. Keep it completely neutral.

Also, I've never been asked why I'm leaving a role, I can't imagine why a recruiter would even ask - if everything was wonderful and you were deliriously happy you wouldn't be looking for a new job! Asking makes it seem like they're mega nosy and wanting to dig the dirt.

I've definitely had this question on job applications. If it was because I hated the culture I'd say what appealed to me about the new workplace and say what I liked about my current role but that I was ready to move on. I wouldn't say what I hate about the old workplace culture tbh. People respond better to positivity ime.

I always give constructive feedback on leaving where I feel comfortable doing so, but never tattle when explaining the departure to a new employer, it can never be constructive as it has no use and could reflect badly on you, just go for 'new challenge' or whatever else works, look at how the roles differ to find a diplomatic response.

Seeking opportunities for advancement is a go-to for that one. Have been in a situation where the boss I hated was married to the brother of my next boss...

Don't burn bridges.

I think my problem is I have only been where I am for 5 months, so I feel that even if it wasn’t a question on an app form, it would be in the interview. I can’t really say looking for new challenge when I’m still in a new challenge, if that makes sense?

Something vague about it not being a 'good fit' then focus on what an asset you'll be in the new role.
Honestly though I would try and stick it out a bit longer for the sake of the cv.

I would never say anything other than positive to the new employer. I would do an edit interview and share my feelings with the old employer.

I'm looking for an opportunity to work for a company whose values are more closely aligned with my own.

I'm looking for an environment that values new ideas.

Short term contract ending (assuming you're still on probation or similar, although I use "contract ended" for most of my reasons for leaving if I have to provide a full work history i.e. when I was a teacher, as every job effectively ends when your contract ends but it makes it sound like it was just a temporary job).

But really anywhere that asks for reason for leaving is usually a shit employer, just like anywhere that asks for your NINO or date of birth before you've been hired.

Never criticise your previous employment during an application process. It always raises questions. Find something diplomatic for the form. Assuming your CV isn't littered with short term jobs, if you get to the interview stage, you could say it wasn't quite the role you hoped it would be, and when this job came up you thought it sounded like too good an opportunity to miss. Highlight longer periods of employment. Recruiting managers understand that some job moves are a mistake for a multitude of reasons.

Good luck!

Oh and in one very memorable "reason for leaving" after working at somewhere like Index for 4 months, I put "I was offered a permanent contract at my current employer, but I really REALLY want to work at [Disneyland]" (with Disneyland being the name of the company I was applying to).

Reader, I got the job.

I left one job because the whole place turned into a toxic swamp of nepotism and misery after one truly awful senior manager was hired. The c level team wouldn't back track when they realised they'd made an awful hiring decision, and instead buried heads in sand and tried to just get on with it. It was a mess, and people were leaving in droves.

Couldn't say any of that obviously, so when I was asked why I was looking to leave my current role, I said 'actually I wasn't looking to leave my role, there are some really rewarding aspects to my job and its a great company to work for. However your recruiter contacted me and brought this role to my attention (which was true but only because I'd put my newly polished cv out there on every jobs website I could find) and it felt like too good an opportunity to pass up.' Then I talked about what was exciting about this role for me specifically and why I wanted to work for them.

If it hadn't been a recruiter and I'd found the job myself, I would have said the same thing but it would have been 'a friend in my network mentioned this opportunity to me, because they thought I would be interested, and they were right, etc etc'.

I got that job. The previous company finally fired that manager six months later. I've moved on since then but I work in a small industry. My current director knows my previous director reasonably well, for example, so I would never be negative about a potential former employer.