It’s not uncommon to have some anxiety regarding your resume and how a future employer views it. There are hundreds of services where others give you advice regarding your resume yet when it comes down to the actual interview, the more you prepare personally, the better you will do.
One major source of anxiety can be felt with any job gaps, several short term positions or even if you have an ideal work history, you might still be asked why you’re leaving your current job. Having an answer that makes you feel comfortable and provides the information requested is the best compromise.
Try to personalize them to your situation but be careful to not bad-mouth an employer; in the healthcare field, you never know who is connected and you might work with them again in the future. Keep in mind the interviewer is looking for a reason, good or bad, to hire you so when you are vague, it might leave them to their own imagination and it might not be positive. Going into too much detail, especially with personal information can also give a negative impression.
Here are some possible answers to the question, “Why did you leave your last job?”
You are: currently employed.
I am seeking a more challenging role. I have contributed a great deal to my current team and with the opportunities at this new company, I feel I could do and learn even more.
The key is to let the employer know they are awesome enough to be luring you away from your current position. They have a better culture, better hours, more exciting clients and are a better fit for you.
You were: Laid off.
My previous employer lost several key clients and it affected the revenue. I provided a great deal of value on the team and enjoyed my position. In fact, my supervisor is my best reference. (If true.)
The key to this one is that you don’t take the blame for the layoff. Some people use this term as a code for being fired when it is completely different and you need to make that very clear. It is helpful to have team members/bosses from that time as your references; it speaks volumes as to what happened.
You were: Fired.
After some changes within the organization, it became clear that my strengths didn’t mesh as well on the team. This process has taught me I am better with client services rather than facility management (or whatever the job titles).
Be careful to not speak poorly of your previous employer but also be ready to answer candidly. If you can, accentuate the positive things you did on the team and how they were possibly moving in a different direction, different work ethics, etc, that were not good for you. Do your research about the potential so you don’t misspeak and mention something you didn’t like about your old job that they also practice at the new company.
The best course of action is honesty with a spin of positivity. Take the blame when it’s your fault but also make it clear you learned a new skill to be more marketable or to fix the deficit in your performance. No one has a perfect resume, but practicing your answers will help you seem more honest and like someone who wants to move forward.
For more interview and resume tips, contact the professionals at WSi Healthcare. They will even be able to walk you through interview scenarios so you are prepared for any question that is directed at you.