Interview Question: "Why are you making a career change?"
Making a big change in your career can be an equally exciting and nerve-wracking time. Whether you've been feeling the pull to a new career for quite some time or you're making a pretty quick move: stay positive in your answer.
Emphasize the positive reasons that have led you to this job interview. Perhaps you're inspired by the work they're doing, by their company culture, or by the opportunity the position offers. Perhaps the skills and experience line up perfectly with your skills and experience!
As with all interview questions, refer to the job description and recent company history when constructing your answer (your response needs to be relevant as well as compelling).
Demonstrating your buy-in to this potential employer's brand and culture is a good way to sell yourself as a match:
- Talk specifically about the job for which you are currently interviewing.
- Show excitement about the opportunity to learn some new skills and adapt to change.
- Focus on your strengths and what you will bring to the employer.
- Make sure you take time to describe your accomplishments, and all of the good that you’ve done for your current employer.
What never to say:
- I hated my last boss
- I hated the company culture at my last organization
- I was fired
- I was laid off
- I was bored
- I realized I hate [industry]
Example:
"I have been thinking of moving on to a larger organization for a while so that I can bring my skills to a large-scale audience. When I saw this opportunity at [ORGANIZATION] open up, I knew I had to apply. My background in [EXPERTISE FROM JOB POST] and [EXPERTISE FROM JOB POST] seems to line up perfectly with the position, which is so exciting to me."
Bonus: After explaining why you're making your career transition, go a step further by telling the interviewer where you envision your career going, especially as it pertains to this particular organization. This shows that you have taken the time to seriously consider your future as part of the team at their organization.
Example:
"As a part of [COMPANY'S] team, I can see my future as a [JOB TITLE] open up before me. I believe I can bring my [SKILLSET] to [PROJECT] as well as gain new experience to grow my career within [COMPANY.] I am so excited for this opportunity to propel my career at an organization like [COMPANY.]"
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