If you’ve been thinking about changing roles, read this first
The answer you should have ready before the question comes up
Few interview questions make us tense as quickly as this one.
“Why are you leaving your current role?”
It sounds straightforward. Reasonable, even.
But the moment it’s asked, the mental spiral begins.
Should I be honest? Should I keep it vague so I don’t sound negative? Should I say the real reason… or the “acceptable” reason? What if this makes me look difficult or disloyal?
And suddenly, a simple question turns into a high-stakes moment.
But here’s the truth:
The problem isn’t that you don’t know why you’re leaving.
It’s that this question often pulls us into explaining too much, focusing on what we want to leave instead of where we want to go.
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First truth: this question is not about your reasons
When an interviewer asks why you’re leaving, they’re not looking for the full backstory.
They don’t need the office politics, the late nights or every detail that led you here.
What they’re really listening for is how you talk about change.
Can you explain a decision clearly? Can you talk about what’s next, instead of staying focused on what didn’t work?
From the hiring side, this answer is less about where you’re coming from and more about whether your move makes sense.
You are not on trial. You are explaining a career move.
The goal is simple: give a clear, forward-looking explanation that helps the person across from you understand your decision, without turning this moment into a therapy session.
Second truth: your answer quietly predicts how you’ll experience the new environment
This question isn’t only about explaining your past. It’s also a quiet fit-check for what comes next.
When you answer, the interviewer is starting to imagine you in their environment.
You don’t have to say things directly for them to come through.
If you emphasise wanting more structure, they’re thinking about how structured this team actually is. If you talk about needing guidance or clarity, they’re picturing how this manager really works day to day.
This isn’t about pretending or saying the “right” thing.
It’s about being honest in a way that helps both sides understand the match.
Because the fastest way to end up unhappy again is to leave one environment for a reason… and step into a new one that operates in the exact same way.
So don’t just explain what you’re leaving.
Make it clear what you’re moving toward and why this role (hopefully) makes sense for that.
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Use this structure to keep your answer forward-looking
You only need three things:
What you’ve learned or gained in your current role
What you’re ready for next
And why this role fits that next step
That’s it.
You don’t need to justify your past or defend your decision. And you don’t need to bring every feeling into the answer.
This just helps you keep the focus on what’s next.
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What that actually sounds like
Instead of saying:
“I love my team, but there were some challenges and I didn’t feel like there was growth and I wasn’t sure if things would change...”
Try something like this:
“I’ve learned a lot in my current role, especially around (skills or exposure you gained). Over time, I realized I’m ready for a position where I can (what you want more of: scope, impact, ownership, growth).
This role stood out because it lines up with the kind of work I want to be doing next, with more room to grow and make an impact.”
Same reason. Just said clearly.
Big Sister Note
Wanting more doesn’t make you disloyal and wanting something different doesn’t make you negative.
And you don’t have to stay somewhere that no longer fits just to look professional.
“Why are you leaving?” isn’t a judgment of who you are.
It’s just a moment to explain a decision you’ve already thought through.
Say it calmly. Say it clearly. That’s enough. ✨
If this brought something up for you, you can reply directly to this email or message me on Substack and tell me what you’re thinking. I read every one. ✨