Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job? How to Answer Correctly
About this video
Jeff Su explains how to answer ‘Why are you leaving your current job?’ using the ETP structure, noting that former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss warns that why-questions can put people on the defensive. E is Explain: address the reason directly and honestly, but keep it to one to two prepared sentences, worded positively so the interviewer can read between the lines, rather than ranting or bad-mouthing a boss or employer — and do not skip it entirely, because interviewers will follow up on a non-answer. He adds a trick from his own answer: signaling he was especially interested in this specific role, implying he might not be looking otherwise. T is Transition: provide a concrete example showing a slight mismatch between your strengths and what your current role asks of you, and pivot so smoothly to the new role that the interviewer barely notices the shift, making the new job look like a better fit. P is Potential: show excitement for the new company and role by making educated assumptions based on research you have done, demonstrating you know what you are getting into. He closes with his full sample answer from when, after two years in management consulting, he interviewed for a sales position at Google.
Key takeaways
- Use ETP: Explain, Transition, Potential to structure the leaving-your-job answer
- Keep the Explain part to one to two prepared, positive sentences — never rant or trash your employer
- Do not dodge the question entirely; interviewers will follow up on a non-answer
- In Transition, use a concrete mismatch example and pivot smoothly to why the new role fits better
- In Potential, show research with educated assumptions about the new role to convey genuine excitement
Episode details: published January 6, 2021 · 7:16 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Jeff Su’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.
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