Explaining the 7 Best Reasons for Leaving A Job

You've decided you want a fresh start with work. With that, you're ready to take a plunge and switch careers. If you're worried if it's the right thing to do, know that it's a normal process everyone will go through in life. There are various reasons for leaving a job and you should know yours perfectly well.

When you finally muster enough courage to proceed with resigning, there is one more mental obstacle you'll have to face, giving the good reasons for leaving a job to your employers.

You'll face the same situation in an interview for a new job. You're bound to hear questions such as "why did you leave your previous job?" It's a question interviewers like to ask because your reply speaks a lot about your personality and character.

However, have no fear because this article will show you 7 list of reasons for leaving a job. If your departure is due in part to any of these reasons, your current and future employers should hold nothing against you for leaving the company.

Before we dive into what are the reasons for leaving a job, let's get some basic questions sorted out.

Do You Really Want to Leave Your Current Job?

Before you hand in your resignation letter, first confirm whether your desire to leave your current job is at a hundred percent.

If your thoughts about leaving your job are impulsive, possibly due to unsatisfactory event at work or getting involved in office politics, then you'll need to think again if these reasons for departure. These situations cause emotional fluctuation that is likely to affect your overall feelings.

You'll need to calm down and ask yourself: "Do I really want to leave my current job?" Remember to follow your heart. If your answer is a "Yes", then proceed with asking yourself, "What are my reasons for leaving a job?"

These are some of the most common reasons:

- Looking for new challenges and work environment

- Too much time spent on commuting

- Moving to another city

- Further studies

- Your spouse has some problems with work

- Physical and mental problems

- Not satisfied with the current workplace

- Feeling demotivated at work

- Poor management

There may be times where your departure is affected by reasons that are out of your control such as if your last company has ceased operations, or you are involved in a wave of layoffs.

Whatever the reason, please make the decision after careful consideration. Remember, among the reasons for leaving a job mentioned above, some are due to professional reasons while others may be of personal reasons.

Listing the Reasons for Leaving A Job on Application

As with a job search document, it is important to be honest when listing your reasons for leaving a job. That's because your prospective employer may contact your former employer to verify your reasons for departure. If you are caught lying, you may lose your job opportunity.

Some reasons can be as such:

• Career focus changed
• Seeking challenge in another field
• Lack of growth opportunity at the company
• Stay-at-home parent for young children
• Caring for a sick family member
• Left to pursue a higher degree

There are also some precautions you'll need to take when filling in your application when asked your reasons for departure of your previous position.

1. The reasons for leaving a job can be perceived as personal reasons

For many of us, stating a personal reason for leaving a job feels unconvincing. But for the company, personal reasons for leaving a job are objective reasons as they are something the company cannot change.

If you are dissatisfied with salary, the other party will say that this is a necessary stage of career development. If you feel that the work causes you immense pressure, you will be told that stress is precisely the driving force for growth. Recognizing how personal reasons have little to do with the company are the best reasons for leaving a job.

2. Reason for resignation should be combined with the actual situation

In order to make your departure persuasive, you should combine the actual reasons when submitting your resignation application. For example, because it is far from home and the commute time is too long. The more specific reasons for leaving a job you use, the smoother it will be.

3. Avoid mentioning anything bad about your previous company

Try to avoid talking badly about your previous employer at all costs. Since you have decided to resign, there is no need to talk about your company or colleagues. Because if you do, it is possible the company will reject your reasons for leaving a job on the application for fear that you will do the same to them.

4. Don't disclose too much

However, the conversation goes, it's important that you don't feel guilty about moving on or feel like you need to over-explain why you left your job. You can choose to speak in general terms and try to keep your answers short.

How to answer, "Why are you leaving your current job"?

Here are some of the ways to state your reason of departure with grace and professionalism.

1. Family matters

If an emergency occurs at home, you may need to put family-first. Whether it is to take care of a family member or to bring up children at home, these are valid reasons for leaving a job. For instance, you may state that your parents need attentive care, or you need to stay-home for your children.

2. Better career path

Whether it is for a promotion, future growth opportunities, higher pay, better benefits, or seeking better job opportunities, this is another legitimate reason to leave. This will indicate to your new employer that you are looking for growth opportunities that were not available in your previous position and that you are up for bigger responsibilities in their company.

3. Your values did not align with the company

Over time, you've come to find that your company's values aren't exactly what you thought. What's important to you may not be necessary to them and this may cause misalignments. No party is at fault here because it's simply a case of being on two separate pages. Change now becomes necessary to get back in line with your life goals.

4. Burnt out

Sometimes, people take advantage of your capabilities, and the workload adds up no matter how much you've done for the day. If you see yourself having work anxiety, it could be because you've reached a burnt-out state. And when that occurs, you'll lose interest in your job, the company or both. Hence, a fresh start is necessary to overcome this matter.

5. You seek for change

Not many people are like this, but if you crave change and new experience in life, then this may also be a valid reason for leaving a job. This means you're completely eager to reinvent yourself and start a whole new career path. It's not surprising that employees today tend to work in different fields to find their ideal jobs over the course of their career.

6. You've been laid off

As long as you're not laid off due to performance or integrity, your potential employer is not going to hold this against you. Especially in an unprecedented state with so many layoffs happening. Just be honest and let them know about it.

7. You seek for an improved work life balance

If you're consistently self-motivated, hardworking and always pushing yourself to be the best, odds are you're going to be mentally exhausted. Your daily routine will consist of work, work, and more work. And if work dominates your personal life, you may need to find more balance. An employee that has work-life balance in check tends to be more engaged in work.

In conclusion, switching jobs is common in today's world. There is no reason to feel guilty about it. The most important thing about leaving is to state your reasons for leaving a job with sincerity and honesty.

Remember, all the reasons that you give say volumes about who you are professionally and ethically for your next job. All the best in your future career!