5 Good Reasons to Explain Why You Want to Leave Your Job

Leaving a job can be complicated, but no prospective employer wants to hear the messy details (and your telling them would show a lack of judgment). Keep simple your explanation of why you are leaving. Here are five accepted reasons:

1. Change in management. People understand that departures by your GC, direct manager, your team, or the executive team can make you want to go. Instead of talking about how your boss is crazy and drove everyone to go, simply cite the numbers, e.g., more than half the [legal] [business] team left in X months, or you are on your #th CEO in Y years.
2. Change in direction at company. If you were hired to support X and now the company is moving to Y, people will understand why you would want to move. Or you can cite a broader reason like change in company vision. (Obviously the more specific a reason, the more compelling it can be.)
3. Change in platform. People will understand if you are looking for a company that is more international or stable than your current one, or public versus private.
4. Recruitment by former colleague/friend. If you previously made a move because a former colleague or classmate recruited you, make that reason clear. Being recruited by someone who knows you speaks to the quality of your work and collegiality; it can mitigate the concern you are a job hopper.
5. Switch in practice groups or industries. You may be looking to move to an adjacent area of law or industry. To make this change happen, make clear how the move makes sense and will not require a lot of training.

Tip: After explaining why you are leaving your company, end by explaining your interest in this next opportunity.