You left your last job. How do you explain why?

Leaving your last job can be a tough decision, especially as a structural engineer. You may have invested a lot of time, energy, and passion into your projects, and formed strong bonds with your colleagues and clients. However, sometimes you may feel the need to move on, whether for personal, professional, or financial reasons. How do you explain why you left your last job to a potential employer, without sounding negative, bitter, or dishonest? Here are some tips to help you craft a positive and convincing answer.

Key takeaways from this article

Honesty with tact:

Share your reasons for leaving without negativity. Focus on the lessons learned and the skills gained, ensuring you maintain a positive tone.### *Show your enthusiasm:Highlight how the new role aligns with your career goals and interests. Demonstrate your research on the company and express excitement about contributing to their mission.

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1 Be honest but tactful

The first rule of thumb is to be honest about why you left your last job, but avoid badmouthing your previous employer, manager, or coworkers. Even if you had a negative experience, you don't want to come across as someone who holds grudges, blames others, or can't handle feedback. Instead, focus on the facts and the lessons you learned from the situation. For example, you can say that you left your last job because you wanted to pursue a different career path, learn new skills, or take on more responsibility. You can also mention any positive aspects of your previous job, such as the projects you completed, the skills you gained, or the relationships you built.

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Ahmed Atiek, M.Eng., EUR ING, P.Eng., P.E., MIEAust CPEng, CEng, MRINA

Co-Founder / General Manager at Horizon Engineering Solutions
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When discussing your departure from your last job, focus on positive aspects and frame the reasons in a constructive manner. Highlight personal and professional growth, changes in career goals, or the pursuit of new challenges. This allows you to be honest while maintaining a positive and tactful approach.

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Gulmira Khamiyeva

Project Coordinator | Regulatory Affairs | Permitting | Certification
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When explaining why I left my last job, I focus on positive reasons such as seeking new challenges, career growth opportunities, or alignment with long-term goals. I emphasize gratitude for past experiences and readiness for a new chapter.

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2 Highlight your achievements and goals

Another way to explain why you left your last job is to highlight your achievements and goals as a structural engineer. You can show how you contributed to the success of your previous projects, and how you applied your knowledge, creativity, and problem-solving skills. You can also share how you developed your professional skills, such as communication, collaboration, or leadership. Then, you can link your achievements and goals to the position you are applying for, and explain how you can add value to the new company. For example, you can say that you left your last job because you wanted to work on more challenging and diverse projects, or because you wanted to join a company that shares your vision and values.

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3 Demonstrate your enthusiasm and fit

Finally, you want to demonstrate your enthusiasm and fit for the new role and company. You can express your interest in the company's mission, culture, and projects, and how they align with your own passions and aspirations. You can also show how you researched the company and the role, and what attracted you to apply. You can also ask questions about the expectations, responsibilities, and opportunities of the role, and how you can best meet them. For example, you can say that you left your last job because you were impressed by the company's reputation, innovation, and impact, and that you are excited to join their team and contribute to their goals.

Leaving your last job can be a difficult topic to discuss, but it doesn't have to be a deal-breaker. By being honest but tactful, highlighting your achievements and goals, and demonstrating your enthusiasm and fit, you can explain why you left your last job in a positive and convincing way, and show that you are ready for a new challenge as a structural engineer.

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Joseph A. Selzle, PE

Sr. Manager of Business Development at Zachry Group | Relationship-Focused | Problem-Solver | Collaborative | Community-Engaged |
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In previous roles, when cultural misalignments arose between my work style and the company environment, I've leveraged those experiences to identify ideal workplace settings. During interviews, if asked about past departures, I confidently described my strengths and the specific cultural attributes that contributed to my success. By highlighting these preferences and explaining how they differed from a previous environment, I could demonstrate a strong fit for the prospective company culture. It's important to maintain a positive and professional tone throughout this discussion, framing the departure as a mutual decision to pursue a more suitable opportunity.

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4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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You left your last job. How do you explain why?

1

2

3

4

1 Be honest but tactful

2 Highlight your achievements and goals

3 Demonstrate your enthusiasm and fit

4 Here’s what else to consider

Structural Engineering

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You left your last job. How do you explain why?

1

2

3

4

1 Be honest but tactful

2 Highlight your achievements and goals

3 Demonstrate your enthusiasm and fit

4 Here’s what else to consider

Structural Engineering

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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