[Closed] Interview Help

Why do you want to leave your current role?

Why do you?

Feel undervalued in current role / seeking improved career progression opportunities / would like more responsibility / change of direction...

Do you have any questions you would like to ask?

Research the company on the Internet, see if that gives you an inroad to ask something about the company perhaps.

List 3 reasons you're having the interview in the first place ...

The reasons I'm leaving are because we went through a merger with one of our competetors which turned into being a bit of a hostile take over from their side. That was a few years ago but the company seems to be going really downhill with very little progression (or of wanting too) forward.

Am I better of just saying that I feel it's time I moved forwards with my career?

I've done my research on the company but can't think of much to ask apart from the amount of possibly working away from home.

What do you bring to the role?
What do you want to get out of it (personally, financially, developmentally, etc)
What experience do you have that's of value?
What sets you apart from other candidates?

No need to answer those here - just have something prepared.

Do you have any questions you would like to ask?

I had this in an interview recently. It was a complete gift. It's an opportunity to have a conversation on your terms that shows that you've done some research, you have a genunie interest in the role and, frankly, it's a chance to show off.

I found out from the annual report that the company had an aim of doubling turnover in 5 years and my role would, most likely, be involved in delivering this. I asked about how they are planning to achieve it and we had a 20 minute conversation about it and about how I had relevant experience that could help.

I got a job offer.

Good luck, and well done for getting an interview - that's the hardest bit.

edit:

I've done my research on the company but can't think of much to ask apart from the amount of possibly working away from home.

What are their aims? What's their strategy to achieve this? How does your specialism fit with the strategic direction of the company?

As for your role, time for a change, opportunities to build on what you've done by gaining more experience etc are ok. What attracts you to this particular employer?

the company seems to be going really downhill with very little progression (or of wanting too) forward.

Am I better of just saying that I feel it's time I moved forwards with my career?

So essentially what you're saying is, you're looking for a role with potential for career progression which will allow for personal growth and development, and unfortunately you don't believe that your current position is able to provide sufficient scope for this.

Sometimes, you simply outgrow a company. No harm in wanting to broaden your horizons. You don't have to pitch it as "well, my company is going down the shitter"(*) in order to say you want something better; the interview is about you, not your current employer.

(* - as you rightly say, it's bad form to slag off an employer, because an interviewer will think "what's he going to say about us when he leaves?" Also in this case, there's a question of if it's going down the pan, how much of that are you responsible for?)

Why do you want to leave your current role?

Whilst the above advice is partly useful, you need to flip it around as to why you want the job you are being interviewed for - you need to identify the positives about the business offering the job and let them know what you can contribute towards those positives.

Cheers for the advice guys.
Some very useful advice indeed.

Wish me luck at 4pm 🙂