The most important thing you can convey to a potential new employer is exactly why you’re looking for a new position. Why? Because this answer will set the tone not only for the rest of the interview but for your work with the company if you are offered the position. There are right and wrong ways to answer this question. So how do you put your best foot forward and land the job? Here are some things to keep in mind during the interview.

• Stay positive. The biggest trap you can fall into with this question is giving into the temptation to talk about all the things that were wrong with your last position. There may actually be a lot of truth to these things. You may be looking for a new job because you didn’t get along with your coworkers or managers. You may be looking for a new job because you no longer feel challenged in your current role. All of these are valid reasons to be looking for a new job, but they are also red flags to potential employers. Keep the negative reasons to yourself and position your answers in a positive way.
• Focus on your skills. Of course the company wants to fill this position with someone they know will be able to do the job. In order to prove to them that you are the right candidate for the job you need to focus on the skills that you have in relation to what they need. Reframe the question in this manner. For example, if you are looking for a new job in financial auditing you can let them know the reason for your search is to find a job where you can apply your skills to help companies see their full potential.
• Talk about long term goals. A company also wants to hire someone who is dedicated to their organization for the long term. They don’t want to hire someone who is looking at this role as a stepping stone in their career. You can emphasize this by incorporating where you see yourself in several years to the mission of the company overall. Use some of the company’s language to let them know you’re looking for a job that focuses on the values they express in their own plan for future success.

Why are you looking for a new job? VincentBenjamin can help you focus your job search and find the right opportunity in IT or Accounting today! Give us a call at one of our locations in Phoenix, Orange County, Los Angeles or Denver.