Listing Reasons for Leaving on a Job Application

Listing Reasons for Leaving on a Job ApplicationListing Reasons for Leaving on a Job ApplicationWhen you fill out an employment application, employers will often ask for the reason why you left each of your previous positions. There are, of course, all sorts of reasons, both good and bad, for you to have left a job. As with any job search document, it is important to be honest when you respond. Its possible that prospective employers may call your former employers to verify that the reason you listed is accurate. You will also want to provide a reason that puts you in a positive light. So, if you left a job because you despised some of your day-to-day work or simply hated the position or the company, you might want to rephrase your reason as, Looking for new challenges. You may not need to include every job youve ever held on the application. Read the instructions carefully and follow the directions that tell you how much work experience you need to list. Read on for advice on how to list your reasons for leaving a job on an application, along with tips for dealing with tricky situations, like being fired or laid-off. Tips for Listing Reasons for Leaving on a Job Application Some reasons will be straightforward and easily accepted, like Career focus changedMoved on to a position with mora responsibilitiesOffered a new position from another companyLack of growth opportunities at the companyLaid-off from job due to corporate mergerLaid-off due to restructuringLeft for the beginning of the fall semesterLanded a higher paying jobLeft to focus on varsity baseball during the springLeft to devote more time to academicsLooking for a new challengePosition ended after summerPosition was part-time, contract, or temporaryWent back to school on a full-time basis In other cases, you may have had a concrete rationale like Caring for a sick family memberCoping with an illness yourself which has passedMoved to be closer to familySpouse transferred to a new cityStay-at-home parent for young children Of course, you will want to mention reasons which dont reflect negatively on you whenever possible. This is where giving yourself the benefit of the doubt can come into play. For example, say you were laid off from an employer that was experiencing financial difficulties. Even though a secondary reason as to why you were chosen was because you were a lower performing employee, it is fair enough to just cite budget cuts if you probably wouldnt have been let go otherwise. Try to Keep It Positive You should also avoid mentioning any reasons that reflect negatively on a former employer. You may have left the position because you did not get along with your manager or co-workers, but its preferable to say that you wanted a new challenge, were offered a higher paying position, or that the company restructured. Prospective employers tend to view employees who disparage their former colleagues negatively, so keep any notation about less than optimal circumstan ces as positive as possible. Tricky Reasons for Leaving When you leave a job for a positive reason, its a simple thing to explain, on your application and in an interview. Sometimes though, your reasons for leaving are a little more complex. Perhaps you quit your previous position because you were unhappy - your babo was difficult, your job was going nowhere, or you had co-workers who were unbearable. Maybe you were fired because your attitude was problematic, you got in a fight with your supervisor, or you werent doing a good enough job. Keep in mind that when leaving a job you can sometimes negotiate with your employer about how your departure might be represented to future employers. Doing this may help you avoid some of these tricky application issues. And, even after youve left, you can try contacting your former manager or human resources department, and asking if there is a neutral way they can describe your departure from the company. Quitting Your Job There are lot s of reasons to resign from a position, but some of them sound better to future employers than others. Hopefully gave some thought to leaving your job graciously before you turned in your resignation. You probably had a very good reason for quitting, but now you have to explain to your potential employer in a way that you and your former employer will agree on, in the likely event that they check. Whatever the circumstances, try not to place blame as it will only reflect badly on you. When You Have Been Fired Explaining being fired can be one of the fruchtwein difficult things you encounter during the job search process. Its likely an emotional issue for you, and even if its not, it can be difficult to explain while keeping your reputation untarnished. If you have to list a reason on a job application, it can be challenging to come up with an appropriate response that will be verified by your former employer. Heres a list of reasons for leaving a job to help you answer the quest ion in an appropriate way. Stick to the Facts Its important to make sure that your previous employers cant factually dispute the reason you list on your application. This is because your prospective employer can use any untruths on an application or a resume as grounds for dismissal, even if they come to light after you have been hired for the job.