Why Interviewers ask “Why did you change your career?”

There are several reasons why interviewers ask “Why did you change your career?” during job interviews. Here are some of the most common:

• Commitment and passion: They want to gauge your genuine interest and enthusiasm for the new field and a well-articulated reason about your career change can reflect genuine passion and commitment, which is crucial for long-term success.

• Growth mindset: They want to see if you’re proactive and take initiative to improve your career and a thoughtful answer about seeking new challenges or exploring new skills shows a desire for growth and continuous learning.

• Red flags: They want to identify potential red flags like dissatisfaction with past employers, lack of career planning, or impulsive decision-making and a negative or unclear answer might raise concerns about your stability or suitability for the role.

• Skill gaps: They want to understand the skills and experiences you bring from your previous career and how they translate to the new role and a well-connected explanation can highlight transferable skills and showcase your ability to adapt and learn new things.

• Learning agility: They want to assess your willingness to learn new skills and adapt to a new environment and sharing your efforts to acquire relevant skills or knowledge demonstrates your learning agility and preparedness for the new role.

• Cultural alignment: They want to see if your values and work ethic align with their company culture. Connecting your career change to your values or personal aspirations can show a deeper understanding of your motivations and potential fit with their team.

• Long-term career goals: They want to know your long-term career aspirations and how the role fits into your future plans because a clear vision for your future career path demonstrates your commitment and potential for growth within their company.

40% of today’s workers reveal they are thinking about changing careers. But why there is this huge migration? Is it an alarming call of passion, more money, or sanity after another soul-crushing Zoom meeting? Whatever may the reason be and now that you have decided on a career switch you will have to justify it in your upcoming interviews. But don’t worry as we have made this easier! This article contains everything you would require to answer the question “Why did you change your career?”