How to answer when asked why you changed your career in an interview

Changing careers is a very common thing in a career. Some people choose to change careers to something they really like, while others may change careers just because the salary is higher. If you are looking for a job in a new industry, you will definitely be asked why you changed careers during the interview. So how can you answer this question without losing points and affecting the interview results?

How to answer when asked why you changed careers in an interview

The answer routine is as follows: (There is a sequence, don't reverse it)

Express your ambition → Talk about the good points of your previous job → Talk about the shortcomings of your previous job → Talk about the good points of your current job

This routine is as follows:

1. I changed my career to better suit my career development plan.

I am a young person who needs to be proactive and continue to grow and improve myself.

2. My previous company was very good, the job was very good too, I liked it very much, and of course I was capable of doing it.

It taught me XXX (XXX here refers to the benefits brought to you by the previous job). I should be careful in doing things and be able to consider problems from the user's perspective.

3. My original job also limited me.

I need to improve my AAA (AAA here refers to the benefits that this job can bring you) software testing and implementation capabilities. So I feel that this job in your company is more suitable for me and more suitable for my career development plan.

4. My current job satisfies me.

I am very grateful to my previous company for giving me a job opportunity. This job in your company fits my career development plan and needs, and I am confident that I can do it well. So I hope you can give me a chance.

How should I answer when asked why I changed my career?

This is a very common type of question in interviews. When the interviewer asks these questions, his intention is to:

①I want to know how much you know about the job you are interviewing for.

② What abilities do you have that match the job you are interviewing for?

③What experiences have you gained in your previous job?

So no matter how the question is asked, we can answer it with the same idea.

Maybe the real reason for your career change is very negative. For example, the salary in your previous job was too low, your previous boss was unbearable, or your previous relationship with your colleagues was very bad.

If these are the reasons, you must not speak out the truth, even if the interviewer in front of you is very friendly, you cannot tell these truths.

The meaning of not saying these things is not to lie, but to avoid them and selectively answer things that will help your interview.

That is, focus on answering what the interviewer wants to know, such as the three points mentioned above, instead of stating the reasons for your negativity in a realistic way.

Risks of career change for young people

1. Waste of time and youth. When you enter a new industry, you have to start all over again. All your previously accumulated connections and experience will be reset to zero, so it takes a long time for you to adapt to a new industry. Many people cannot persist and may give up and return to their old jobs. This is a waste of youth. Time is also very precious for young people.

2. It will affect your current quality of life and put you under greater pressure. There is a saying that if you change jobs, you will be poor for three months, and if you change careers, you will be poor for three years. If you decide to change careers, you will have to bear the consequences of low wages in the next two to three years. If you have a mortgage, car loan, or a girlfriend at this time, you will be under even greater pressure.

3. You missed the chance of success. You may have been in this industry for many years and you may have made a breakthrough if you persevere for a while, but you gave up and changed careers because of some difficulties. Then you may lose a lot.

How to change career after 30

(1) Do your homework.

You can collect information about the industry you want to enter through the following three ways, and quickly build knowledge and understanding of the new industry through the information.

The official website or self-media account (WeChat public account, etc.) of the leading company in the industry

Industry-specific news and information media (e.g., "Ebrun Power" for e-commerce, "Maternity and Baby Industry Observation" for maternity and baby products)

Industry conferences or trade shows (such as the annual E-Bang Power E-Commerce Conference)

(2) It is best to change careers rather than positions.

In other words, if you are working in human resources, administration, accounting, sales and other positions, if you change jobs, it is best to change your career rather than your position. Your professional knowledge can basically handle the work in the new industry, so changing careers will be a natural thing.

If you are engaged in a job that requires a high level of professionalism in a vertical industry, such as product development, quality inspection, etc., it is best to find an industry that is close to or has certain similarities with your current industry when you change careers.

(3) Find the “master”.

“One hundred days of self-cultivation is not as good as one day of guidance from a master.” A master is a crucial role for people who are new to a field. He or she may even determine your future path of discovery and way of thinking.