How do you answer 'Why do you want to leave your current job?'

Interviewers are listening for red flags here — mainly, whether you'll speak negatively about a future employer the same way you're speaking about your current one.

What to focus on

• Growth you're seeking that your current role has a genuine ceiling on
• Alignment with this specific company's work, mission, or team structure
• A logical next step in your skills or responsibilities

What to avoid

• Criticizing a manager, team, or company by name, even if true
• Talking only about compensation as the reason (even if it's a real factor)
• Vague dissatisfaction with no forward-looking reason attached

Example

"I've grown a lot in my current role, but the team is small and there isn't a clear path to the kind of larger-scale projects I want to take on next. This role's scope is exactly that next step."

If the real reason is a difficult manager or workplace issue, it's fine to acknowledge a mismatch briefly and neutrally, then pivot quickly to what you're looking for instead.