Why Are You Leaving Your Current Job?

By Jayne Harris

...when asked this during an interview this past week, I explained that I wasn't receiving enough hours for summer.  It's better than telling the truth (see #2 in the article linked below), but I could have prepared a stronger answer if I had been anticipating the question.  Questions that catch you off guard can 'make or break' your interview - from my experience as a hiring manager, I've compiled some of the worst interview answers ever given:

"Your application was rather vague, could you elaborate on your extracurricular involvement?"
I'm Bob Smith, I'm 20, I go to Purdue, I'm studying science, I like sports.
Yes, I know.  Your application told me ALL of these things.

"Why are you interested in this job?"
I just really need money right now, I'm trying to pay off an underage drinking ticket.
...TMI

"You interview was at 3:00.  Do you mind telling my why you're 10 minutes late?"
Yeah I thought it was at 3:30 so I'm early.
To be cliche, I wasn't born yesterday!   

Why would people give answers of this nature?  Perhaps they were caught off guard (or really need an appointment with LACD!), but these thoughtless answers cost them the job.  Granted, it's a part-time job, giving many people the feeling they don't need to act in an "adult" professional manner; however, your level of professionalism should always be high, regardless of whether you're interviewing at McDonald's or Microsoft.  Instead of telling me they need money to pay off a drinking ticket, candidate #2 could have said, "I would like to have a part-time job in college.  It would help with expenses and improve my time-management skills as a student and employee" - very candid and honest, yet professional. 

Read "What You Should Never Say in a Job Interview" by Alison Green.  You may think some of them are obvious, but it can only improve your interview performance.