Interview Question "Why are you leaving your old job" - ok to say "for a higher salary"?
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Anonymous
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I am in the beginning phases of a job search and wondering, if I am asked during an interview why I am leaving my current company is it ok to say that I am looking to move so that I can make more money? That is the honest answer.... not sure if I should BS something else to make me sound like less of a jerk?
And I guess to give some perspective, in doing some research I do think I could make about $20k more if I moved companies. I have been at my company for a long time so while I get raises frequently andand they are a fair % they came from my beginning salary which was entry level. I could probably negotiate internally for maybe a $5-7k raise but could not get much more at one point in time... hence starting the job search. |
Anonymous
| No don't say money |
Anonymous
| "I am seeking greater challenges that blend well with my areas of expertise." |
Anonymous
| Don't talk about salary. I agree you should frame it in terms of seeking out new challenges and opportunities to grow professionally and build your skills. And BTW, it goes without saying that you don't badmouth your current employer. |
Anonymous
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Agree with PPs - no money, but new challenges. It's BS for most of us (or at least, "challenges" is not often the primary reason of looking elsewhere in my opinion), but I think it's inappropriate to talk about salary/money at all during an interview unless you're asked by the interviewer.
As an aside, not that this is what you intended to do, but I recently interviewed someone who must've said "money" FIFTEEN times in an hour interview. When she described her history she identified "making more money" as the reason she went from each job to next - it was very off-putting and to an extent negated the other valuable things she said about her content experience. Needless to say we did not hire her. |
Anonymous
| OP here - that was exactly what i needed to hear - thanks! and new challenges would be a legit thing for me to say, as i am "comfortable" with where i am now and could stand to shake things up a bit. i guess "honesty is the best policy" doesnt work in this situation. thank you! |
Anonymous
| Same as when you are asked why you are divorcing your wife you cannot say "For a younger model". |
Anonymous
| An honest, but more palatable answer is that you don't feel you are growing and progressing in your career as you would like to. For example, at my job I had a big year and brought in a bunch of money for the company, and greatly increased my responsibilities on my own initiative. Everybody of my age/experience cohort got the same raise as me. It's not about the $$$ but that sucked! I wouldn't mention the money part if I were interviewing for a new position, but that would be a big part of what I mean when I say I'm not "growing"! |
Anonymous
Isn't this pretty much the same thing as saying you are looking for new challenges? Not growing and progressing is the definition of not being challenged, right? |
Anonymous
| This should have been common sense.... |
Anonymous
Not PP but I guess his/her point is that wanting more money fits more neatly into "Not growing and progressing [....financially]". Either way OP, agree that talking salary is generally a no-no. |
Anonymous
| My current position does not provide me room for growth or promotion and I am looking for a new position that has more future potential. |
Anonymous
Yeah, that was my only point, but sure it's essentially the same. I think the "more challenges" line as phrased can come off as insincere. Do you really want to work harder, or do you just want to feel like you're "going somewhere" (financially, intellectually, or both)? Ya know? |
Anonymous
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just want to say to be careful to not sound too much like a career climber when interviewing. It may make them nervous that you will not be satisfied in the role for very long and will expect to be promoted after a year or something if that's not the case.
phrase it as, "I've been in my current position a while now and am looking for some new challenges," rahter than "there is no career mobility at my current company". There may not be any at their company either! |
Anonymous
agreed. not sure why OP thinks its ok to say they want more money. unless OP is applying to jobs that are lateral move which in that case, creates a challenge but you can always say that the room for growth is not there where you are and you feel that the opportunities at the company you are interviewing with give you that ability to take the next step in your career. either way, dont say more money |