Do you tell the interviewer the truth about why you left your previous roll?

Looking to change companies as there is a big issue with transparency at my current comp. The longer I'm here the more I come to realize how much of what was said during interviews and onboarding was just plain untrue.


In these situations when recruiters inevitably ask why you are leaving how do you respond? I feel like saying anything less than positive about previous employers would leave a negative impact on the interview.


Also, if you know of some truly transparent companies looking to hire remote AE LMK.

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🧠 Advice
🤝 Interviewing/Offer
19
CoorsKing
WR Officer
8
Retired King of the Coors Knights
To an extent. Don’t bad mouth your former employer too much, that is a negative during interviews. But you can say something like “I am looking to move to a role with a company that values transparency and providing honest feedback”

That indirectly implies why you left. 
ColdCallFartBoy
Celebrated Contributor
2
Business Development Representative
This!!!! Hit the nail on the head BigMeech!
Ozz
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Yeah, it's usually positive on why you wanted to leave. Most employers don't care since turnover is so high in sales, IMO.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
7
🦊
Never bash your company, but do tell the truth.

I'm leaving because:

I want to be a part of something I'm passionate about.
The opportunity to grow my career.
Flexibility

Whatever you're reasoning, make sure it's positive.


Incognito
WR Officer
6
Master of Disaster
🙋🏻‍♀️ I ignored everyone’s very good advice here and straight up said my company fucking sucks. In those words. 

Still got the job (and other offers). I think one firm backed out of hiring me because they asked me “if you had to stay at your current place of employment, what would you do to make you successful?” And I cut them off with “But I’m not staying. This place is a toxic hell hole. The question is irrelevant.” I have no regrets. You either can handle my direct communication style or you can’t. 

But everyone knew that my (now) former employer sucked so it wasn’t a surprise. 
SaaSam
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Benefits to this approach is the company that hires you knows exactly who they are hiring so if you are super blunt in other occasions they can't pretend they didn't know that was how you communicated.
funcoupons
WR Officer
5
👑
There's a way to answer this without outright lying but without shooting yourself in the foot...

Don't say something like "they lied to me." It's perfectly fine to say "I was originally interested in the role because of abc but my role turned out to be more xyz." 

If you're leaving because a boss or co workers are shitty, it's best to tell a white lie and say you're looking for a new challenge/like their product more etc.
SaaSam
Politicker
2
Account Executive
I like that, coupled with @BigMeech's comment should be obvious enough to tell why I'm leaving while also staying professional and avoiding throwing flak at the company I'm leaving. Thanks
alecabral
Arsonist
2
Director - Digital Sales Transformation
I think you can be honest without dropping a bag of crap on your current employer. You can say something like "I am not comfortable with the current compensation arrangement the company offers, and I believe I can do a better job if I'm more motivated."

Alternatively, you can just say that you've outgrown the role for instance..
GreenSide
Politicker
2
Sales manager
Say it without saying it. I interviewed right after getting a promotion and was asked about it ... laughed and said "I think everybody has been in a position where its not quite what you expected or hoped for. When it's time, it's time."
wHaTyAgOtCoOkInG
Catalyst
1
Solution Consultant
Tell the truth, unless you smacked someone
RealEstateVeep
Politicker
0
VP of Real Estate
lol no!
Incognito
WR Officer
1
Master of Disaster
Lol everyone is already aware it sucks balls there
RealEstateVeep
Politicker
0
VP of Real Estate
We have a reputation for greatness lmao!!
avocadobegood
Valued Contributor
0
MM Account Executive
yes. never bad mouth a current company for any reason. and on a personal note getting fired a couple jobs back is my most powerful interview story because it wound up being a net positive on my current career trajectory.
HappyGilmore
Politicker
0
Account Executive
To an extent just don't trash your former employer or give a negative reason of why you're leaving. You can just say you're looking for a new challenge for example. 
msp_sales
Opinionated
0
Full Cycle Sales
I say yes, as long as you keep it in the positive. Talk about the things you want, don’t complain about the last company. Only bring up things you want to see in your next run. It also helps to always frame these around your growth and talents, and not the shortcomings of others. 
sellingsellssold
Politicker
0
SDR
I think it really depends on why you left the company. If you left on good terms let them know! If you left because there was something that really bothered you I would tell them also because you do not want to have the same situation happen at another company. I would never trash talk a company no matter how bad the ending was. Be critical but always polite. 
GDO
Politicker
0
BDM
Don’t bad mouth, but you can still be honest. 
el.guap0
Valued Contributor
0
Account Executive
Be honest, but make it all about you and your choice. It’s a good opportunity to demonstrate how you hold yourself accountable.
SmilingNotDialing
Contributor
0
Account Executive
I just finished interviewing with 3 major tech companies (got 2 offers). The reasoning I gave them was lack of growth opportunity and looking for something more challenging than my current role.
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