"Why did you leave your last job?" answer template (A2, B1, B2)
How to use this template
Choose the level that fits your English and fill every blank with a true detail from your own work, in 3 parts: Short reason, Fair words and Look forward. Plan your example on the STAR worksheet, tick the checklist, then say the answer out loud.
A2 template: simple English
Short sentences, one idea in each. Good if your English is basic or you feel nervous.
- Short reason: I left because ________ (one simple reason).
- Fair words: I learned ________ (one good thing) there.
- Look forward: This job is good for me because ________ (reason).
B1 template: linked sentences
Joins your ideas with because, and, then and so. Good for most interviews.
- Short reason: I left my last job because ________ (honest reason, for example the contract ended).
- Fair words: I am grateful for that job, because I learned ________ (skill or lesson).
- Look forward: Now I am looking for ________ (what you want), and this role is a good next step because ________ (reason).
B2 template: fuller answer
Adds a reason, a result and a little more detail. Use it if you can say it without reading.
- Short reason: The main reason I moved on was ________ (reason), which was ________ (expected, or a decision I made) at that point.
- Fair words: I gained a lot there, particularly ________ (what you learned), and I left on good terms.
- Look forward: What I want now is ________ (goal), and this position offers that through ________ (specific feature of the role).
STAR worksheet: plan your example
Your answer needs one true example. Plan it here in notes, not full sentences, then use it in the "Fair words" part of the template.
Situation
Where you learned about this employer or role: the advert, the website, a visit, a person.
Task
What you want from your next job, in one honest line.
Action
What you have already done that prepares you for it.
Result
What you will bring, and what you hope to learn there.
Checklist before you say it
Tick each point when it is true for your answer.
- Short reason: Give one honest, simple reason: more hours, the end of a contract, moving home, or wanting to grow.
- Fair words: Do not criticise your old employer, manager or colleagues.
- Look forward: Turn to this job: say why it is a good next step for you and what you want to build here.
- Avoided: Criticising your old manager or company. The interviewer may think you will speak about them the same way.
- Out loud: I said the whole answer out loud, with only true details, in about one minute or less.
A finished answer to compare
This is one way a delivery driver might answer. Compare it with your template: the same parts, with real details. Do not copy it.
Delivery Driver answer
I left because I wanted more regular routes instead of changing areas every day. I learned a lot about time management and customer service in my last job. Your company offers fixed local routes, which means I can get to know my customers and plan my days better.
Learn more about this question
- How to answer "Why did you leave your last job?" — the short answer, the steps, mistakes and phrases
- Template: Why do you want this job?
- Template: Where do you see yourself in five years?
- Template: What motivates you?
- All answer templates
- Example answers for your job: Care Worker · Hospitality Staff · Kitchen Porter · Barista · Hotel Receptionist · Retail Assistant · Warehouse Operative · Delivery Driver · Customer Service Advisor
Questions people ask
Should I learn the template answer by heart?
No. Learn the order of the 3 parts (Short reason, Fair words and Look forward) and your own details, then say it in your own words. A memorised answer can sound flat, and an interviewer may ask a follow-up question.
Which level should I use for "Why did you leave your last job?"?
Use the level you can say without reading. If you are not sure, start with A2, say it out loud twice, and move to B1 when it feels easy. A short, clear answer is better than a long one that is hard to follow.
How do I print this template?
Use the Print or save as PDF button near the top of the page, or your browser's print menu. Only the template is printed, without the menus and buttons.
Practise this answer aloud
Say your answer to "Why did you leave your last job?" out loud or type it, and see what an interviewer may notice and what to fix first. Free to start, no card needed.