CV writing: Reasons for leaving current job

Sobhan Mohmand, Career Expert          3 Feb 2021

Do you have to include a reason on your CV as to why you are leaving your current job? The answer is: no, you do not.

Let’s consider the reasons why people leave their current jobs:

• Do not like your boss/co-workers
• Want more money / better salary
• Relocation
• Dismissed/fired from the job

In any of the above-mentioned scenarios the potential employer will ask him/herself the very simple but important question: ‘will they stay…?’ The underlining assumption behind this simple question is:

• If you’ve left your previous job because you didn’t like your boss/co-workers, what is the guarantee that you will like your new boss/co-workers?
• If you have left your previous job because you wanted better pay, what stops you from leaving your new job when you want to have an even better salary?
• If relocation is a big problem for your career, what stops you from moving again and therefore leave your new job as well?
• If you’ve been fired as a result of some of your actions (or lack of actions!) by your previous boss, how will that reassure me (as an employer) that you are employable?

For these reasons, do not say anything about leaving a particular job on your CV. Having said that; always be prepared with a good answer in case this question comes up in the interview.