WHEWWWWW HEY FRIDAY!

Yes, this is coming in hot at the last possible second. Not because I was procrastinating, I swear!! I had a whole other newsletter ready to go, but this interview question came up again this afternoon and I scrapped everything to get the word out on how to actually answer it:

“Why are you looking to leave?”

It’s a totally reasonable thing to ask, and yet it sends even the most seasoned professionals into a full existential identity crisis. You know you have a reason (you’ve whispered it to yourself in the break room) but when it comes time to say it out loud? Blank.

That’s why this week’s edition is all about the formula. The one that keeps you from sounding either too desperate or too vague, and instead positions you like the intentional, career-minded legend you are.

Let’s get into it.

P.S. If you’ve been here a while, you may recall my breakup at sea. My charming little rom-com moment, minus the romance or comedy. This week, I bravely re-entered the dating pool… only to immediately ghost a guy after he hit me with a sassy “Nice talking to you” because I didn’t reply to a text.

Male Loneliness Epidemic? Babe, I’m seeing signs of a Male Sassiness Crisis and I regret to inform you: it’s spreading.

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🔥 This Week's Best Openings

Two searches I am fully supporting right now:

Dallas, TX: EA to CEO and COO of a behavioral health organization that's doing incredibly meaningful work with teens and families, and scaling fast. We need someone from an intense professional services background!

San Jose, CA:  EA to the CEO of an industrial data ops platform that grew 150% YOY last year - looking for someone with experience in traditional strategic executive support but also program management as they're working on strategic global growth initiatives. 

🎯 How to Answer “Why Are You Looking to Leave?” Without Sounding Like You’re Dying Inside

Let’s be honest: most people don’t start interviewing because everything is perfect. You’re here because something is off. You’ve hit a ceiling. You’re bored. You’re carrying your entire department on your back while your boss plays Pickleball at 2pm. We get it.

But here’s the problem: if you answer this question like you’re dying inside, you’ll tank your own interview. No one wants to hire someone who seems like they’re escaping. They want to hire someone who’s being pulled toward something.

So here’s the move. You don’t lie. You just shift the angle. You say:

“I’m not actively looking, my focus has been on doing my job well and showing up for my team. That said, when I came across this opportunity, what stood out to me was [insert specific thing about their company or role that genuinely excites you].

If there’s one thing I’d change about my current role, it’s that I’m ready to take on [insert what you want to be doing: leading people, owning strategy, building something from the ground up, working cross-functionally, etc.]. I’ve been thinking a lot about how I can grow into that next chapter, and this role looks like the kind of place that would allow for that.”

That’s it. That’s the formula:

1. I’m not looking.

2. But this specific thing about your company made me look.

3. And if I could evolve my role into something bigger, it would look a lot like this.

No shade thrown. No bad energy. Just a thoughtful, ambitious person making a move not out of panic, but out of potential.

You’re not trying to escape your job. You’re trying to elevate your career.

Stuck in your job search? Not sure how to handle a tricky interview question or navigate the hiring process? Submit your question anonymously, and I’ll answer it in an upcoming newsletter—no names, no judgment, just real advice from a recruiter who knows the game.

📅 See you next time!

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