During a job interview, if the interviewer asks, ” Would you consider leaving if you found a better opportunity elsewhere? How would you respond?
During a job interview, if the interviewer asks, ” Would you consider leaving if you found a better opportunity elsewhere? How would you respond?
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No, I wouldn’t leave a job like this
Absolutely. But I’m an autismo so don’t take social advice from me.
“I’ll let you know when we have an answer”
Don’t take my word for it
But I prefer to be honest here and say ” yes “…
Can you really answer anything other than “No”?
I’m ambitious, so I’d obviously weigh up the pros and cons, but I’d also be mindful of what I came here to do, I don’t like leaving loose ends and would regret unfulfilled objectives.
I would like to think my relationship with you, as my line manager, would mean we could sit down and talk about it rationally, as I’d value your input
I would say “if this firm is what I think it is, and this role allows me to use my skill set and I have the support and backing of my managers, then there could be no better opportunity, that’s why I’m sitting here now, so the answer is no”.
I don’t chase jobs. I let them compete for me.
Truthfully. Everyone knows the answer is yes. If you say no then they know everything else you said is likely bullshit too.
You could say “For a better opportunity? Yes. But I can’t imagine what that would be since this is exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Keep me motivated, keep me inspired and keep me trained to excel and to improve, and you’ll keep me.
Depends on how much better the opportunity was.
“Depends on how much I enjoy this one.”
“If I’m in the work environment where I constantly learn, am challenged and see potential for growth, I would not be looking for any other opportunities.”
A job is not just a job it’s time and effort and friendship invested in a meaningful project so it would take a lot to get me to leave this life experience
(you still say that you gonna leave if the salary is huge to keep them on their toes)
Thats an extremely loaded question and I guess you would need to work out from the interviewer how to handle it.
They are either looking for you to bullshit them and say that you would stay, or they are testing your honesty and ability to tell the truth even if you know it might cost you. So difficult to answer.
Personally I would say that it depends on the opportunity, how I’m finding this companies culture and work life balance etc etc.
“This is a very loaded question. Am I worried about the longevity of my current job? Was i offered an obscene amount of money relative to the time needing to be invested in the job? Is it a unique experience no one else in the world could offer? If it’s a 10% pay bump for the same job in a similar location, no.”
I’m going to give BS loyal answer if it’s going to make me pass.
It’s a stupid question after all so your answer don’t matter after the interview’s over. Even the moron who wrote the question won’t answer honestly. Why should I ?
“Fuck yeh this player is all about me” before offering him/her a high five.
You either lie through your teeth and just say ‘no.’ But let’s be honest, that’s very clearly not true.
Or, you hit them with ‘I don’t like to job hop, I like to integrate myself and grow. I’d far rather progress in this company than take the next best offer that came along.’
You can just say honestly: “With the current job market destroyed by the global tariff war, there are NO better opportunities. There are no opportunities. You’re not even real!”
I’ll see but most probably i won’t. Frequent changing jobs is not a good idea.
“hell yes”
Why do you ask? Does the comp ah have a turnover problem?
If an interviewer asks this than they are pretty clueless about conducting job interviews. What information do they gain from asking this?
Of course, business is business. What would you do to keep me?
If this role is a good fit for me I won’t be looking for opportunities elsewhere, however, if I was approached with a substantially better opportunity I would inform you of the offer first because I would rather have the offer matched and stick with an established team and responsibilities than restart elsewhere.
It really depends on what I define as better opportunity is at that time. A young 20-35 yo would go for the maximum personal growth, even taking a pay cut. 35-50 might be focused on climbing ranks instead, for both credibility and income to raise a family. 50+ upto retirement would be focusing on settling down for retirement. I believe at this point, this company presents the best opportunity for me.
It’s always a give and take between employer and employee, and to help yourself, you need to help others. Employer pays employee well, and employee will work harder. Faking and saying no would be obviously lying and would be undesirable for employer.
The answer here is very contextual to the role and your current position.
If this is a graduate training scheme and your first job – it’s important to confirm to the employer you have a plan and you’re in it for the experienc.e You’re commited to the journey and acknowledge the opportunities come in full / the return on the investment comes at the end of the initial period / training scheme.
.
If you’re mid to late career – the trick here is to turn the question back to the job in hand.
I haven’t started yet – and I’ve applied because this is the opportunity I’m leaving my current role for. It’s difficult to deny this opportunity didn’t turn my head. And then you go on to explain why the current opportunity is ideal for you and how you see it fitting into your life plan and then build on that to say – of course when I’ve demonstrated my capabilities in this role – I’m sure the organisation will provide those opportunites….
Then the kicker – you ask them what opportunities and career progression this role will lead to.
Define better.
I don’t want to get into hypotheticals.
With a question like that I would be honest. If there’s a three month probationary period I’d say something along the line of: if during the probationary period we’re in agreement about my performance I would definitely stay.
I also would do research on the company so you then could say: I chose your company because of xyz. I’ve said all of that in interviews for corporate and nonprofits in the past and I did get the job.
Better is subjective and there’s always something ‘better’ you can be chasing.
I’m looking at your company as it seems like it’s something I can settle into and make a long term career out of.
If I didn’t think this was a long term investment for me I wouldn’t be wasting either of our time.
I would be honest and say you’d have to weight up the pros and cons in the scenario. That’s the honest answer everyone would give. I’d follow it up by saying you’d hope that the current job would outweigh the pros of the potential job and also provide better learning opportunities, flexibility and opportunity for salary increases.
“Never. With me, you’re not hiring an employee, you’re buying yourself the most loyal of slaves. You can even beat me up when you feel like it”
This should not get you hired, but it will make the interviewer understand his abusive behavior.
Fuck yes. Tell me about this superior role.
“of course not. I’d inform you of the offer and give you the knowledge of my market worth and the opportunity to make an informed decision!”
The correct answer is ‘Yes’.
“Well that mostly depends on you doesn’t it.”
The grass maybe greener on the other side but the waterbill maybe higher.
I’d counter by asking what they mean by “better opportunity”. And then describe my interpretation and fact that better opportunity is a subjective term. For example, if you realize that the current job doesn’t have good growth prospects but a new opportunity does, then it would get serious consideration.
So many ways to answer this. This is one of those questions where it’s more important how you answer than giving the “right” answer. I would say most people go into a new job hoping it’s a place they can stay and settle down with. Like no one goes into a marriage planning to get divorced. Based on what I’ve seen so far that place is here and any “better opportunity” would just come from somewhere else within the organization. If it came to the point where a better opportunity was elsewhere that might mean some of the expectations did not play out as planned but that wouldn’t be because I didn’t put my best effort into making it work.
I would point out that my CV shows I stick around at companies for a decent length of time. I’m coming up to four years in my current job, it was five at the last place. I would also point out that I don’t even have a LinkedIn account. My record shows I’m not one of these people who constantly have an eye on hopping to a new job, so I wouldn’t be looking for one unless I was profoundly dissatisfied with my current one.
Just as much as anyone would. How much would you?
Touché, fuckface
first I’ll wait for my salary to come and then I’ll inform that I’m leaving.
I’ve had a manager ask me this, as a manager myself I had to think about it for a second and this is how the short conversation went.
My manager “Hey I’ve talked to the other managers and I know they’re not happy, are you thinking about leaving as well?”
Me “I’ll be honest with you sir, yeah. But I’m going to finish getting us through this rough time we’re in, once things are running smooth then I’ll most definitely be looking to move on. Until my last day I will continue to give you the 120% I have been to make this thing work.”
Now to add a little context, my manager and I were very close and he actually confided in me that he was about to leave due to some major issues corporate was causing him. We took on a new contract that was absolutely kicking everyone’s ass, they had my manager working nightshift with me, but they were bugging him during the day so he was getting like 2 hours sleep and had a heart condition. We were all getting to our breaking point.
If an interviewer were to ask me, I’d give them a different version of that answer that I gave my former manager. I will always give my employer everything I can to make sure shit is getting done until the day I leave.
“If the job corresponds to my passion, I would take it under consideration but also would prioritize finishing the various projects I started first.”
‘Why do you think I’m here?’
Would you consider firing me if you found a better employee?
Not if I was happier here.
Yes, just like I hope this job is the better opportunity that I would be leaving my current job for
“That is why i am doing this interviewing”
“The fact you asked that question means you either have a high turn-over rate, or have no confidence in your businesses long-term viability…neither of which reflects well on you.”
Of course. I gotta look out for number one, biatch!!
I’d return the question and would ask “Would you?”
If I am willing to invest my time and duty to your company. Will the company be willing to invest back in me and my career to make it so I wouldn’t want to leave?
Ofc, but that’s your job. To make this a workplace I want to work at
To be fully honest it would take a lot for me to leave. Even now I’m struggling to leave a toxic work environment I can barely get any hours yet. I literally cried for 3 days after a job interview that would have been the perfect job for me because I’m terrified of leaving my current one. I don’t mind small changes but I hate major ones. I’m more likely to work with the same company until I retire or am forced by life circumstances to switch.
The only way I’d leave easily is if I’ve only been at the new job like a week
Sure. Wouldnt you?
Who is asking these stupid questions? Good grief.
There is a very real chance that the job the candidate is interviewing for is a better opportunity than the job they are currently in. It’s the recruitment process. And recruiters are regularly contacting people they’ve already placed to offer them a better opportunity. #ffs
“Would you?”
Never ask an interview question that you would not want to be asked.
If you found a better employee would you hire them?
If you don’t pay me enough to stay, why should I?
I prefer to think of any job as my main focus , and would like to think there is no better offer. However I do need to be realistic, and once I’m settled into the role here, I would ideally be able to discuss with my team how to ensure that staying here is really the best choice I could make.
Of course I would consider. I would be stupid not to at least hear an offer. What if the opportunity was twice the pay? It might not be a good opportunity ultimately, but would you really want to hire someone who’s not smart enough to at least listen to a legitimate offer?
But if you wanted to go the ass kissing route, you could respond with something along the lines of, “what could be a better opportunity than the one you’re offering?” And then smile. Because you just forced him to acknowledge that there could be better places to work then with the interviewer. At the very least, it was signal to him that you’re on to his game and he would likely move on to the next question.
Having said that, I would probably have to think twice about working for this company if they made an offer. I’ve never had a potential employer ask me about leaving the company before I even done hired. That is a huge red flag and tells me that they have a retention problem. Actually, the more I think about it, I would probably follow up one of the answers with a legitimate question. What’s the turnover here? The previous person in my position, how long did they work here? Those are good questions to ask anyway.
absolutely, if it were a better opportunity of course I would. But first I would evaluate it as a whole because more money isn’t always a better job. I don’t expect you to keep me if you can do better for the company with someone else. this is a business transaction after all.
“No, I but the welfare of the company above my own! For sure, boss!”
“To be honest, I only really look for jobs when I’m feeling that the current job isn’t allowing me to thrive and grow, so if you’re in that position, then my loyalty is not really the problem.”
It is a bullshit question though. Never ask a question that you know is going to put someone in a position where lying appears to be the most advantageous tactic.
Yes. If you found someone better at a job than your current employee, would you hire them?
I’d obviously consider it, and bring the offer to my boss to match. If he doesn’t deem me worthy of a match, then I guess I’m not valued and I’d bounce
I’d lie as this is a “loaded” question. I’d pretend to show shock and surprise and exclaim once I’ve been accepted at a company I’m a faithful and loyal employee. (And than I’d give 2 weeks notice if I ever did get a better offer).
“…would you *not*?”
“Of course I would consider it, as it would be irresponsible of me not to. But whether or not I take it would depend on whether I’ve achieved my goals here, my relationship with my team, and how much the company values my contribution. Any other professional would do the same.”
“No sir, I is a good worker sir. I is gonna make so many widgets for master owner. I wanna make master owner lots of money…”
Depends on how much you want to bend the truth / be authentic and of course on your resume.
If you have hopped around every 1-2 years then whatever you say won’t matter that much I guess.
You could say that you don’t like change that much and you invest in your jobs.
You could mention that when you are happy in a workplace, you don’t seek for other opportunities.
Or that what matters for you is a good environment where you feel right and that is more important that a bit more money.
But in general, in my eyes it’s a dumb question, because of “better opportunity” which is vague. For example if someone gave you double the money and an equal prospect, shouldn’t you go? Wouldnt the interviewer go in the same terms? Who wouldn’t?
I think this question is a trap to weed out the liars.
I turn the question around and say that if I’m well compensated in my current position based on my skill set and the market I see no reason to leave.
It sets the tone that if the lowball an offer to me I’m not even going to accept it or will be looking for the exit door
I’d say… “would YOU?”
“No, because like Lion El’Jonson, I believe loyalty is its own reward.”
“Define “better opportunity”. What do you see them offering me that you aren’t?”
Lie.
“Hard to say in the abstract just as it would be if I asked whether you’d ever lay me off I guess.”
Yes. And I’m curious to understand what *not* considering it looks like. I can’t see how you can even respond ‘no’ without considering such an offer – unless, of course, you automate your response, e.g. with an auto-reply to unsolicited message requests on LinkedIn, saying “NO!”.
Just lie
Of course, I’m not stupid.
“of course, literally EVERYONE in the world would do so. Now I have a question for you. Why would anyone not go to a better position?”
I look for quite a lot when considering if a role is better than my current one. Not just salary of the position, but also opportunities for growth and career progression. I also consider the personal cost of switching roles, and the risks that come from leaving a role I know for a role that has a lot of unknown factors.
This combination leaves me with a strong incentive to stay with my current employer, especially if I feel they are supporting my ambitions to keep progressing, both in terms of compensation and career development.
Say this ^
Then quit every 2 years because no employer ever gives above market compensation increase and I you can outpace the internal promotion cycle by moving laterally.
It depends if, when I told you about it, you tried to improve things for me here; offer bigger challenges, more opportunities etc. If you couldn’t then you shouldn’t expect me to stay.
Great question, would you consider doing everything in your power to keep me?
Honestly? Yes. afterall, that’s why I’m here today. That said, better is tough to define. For me, a huge part of work life balance is how well I get on with the people I interact with day to day at work for example.
There’s also all the other factors that go into it like culture, workload, systems, commute etc. Ultimately if you’re happy somewhere it counts for an awful lot. Certainly more than a couple of grand.
Ultimately I’m looking for (progression/work life balance etc) which I have discussed with my current manager, however it’s not something they can accommodate unfortunately.
It’s a shame as I’ve enjoyed my current workplace, but ultimately sometimes it’s just the time to move on.
I’d recommend saying something like, “I’m very interested in finding a place where I can grow and add value. Right now, I’m focused on this opportunity and making the most of it. If I did explore new opportunities, it would be based on aligning with long-term career goals, not just for a change.”
“Would you?”
Yes. If you hire people who say ‘no’ then you are either hiring liars or morons.
“It would depend on how much better the job is. If someone offered you a half million dollars to do the job you’re doing right now, would you take it? I think most reasonable people would. I would also look at things like insurance, PTO, work/life balance, commute, work from home options, etc. You’ve been on this side of the table and know that it isn’t the easiest place to be. It’s my hope that I’ll find this job challenging and rewarding enough that I will work here for the rest of my career, and never have to look for another job.”
I’ve been asked that and my response is always, “I don’t take a job with the expectation that it’s temporary.”
Yeah, that’s why I’m here to begin with.
“This is the better opportunity I want to leave my current job for – I’m here trying to get the job I really want.”
I’m there to get a job – not tell them the absolute truth. I’d leave in a heartbeat just as they would fire me whenever it suits them.
Considering leaving and actually leaving are two very different things. I would absolutely consider it.
Would you replace me if you found someone you think is better than me?
“Not without giving you a chance to retain me”
I get head hunted a few times per year, my current job paid 30% more than my last job and my last employer was so happy with me they looked at the offer and then looked me straight in the eye and said, “ill miss you but I sure as heck can’t match their pay or the style of work they offer” shook my hand and set up a meeting for the 2 week letter handoff.
I’m applying here for that same better opportunity. As long as a job offers me a place to grow and succeed, that’s where I want to be.
“Of course I would!”
“My loyalty is tied to how I’m treated, so as long as I feel valued and the company works with me to provide me compensation I’m worth, then I’d have no reason to look elsewhere”
Yes. Better is better. I assume the interviewer wants to know if you have the good sense to choose the better path no matter the circumstances.
All else being equivalent the rational decision would be “yes”. anything else makes you look like an idiot.
That’s why I’m here. Dumbass.
“Of course I would. It’s a free market, we’re at-will employees, and improving our situation is as American as Apple Pie.
What reasons do parting employees give you for their exit? What is the company doing to address this? What does this company do to promote employee retention? What makes working here a better opportunity than your competitors?”
Interviews are two way conversations.
Would you consider keeping me employed if you found someone more qualified?
“It depends”
Is the company showing loyalty as a 2 way street, do they foster a healthy workplace, are they investing in ensuring you are properly trained, is work an 888 5 day week, so they allow WFH? And so forth.
What is the interviewer offering to make the choice to stay easy.
Perhaps, but isn’t that just as much a reflection on you? But why would someone be presenting me a better opportunity than this company? Feels like you are selling yourselves short a bit here, I am here today because I believe you are offering that better opportunity.
“Depends how much better”. 10% raise? Nah, too much bother. 3x raise? My resignation is on your desk the very next day.
What do you mean by “better opportunity”? And are you saying that once hired, there is no room to talk about things like salary, time off, or other benefits of the job? What if conditions on this job became bad – mass firings, loss in revenue, etc? Are you asking me if I would stay in a burning building? Clearly, unless this is my very first job ever, the fact that I am interviewing here means I am open to learning about what opportunities exist and what my worth is.
“It depends.. Money is definitely not the only reason I would choose a job. Location, work culture, learning and development all play a big role in where I see myself in 5 years.”
Let them sell the company. They love that.
In reality though, enough money can definitely override all that other stuff, so if your company is lacking, a few more thousand would definitely make me ignore it.
I’ve never been asked this. It’s a ridiculous question
This question presumes I am looking for another job in the first place.
I realize if you give me this position you are investing your training, time, and money in me. If given the position I don’t expect to look for another position. I will be focused on excelling at this position and hope to advance within your organization.
“I believe in loyalty and finishing what I set out to do.” That loyalty might be to my ideals, and the finishing might be to accomplishing my career goals in life. We’ll see.
As long as I feel like I am challenged, involved, and have the ability to grow and advance here, I would have no desire to seek out employment elsewhere. If someone were to reach out to me, I would review it, but I don’t think I would give it much interest unless it were an exceptional fit and career arc, which I believe we all would entertain.
“It depends on what you mean by Better. But whatever that means, I would hope that I’d be able to address any concerns I might have with a manager before it got to the point where I’m looking for other opportunities.”
“To answer your question with a question of my own. Do I have to worry about the latest cover sheet for my TPS reports? Now think carefully before answering.”
I’d say I would consider it, as would most people, but if I’m valued here then I will be raising it and discussing what my options may be within the company before making any decision.
Tell them that you anticipate opportunities, but don’t believe job hopping looks good on a resume. You are there to grow your career and not the type to go after a short term gain, but instead look for a long stable career. Then, obviously do what’s in your best interest.
As a company what steps are you taking to ensure employee retention so I value this job over another higher paying one?
That’s really an unfair question IMO. What exactly are they gaining from asking it? If I was currently employed and looking to move, I’d say exactly that. I likely wouldn’t want to work for someone who asks such a bizarre question anyway. If I was unemployed and really needed the job I’d just give some PC answer.
All depends on it you are currently looking for work or being head hunted.
If you are leaving for better opportunities now then the answer is yes.
I’ve been asked this. My usual answer goes something like:
“I am looking for stable role that will continue to challenge me and allow me to grow for the foreseeable future. If my needs are satisfied and there is still more I am able to contribute here, I wouldn’t be looking for other opportunities.”
Id have to be looking for a better opportunity in order to find a better opportunity. If i am satisfied in my current position then I am not looking.
Well, if I’m looking then you weren’t treating me very well.
I would say “Anybody who says otherwise is lying.”
But I probably wouldn’t get the job.
Ask him, “wouldn’t you?”
Tell your boss you have a better offer, re negotiate or leave.
“Depends if the cost of living here would go up”.
“I’m obviously willing to leave my current employer to look for a better opportunity here, right?”
That depends entirely on how I’m treated here.
Honestly? Absolutely. Not because I don’t believe in loyalty but because in my experience loyalty has never been rewarded. With the inflation rising and the cost of living growing all the time, I can’t afford to sit on a stagnant compensation package for years, and frankly I’d be stupid not to consider leaving for more money. At the end of the day I would need to do what’s best for my family, not the company.
Now are there caveats to that. I’ll always give my current employer a chance to match the offer…or come close. Do something to show they’re invested in me as well.
I had a new boss who met with each of us and asked what we are hoping for with her new role. Everyone else had said they want someone who plans to stick around a long time. I told her straight up that everyone knows we’re all trying to find the best opportunity for our lives and families, and that if she finds a better one next year we shouldn’t act offended or surprised. Wish we could all just be honest. She left after a year and a half btw.
Ofc I will leave
I’d probably say something like, “in what way is this other opportunity better?” And go from there. It’s a weird interview question. I want to see how it plays out. Let them tell me where they think their position might fall short.
If I found that my current position with your company wasn’t meeting my expectations, then I would likely consider a change of scenery. However I think it would be largely down to you to ensure I’m working in an environment that I wouldn’t consider leaving.
Yes, 100%. This is a relationship, and I expect both sides to work to make it succeed
Just lie and say no. Say some BS about this being closer to your house and the route you take to work enjoyable.