How do you feel about this question right now, before the lesson? Як ти почуваєшся з цим питанням зараз, до заняття?
Key words & pronunciation · tap a card
These words are often mispronounced in interviews. Stressed syllables are shown in CAPITALS. Ці слова часто вимовляють неправильно на співбесіді. Наголос позначений великими літерами.
Phrase Flashcards My Word Bank 0
“I’ve genuinely valued my time there. What drew me to this role specifically is the international scope and the chance to work on product from the very start.”Повний приклад:
“I’ve genuinely valued my time there. What drew me to this role specifically is the international scope and the chance to work on product from the very start.”
Interview Crimes · what not to say
“Why are you leaving your current job?”
You say:
“My manager is a micromanager and doesn’t respect the team. The culture there is toxic and nobody is happy.”
Interviewer thinks:
“What will they say about us in their next interview? This candidate clearly struggles with workplace relationships.”
Better:
Never badmouth a current or former employer. Even if every word is true, it raises doubts about your professionalism and judgment. Describe the situation in neutral terms, then focus on what you are looking for instead.Ніколи не відгукуйся погано про поточного або колишнього роботодавця. Навіть якщо кожне слово правда, це ставить під сумнів твій професіоналізм і судження. Опиши ситуацію нейтрально, потім зосередься на тому, що шукаєш натомість.
You say:
“Honestly, I just need a better salary. My current pay doesn’t reflect my experience at all.”
Interviewer thinks:
“So they will leave us too as soon as someone offers them more. This person is motivated purely by money, not by the work or the company.”
Better:
Compensation is a valid reason, but never lead with it. Lead with growth, scope, or fit. If you want to mention it at all, say: “I’m also looking for a package that reflects my experience.” Then move on.Компенсація є вагомою причиною, але ніколи не починай з неї. Починай із зростання, масштабу або відповідності. Якщо хочеш її згадати, скажи: “I’m also looking for a package that reflects my experience.” Потім рухайся далі.
You say:
“I’m just bored. There’s nothing interesting happening there anymore and I’ve run out of things to do.”
Interviewer thinks:
“They sound disengaged and passive. What stops them from getting bored here too? They should be creating interesting work, not waiting for it.”
Better:
“Bored” signals passivity. Reframe: “I feel I have reached the limit of what I can learn in this role and I am ready for the next level of challenge.” Same feeling, completely different impression.“Bored” сигналізує про пасивність. Переформулюй: “I feel I have reached the limit of what I can learn in this role and I am ready for the next level of challenge.” Те саме відчуття, зовсім інше враження.
You say:
“To be honest, I got fired. It was a misunderstanding but management didn’t want to hear my side of the story.”
Interviewer thinks:
“They were let go and they immediately blame management. There must be more to this story. This is a risk.”
Better:
If you were let go, be honest but brief and forward-looking: “My position was made redundant as part of a restructuring.” Or: “The role did not turn out to be the right fit. I have learned from that and I know better what I am looking for now.” Then move forward.Якщо тебе звільнили, будь чесним, але стисло і перспективно: “My position was made redundant as part of a restructuring.” Або: “The role did not turn out to be the right fit. I have learned from that and I know better what I am looking for now.” Потім рухайся вперед.
Model Answer · read & fill in the gaps
“I have genuinely __________ my time at my current company and __________ a great deal about client relationship management and cross-functional teamwork.
Over the past year, I have __________ several key projects successfully and feel I have now __________ the natural ceiling of this role. I am __________ for a __________ scope of responsibility and more complex work.
What __________ me to this position specifically is the combination of international projects and the opportunity to work with a larger, more experienced team.”
Cultural Note
Ukrainian candidates often either say the salary is too low (which sounds transactional) or speak negatively about the previous employer (which raises red flags). Both approaches shift the focus away from you and onto problems. The stronger move is to acknowledge what you gained, name what you are ready for next, and connect it to this company. The formula: gratitude, growth, pivot. Українські кандидати часто або кажуть, що зарплата занадто низька (що звучить транзакційно), або негативно відгукуються про попереднього роботодавця (що викликає тривогу). Обидва підходи переключають фокус з тебе на проблеми. Сильніший хід: визнати те, що отримав(ла), назвати те, до чого готовий(а) далі, і пов’язати це з компанією. Формула: вдячність, зростання, поворот.
Check your understanding
1. Why is badmouthing a current employer a mistake even if you are completely right about them?
It raises an immediate concern: if this candidate speaks this way about their current employer, what will they say about us? It signals poor judgment, an inability to handle conflict professionally, and potential for workplace drama. Always describe situations, not people.
2. If salary is your real reason for leaving, how should you handle this?
Never lead with it. Lead with growth, challenge, or fit. If you want to mention compensation at all, do it briefly and as a secondary point: “I am also looking for a package that better reflects my current experience.” One sentence, then move on.
3. What are the three steps of a strong answer to this question?
Gratitude (acknowledge what you learned or valued), Growth (say what you are ready for that the current role cannot provide), Pivot (explain why this specific company or role is the right next step). This structure keeps the answer positive, professional, and forward-looking.
Answer Builder · build your answer
Fill in three parts: what you valued in your current role, what you are ready for next, and why this company fits. Click Build my answer to get your complete response. Заповни три частини: що ти цінував(ла) у поточній ролі, до чого готовий(а) далі, і чому ця компанія підходить. Натисни Об’єднати відповіді і отримаєш готову відповідь.
Target: 60–90 words ≈ 30–45 seconds. Short and positive. The longer you talk, the more you sound defensive. Орієнтир: 60–90 слів ≈ 30–45 секунд. Коротко і позитивно. Що довше говориш, то більше звучиш захисно.
Your answer
Grammar Practice · Present Perfect & Past Simple in career narratives
Fill in the gaps
Write the correct form of the verb in brackets.
I (work) at my current company for three years. In that time, I (develop) strong project management skills. I (lead) two major launches and (work) with teams across four countries. Now I (feel) ready to move into a more senior role.
Note: Use the Present Perfect (have been working) for situations that started in the past and are still true now. Use the Past Simple (developed, led, worked) for specific completed events. In career storytelling, the Present Perfect frames the ongoing context; Past Simple names the concrete achievements within it. Нотатка: Використовуй Present Perfect (have been working) для ситуацій, які почалися в минулому і ще є актуальними. Використовуй Past Simple (developed, led, worked) для конкретних завершених подій. У кар’єрному наративі Present Perfect задає поточний контекст; Past Simple називає конкретні досягнення всередині нього.
Fill in the gaps
Complete the answer with the correct verb forms.
“Since (join) the company three years ago, I (complete) two major product launches. Last year I (receive) a strong performance review, which (confirm) that I (be ready) for more responsibility. That is why I (start) looking for a senior role six months ago.”
Video Practice · Real Interview Mode
- Why are you leaving your current job?
- Why are you looking for a new position?
- What made you decide to apply for this role?
- What is it about your current role that no longer fits you?
- Why are you interested in making a change at this point in your career?
Interviewer Ready
HR Manager
Watch for:
- ☐No negative comments about the current or previous employerDescribe situations neutrally. Avoid names, blame, and emotional language.Жодних негативних коментарів про поточного або попереднього роботодавцяОписуй ситуації нейтрально. Уникай імен, звинувачень і емоційної мови.
- ☐Forward-looking: I said what I am moving towardsThe strongest answers sound like an arrival, not an escape from something bad.Перспективно: я сказав(ла), до чого рухаюсьНайсильніші відповіді звучать як прибуття, а не втеча від чогось поганого.
- ☐I connected the reason to this specific companyGeneric answers like “I want new challenges” with no company connection sound like a copy-paste response.Я пов’язав(ла) причину з цією конкретною компанієюЗагальні відповіді типу “I want new challenges” без зв’язку з компанією звучать як скопійована відповідь.
While reviewing:
- ☐Did I stay positive about my current or previous employer?Even one critical comment can undo an otherwise strong answerЧи залишався(лась) я позитивним(ою) щодо поточного або попереднього роботодавця?Навіть один критичний коментар може знищити в іншому сильну відповідь
- ☐Did I sound like I am moving towards this role, not running from the last one?“Arrival” energy is what wins this question. “Escape” energy raises red flags.Чи звучав(ла) я так, ніби рухаюсь до цієї ролі, а не тікаю від попередньої?Енергія “прибуття” виграє це питання. Енергія “втечі” викликає тривогу.
- ☐Was the reason growth-oriented, not complaint-oriented?Even if the reason is salary or a bad manager, the framing must be about what you want nextЧи була причина орієнтована на зростання, а не на скаргу?Навіть якщо причина в зарплаті або поганому менеджері, формулювання має бути про те, чого ти хочеш далі
- ☐Did I connect my reasoning to this specific company or role?A generic “I want new challenges” with no pivot to this company sounds like it was prepared for any interviewЧи пов’язав(ла) я своє обґрунтування з цією конкретною компанією або роллю?Загальне “I want new challenges” без повороту до цієї компанії звучить як підготовлене для будь-якої співбесіди
- ☐Did I stay under 45 seconds?The longer the explanation for leaving, the more suspicious it soundsЧи вклався(лась) я в 45 секунд?Що довше пояснення причини відходу, то підозріліше це звучить
HR Manager
Connecting…
Check before recording
How do you feel about this question now, after the lesson? Як ти почуваєшся з цим питанням тепер, після заняття?