How to answer "Why are you leaving your current job?"

Companies are always interested in why you are looking for a new job.  Depending on the answer they can get a good feel for you as a person and whether they want you working for their company. 

• Do you like to change jobs?  bad attitude
• Are you looking for advancement?  good attitude
• Are you trying to increase your knowledge? good attitude
• Did you have an issue with your boss/co-workers?  bad attitude

Positive, positive, positive - yes always try and keep your answers positive.  Below are some guidelines that you can expand on by bringing the job opening and your skill set/goals into the answer.   

• I had reached the top of my level in my previous position and am looking to expand my knowledge.  This position and your company will offer me the opportunity to do that. 
• The last company I worked for was very small and I felt it was time to move into a large corporate office to increase my challenges. 
• My last position was a wonderful place to work for right out of school, and now I would like to move my career into a new path.
• My family life has changed and I am looking to work closer to home.  Your company is closer to my home and still offers me the challenges and opportunities I need in my position.  I am very excited about being able to utilize some new skills and polish up some old ones. 
• A friend sent me your job posting and the position sounded right up my alley.  After researching your company I feel like I would be an ideal match for this position. 
• It is very important for me to be challenged in my position and it was time for a change.  Your company is using a system I am looking to increase my knowledge of. 
• My last company went through a down turn and I realized that my position was being downsized.  This has given me the opportunity to look for new challenges and after researching a lot of companies, I feel that my entrepreneurial nature will fit in very nicely with your company.....

Never be negative.  The last thing you want to do is sound whinny

• I couldn't work for my boss anymore
• My co-workers were impossible to get along with
• They were always advancing their children

So remember:

• Be positive
• Answer the question
• Follow it up with promoting your skill set
• And finally why the new company is so much better suited to you

Good luck