Career Change Interview Questions
If you are looking to change roles or industries, practicing some career change interview questions is a helpful way of ensuring that you are prepared!
Job interviews can feel like a minefield, & can be especially daunting if you're changing career.
Here are some career change interview questions to help you tackle some of the most common (& trickiest) questions with confidence.
Interview Questions for a Career Change
If you're making a career change, you may face additional questions to assess your motivations, transferable skills, & ability to adapt to your new career.
Employers want to know why you're making the switch and how well you can apply your previous experience to this new field.
So, here are some examples of career change interview questions...
1. Tell me about yourself / Why have you applied for this role?
This isn't an invitation to talk about your love for hiking or Sunday roasts. Instead, use this question to highlight your skills & experience in a way that aligns with the role you have applied for.
A simple 3-step framework to answer this:
Your past experience: What have you done that’s relevant?
How it aligns with the role: Why does this job make sense for you?
What you like about the company: Why here, specifically?
Example:
“I’ve spent the last ten years in marketing, where I honed my ability to understand customer needs & create compelling campaigns. Whilst managing the Sales team, I realised that my passion lies more in business development, where I can use my relationship-building skills to drive growth. This role stood out to me because of its focus on strategic partnerships, & I’m excited to apply my expertise in communication & sales driving to this new challenge”
2. Why do you want to change careers?
This is a crucial question for career changers; employers want to see that you’ve thought at length about your decision & aren’t just moving on a whim.
Example:
“I have really enjoyed working in finance, but over time I found myself drawn to the operational side of the business. I started upskilling through online courses & also shadowing colleagues in project management, & realised this is where I can add the most value. I'm a great fit for this role & am eager to bring my analytical & problem-solving skills into this role"
3. What transferable skills do you bring to this role?
Employers want to see how your past experience applies to this new role. Highlight key skills that are relevant to both industries.
Example:
“While I’ve worked in customer service for years, my core strengths, which are problem-solving, communication, & conflict resolution, are highly relevant to HR. I’ve spent a lot of time coaching teams, handling escalations & ensuring smooth operations, which directly translates to supporting employees & also, developing a positive workplace culture”
4. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Your strengths? Highlight skills that are relevant to the role. Your weakness? Be honest but frame it in a way that shows you’re actively improving; essentially, turn the weakness into a strength.
Example:
“One of my strengths is my ability to simplify complex projects & keep teams aligned on our goals. A weakness I’m working on is public speaking; I used to shy away from presenting, but I’ve been actively improving by taking on more speaking opportunities at work”
5. Why do you want to work here / Why are you leaving your job?
This is not the time to air grievances about your last boss or complain about a toxic work environment (save that for chats with friends...).
Come up with a strong answer that shows you’ve reflected on your career path & also made a conscious decision to move towards something that better suits your skills, strengths & values.
Example:
"My previous role gave me valuable experience, but over time I realised I wanted to pursue work that better aligns with my values. This company stood out to me because of its strong commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility, & I’m excited to bring my skills in sustainability & community engagement to your team."
And finally… Expect the unexpected!
Not every question will be straightforward. Be ready for curveballs like: "What animal would you be?" or also, "Which famous people would you invite to dinner?"
These are just ways to see how you think on your feet, so relax & have fun with them!
Need extra support?
If you’ve got an interview coming up & want to feel fully prepared, then you can read more about working with me on the career change coaching programme & book a free clarity call with me to discuss how we can work together!
Good luck!
