Business Reasons

• "Career Oyster" lists 22 reasons that applicants should avoid, and most of them center around dissatisfaction with the former employer. "CareerBuilder" reports that one disgruntled applicant actually made a list of all the reasons he hated his former company. While you may well have been dissatisfied, don't put a negative spin on the interview by complaining about the pay or lack of salary increase at a previous employer, the company's refusal to promote you or the organization's forcing you to quit. Nothing raises a red flag for an interviewer like being told your departure was a "mutual decision." Instead, focus on the more positive aspects of your decision to quit -- "Career Oyster" suggests reasons such as seeking promotion or a better opportunity elsewhere; a career change; or focusing on the practical aspects of former employment, such as not enough hours or a lack of work.
  
  

Educational and Career Development Reasons

• Talk about the educational and career growth reasons for leaving -- such as seeking growth and personal development with a different position, having the opportunity to return to school to advance your education or becoming certified in a particular skill set. "Career Oyster" emphasizes that applicants should avoid saying the work was too complex, that they did not have the skills to perform the job or were too slow at it.
  
  

Personal Reasons

• Acceptable personal reasons for quitting a job do not include having an affair with a co-worker -- although one candidate evidently thought this was an appropriate topic for discussion, reports "CareerBuilder." Interviewers are likely to understand personal reasons such as a spousal relocation or taking a career break to raise a family, but will probably be less tolerant of reasons such as not being able to find a baby-sitter, going through a nasty divorce or being arrested, reports "Career Oyster."
  
  

Reasons You Should Never Say

• Forty-nine percent of employers in a "CNN" survey stated that bad-mouthing a former boss was the worst interviewer offense. While some candidates go to extremes -- like the applicant described in a "CNBC" article who admitted he was job seeking after assaulting his boss -- even isolated disparaging remarks can damage credibility and call your professionalism into question. "Career Oyster" suggests not saying you quit without an explanation -- this will leave the interviewer to speculate why -- and avoiding giving reasons that reveal problems collaborating with others, such as arguments or not getting along with co-workers. Don't provide a personal weakness -- such as attendance issues -- and definitely don't mention a reason that implies laziness, such as not wanting to work overtime or long hours or travel for the job. Overall, the most important factor is to be honest and truthful while still remaining positive and respectful because dishonesty from an applicant is worse than just about any reason you might give.