How do I answer this HR screening question?

You sound like, “After working in telecommunications for (X number of years), I’m ready for a new challenge.” Would that be correct?

Throwing out ideas here, these will be quickly and badly written, everybody feel free to copy, alter, ignore:

Your industry is taking off and I want to be in on it
I solve problems and I get results and I am looking for new problems to conquer
My current job is a very good gig, but I have always wanted to do XXXXX. And your company gives me that opportunity
Reading up on your company, the stories about XXXXXX made me say “I want to do that!”

I like the theme of #1 on @jaytkay‘s list. It’s best to focus on what you’re moving towards, and leave out anything about what you’re leaving behind. If they ask, then you can clarify. But if you’re leaving a job/industry, they’re going to want to know why you’re interested in them if it’s something with long-term prospects.

If your job listings don’t indicate that you’re a job hopper, and if I were interviewing you, I would be favorably impressed with an answer like that one which indicates that you seek out challenges.

Good topic, and one I know something about it. There’s nothing wrong with just saying, “I’m eager to branch out. I want to leverage current skills and learn new ones. I want to make myself more marketable, more useful.”

You needn’t go into detail unless asked, and then honesty is always the best policy. That’s what I always said when I was interviewing, and it always worked for me. And now that I sit on the other side of the table and interview people all the time, I find I’m more interested in the person’s potential than what they’ve done in the past.

By the way, you might also concentrate on your spelling—i.e., “professional” rather “proessional”. Interviewers pay attention to stuff like that.

I agree with Austimland we are all looking for something that is more marketable.

Thanks Austimland, good to hear from someone in HR. Sorry about the spelling, it was a mistake still trying to master the touch screen on my new phone.

@mrlaconic You have more than one on here.