How do you explain leaving a firm without sounding like you couldn’t handle the hours? I hit a wall with burnout and finally walked away, but every interview feels like a test of endurance. How honest can you really be about needing balance?

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Leave out the hours as an issue, as it does look negative, even though it’s a valid reason to leave. Focus on wanting better alignment and how the role you are interviewing for provides it. Tell them what they want to hear, but make sure you are getting what you want there, too.

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I think the best strategy is to find a graceful way of explaining your exit without explicitly referencing the hours. As soon as you start saying you couldn't handle something you're putting yourself at a disadvantage. We tend to make decisions for complicated reasons, so focusing on another aspect of your decision, the firm's focus didn't align with your aspirations or whatever, would make more sense.

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When I went in house I was very honest about the M&A hours being the reason, but it was due to the recent birth of my twins. I was honest and told the CLO that I never saw them or my wife and wanted more time for my family. He loved that answer and I got the job. But I don’t think a firm would find that as compelling.

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I would definitely avoid even hinting at that for a firm interview tbh.

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