It's not the only reason I left, but it was one of them. Basically almost all my colleagues weren't very motivated. They will follow instructions, but never come up with ideas of their own. There could for example be a [big event] in the industry, but I'd have nobody to discuss it with.
I am wondering if this is a good reason to cite in an interview or if it will be viewed as disparaging a former employer, with all its associated problems.
my colleagues weren't very motivated. They will follow instructions, but never come up with ideas of their own
Sounds pretty disparaging to me.
Instead of focusing on what you didn't like about your former co-workers, try flipping it around and discuss what you want from future co-workers - something like "I'm looking for opportunities to work with highly motivated industry leaders" perhaps.
That changes the likely impression you'll leave from being someone who doesn't think much of your colleagues, to someone who wants to respect them a lot, while still meaning essentially the same thing.
I am wondering if this is a good reason to cite in an interview or if it will be viewed as disparaging a former employer, with all its associated problems.
I wouldn't mention it. It makes it sound as if you have a minimum threshold for how motivated employees need to be for you to stay on board. Do their employees meet that minimum threshold? Who knows but even if they did you still come across as being a bit judgmental.
Really, all I'd say if I were asked why I'm considering leaving a current employer is: I've learned as much as I can at my current job and am eager for new challenges and new opportunities to learn.
That said, it's fine to mention that as the reason in an exit interview but not in a job interview you're serious about.
I'm somewhat against the conventional wisdom. Everyone knows you have issues with your previous employer, or you wouldn't have left. I don't think there's much point in trying to pretend you didn't. The reason people ask in an interview is because you don't want to land back in the same situation that caused you to leave. It's okay to lose an opportunity if it's not the right opportunity.
That being said, you should do it with tact, and make sure you are not so vague that people could interpret your comments to match companies it shouldn't match. I would word it something like, "My colleagues didn't share my interest in professional development and innovation. What kind of opportunities do you have to encourage that at your company?"
You never give detailed reasons as to why exactly you left.
If you have been with the company not too long, say up to two years, something general followed by "was not what I expected" is usually fine. If you were with it longer, something along the lines of looking for new opportunities is the way to hint at not having a career path forward in your old company. Or mentioning that something "was changing" tells that you used to be happy in that job, but now aren't anymore. Stick with the general, and weave something positive in there. In your case you could say that you started working in a fantastic team, but then people left and the team spirit changed and does not fit your expectations anymore. Be ready for a follow-up question about what you expect from the team you work with - but if it comes, you already turned the conversation to what you want from your new job, away from the old one.
Never forget that any halfway smart employer understands that one day, he will be your previous workplace, and the way you speak about your last job is the way you will be speaking about him in the future.
Of course it's a valid reason. In fact, it's an excellent reason. I know exactly how this feels: you are interested, enthusiastic, willing to learn, full of life energy. You care for things, and you want to solve problems even though they might not be in your job description. On the other hand, your environment is full of people who don't care. They are not there to solve problems, but to sell their time, to keep the chairs warm, to participate in meetings that will justify their salaries. They need to be told what to do, and they will only do what they are told. Their motto is "the more complicated, the better".
Any future employer who understands this will wellcome you with open hands. He will know that people like you are rare and valuable like a treasure. They will know that people like you are an asset to a company, the future Elon Musks and Jeff Bezos, whereas the other people are a liability, like furniture and machines. Almost every job advertisement out there says that they are looking for "highly motivated people". That's you.
And this is what is so wrong with our society. Everybody lies, everybody pretends. People work in jobs they hate and we have learned and accepted that this is somehow how it is supposed to be. It is not. I'm surprised and disappointed at how many people are advising you to shut up, to be like others, fit in the box. I'm willing to bet that many of them hate their jobs.
One thing is true though - citing others as the reason for you leaving slightly misses the point. So instead of "I left because my colleagues were unmotivated" it could be better to say "I left because I couldn't realize my full potential".
