How to answer 'why do you want to leave your current job' without sounding negative?

I used to struggle with this too and freezing made it worse, so preparation is key. I'd suggest picking one genuine, neutral reason and rehearsing it. Growth is perfect because it's true for you: 'I'm grateful for my experience, but I've hit a ceiling in terms of development and I'm looking for a role where I can take on bigger challenges and keep learning.' You can add that the new company's direction or projects excite you, which flips it into enthusiasm for them. Avoid anything that sounds like you're running away from people or conflict, even hinting at a bad boss can make them wonder if you're the difficult one. Keep your tone warm and confident. If they dig deeper, stay graceful and redirect to the future. A calm, positive answer here signals emotional maturity, which is exactly what they want to see.

From my experience, the golden rule is to face forward, not backward. Never badmouth your boss or company even if it's justified, because interviewers read it as a red flag about you. Instead, frame it around what you're moving toward: 'I've learned a lot in my current role, and I'm now looking for more room to grow in areas like X, and this role offers exactly that.' That's honest, since lack of growth is your real reason, but it stays positive. If they probe, keep it professional and about opportunity, scope, or learning, never personal grievances. Prepare two or three sentences and practise them out loud so you don't freeze. Interviewers care less about the past reason and more about whether you're mature and forward-looking. Turn a negative into a story about ambition and fit.