“Same Level, New Lane” – How to Explain a Lateral Career Move in Interviews

Why interviewers get suspicious about lateral moves

Let’s be honest: when someone sees a lateral move on your resume, a few doubts often pop up in their head.

Are you stuck? Are you running from a bad situation? Did your old company quietly push you out? Or do you just not know what you want?

They won’t usually say it that bluntly, but that’s the subtext. Your job in the interview is to flip that story. You want your move to sound like a conscious choice, not a consolation prize.

There are three big things interviewers are really trying to figure out:

• Is this person intentional, or just drifting?
• Will they stick around, or jump again in six months?
• Does this move actually make sense for their longer-term path?

If you can calmly answer those unspoken questions, your lateral move stops looking like a red flag and starts looking like a smart strategy.

The simple formula for explaining a lateral move

You don’t need a speech. You need a clean, believable story.

A helpful structure:

1. Future first – Start with where you’re heading, not what you’re leaving.
2. Bridge in the middle – Explain how this lateral move builds skills or exposure you need for that future.
3. Positive present – Show respect for your current role and employer. No ranting.
4. Specific value – Connect your move to how you’ll contribute to this role and this company.

Keep it short, calm, and matter-of-fact. You’re not defending yourself; you’re walking them through your logic.

Turning “sideways” into “strategic” in your answer

A good lateral-move answer usually hits a few notes:

• You’re choosing this move, not settling for it.
• You’re learning something concrete, not just “looking for a new challenge.”
• You see this role as part of a longer-term direction, not a random detour.
• You’re not bad-mouthing your current employer or manager.

Think about it like this: you’re explaining why you changed lanes on the highway, not why you abandoned the road.

Example: Lateral move to a different industry

Take Maya. She’s a marketing manager at a consumer goods company, interviewing for a marketing manager role at a healthcare tech startup. Same level, similar title. On a resume, it might look like a sideways hop.

Here’s how she could explain it:

“I’ve really enjoyed my time in consumer marketing, especially leading campaigns that reached millions of customers. Over the past couple of years, I’ve become more interested in healthcare and how technology can improve access and outcomes. When I thought about my longer-term path, I realized I want to stay in marketing, but in an industry where the products have a direct impact on people’s well-being.

Moving into a marketing manager role here is a lateral step in title, but it’s a deliberate shift in focus. It lets me bring my experience with large-scale campaigns while learning the specifics of healthcare audiences, regulations, and B2B dynamics. That combination is what I want to build on over the next several years, ideally growing into broader marketing leadership within health tech.”

Notice what she does:

• She anchors her move in a clear interest: health tech and impact.
• She calls the move lateral in title but forward in direction.
• She hints at a multi-year plan, which reassures the interviewer she’s not job-hopping.

Example: Lateral move to build missing skills

Now think about Jordan. He’s a senior analyst in a big bank, interviewing for a senior analyst role in a mid-size tech company. Same level, but the tech role is much more hands-on with data engineering.

His answer might sound like this:

“In my current role I’ve developed strong analytical and stakeholder skills, but a lot of the technical work is handled by a separate team. Over time, I realized that if I want to grow into a data science or analytics leadership role, I need deeper experience building the pipelines and tools myself.

That’s why I’m looking at this senior analyst position, even though it’s a lateral move in level. The scope here is more technical and end-to-end. I’d be owning the data from ingestion to insights, and collaborating closely with engineering. That’s exactly the experience I’m looking for so that, over the next few years, I can be the kind of leader who understands both the business questions and the technical implementation.”

Here, the lateral move becomes a skill-building move. He isn’t running away from his bank job; he’s moving toward a more complete version of his future self.

Example: Lateral move for culture and working style

Sometimes it’s not about industry or skills. It’s about how the work gets done.

Imagine Priya, an HR business partner at a global corporation, interviewing for an HR business partner role at a smaller, fast-growing company.

She could say:

“I’ve had the chance to work in a very structured environment with clear processes and a lot of global coordination. That’s taught me discipline, stakeholder management, and how to operate in a complex organization.

Over time I’ve realized I’m most energized in settings where HR can move quickly, experiment, and work very closely with leaders who are still building their teams and culture. That’s what attracted me to your company and this role, even though it’s a lateral step in title. The environment here would let me have a more direct impact and be a true thought partner to leaders during a high-growth phase, which is the type of experience I want to deepen for the next chapter of my career.”

She’s not saying, “My company is slow and annoying.” She’s saying, “I’ve learned a lot there, and now I’m ready for a different kind of impact.” Big difference.

How to avoid sounding defensive or desperate

There’s one thing that instantly makes a lateral move sound questionable: defensiveness.

If you jump into your answer with, “Well, it’s not really lateral…” or “I know it might look like a step back, but…” you’ve already put the idea of “step back” in their head.

A calmer way to approach it:

• Acknowledge the lateral nature briefly and confidently.
• Shift quickly to your strategy and future direction.
• Keep your tone neutral, like you’re explaining a project plan.

For example:

“Yes, it is a lateral move in terms of title, but for me the key difference is the scope and environment. I’m looking for…”

Short, neutral, and then you move on to the good part.

Also, resist the urge to overshare about toxic bosses, chaotic restructurings, or office politics. Those might be real, but in an interview they usually do more harm than good. You can be honest without giving a full therapy session.

Weaving your story into common interview questions

You won’t always get a neat “Why a lateral move?” question. Sometimes it’s hidden inside other questions like:

• “Why are you leaving your current role?”
• “Why this position?”
• “Where do you see your career in three to five years?”

You can sneak your lateral-move logic into those answers.

“Why are you leaving your current role?”

Instead of:

“I’m bored and there’s no promotion available.”

Try:

“I’ve reached a point where I’ve learned a lot in my current scope, especially around X and Y. The next thing I want to develop is Z, and that’s not a major focus in my current team. This role gives me the chance to keep contributing at a similar level while also building that Z experience, which is important for where I see my career heading.”

“Why this position?”

Instead of:

“It seemed like a good fit for my background.”

Try:

“I’m intentionally looking for a role at my current level that adds new dimensions to my experience: specifically A and B. This position does that by… and that’s why it stood out to me.”

“Where do you see yourself in three to five years?”

This is where you connect the dots:

“In three to five years, I’d like to be in a role where I’m leading X and influencing Y. To get there, I need more depth in Z, which is why this lateral move makes sense right now. It fills that gap while still letting me operate at the level I’m at today.”

You’re basically saying: This is not a random stop. It’s a step on a mapped-out route.

How to talk about money in a lateral move

Money questions can get awkward with lateral moves, especially if there’s little or no raise involved.

If they ask why you’d move without a big pay bump, you can be honest without sounding naive:

“Compensation matters to me, of course, but I’m prioritizing the type of work and experience right now. This role gives me exposure to X and Y, which I see as important for my long-term growth. I’m looking for a fair package for the level and market, but I’m not expecting a giant jump just for changing companies.”

That shows you’re thoughtful, not desperate, and that you understand how career growth actually works.

For general guidance on understanding pay ranges and market data, resources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (https://www.bls.gov) can help you sense-check what’s reasonable for your field.

When a lateral move might not be a good story

Let’s be honest: not every lateral move is a beautifully planned chess move. Sometimes things just went sideways.

Maybe you:

• Took a lateral role because you were laid off and needed a job.
• Moved for personal reasons (partner’s job, family, health).
• Realized fast that the new job wasn’t what was promised.

You can still tell a grounded story without pretending everything was perfectly orchestrated.

For example, if you took a lateral role after a layoff:

“After the layoff, my priority was stability and staying in the field. I took a lateral role that let me keep building experience in X. Over time, I’ve realized I’m ready to be more intentional about my next step, which is why I’m focusing on roles that add Y and Z to my skill set. This position fits that direction.”

You’re allowed to be human. The key is that today, you’re intentional, even if the past year was more about survival.

If you want to think through your longer-term direction more carefully, career resources from universities, like Harvard’s Office of Career Services (https://ocs.fas.harvard.edu), can give you frameworks and worksheets even if you’re not a student there.

Quick phrases you can borrow and adapt

If you’re staring at a blank page trying to write your answer, here are some starter lines you can tweak:

• “It’s a lateral move in title, but it’s a step forward in terms of…”
• “I’m optimizing for learning X and exposure to Y at this stage of my career.”
• “My goal over the next few years is to move toward [future role/area], and this role builds the [specific skills] I need to get there.”
• “I’ve appreciated [what you gained] in my current role, and now I’m looking for an environment where I can also [what you want next].”

Say them out loud a few times. Adjust the wording until it sounds like you, not like a script.

FAQ about lateral moves in interviews

Is a lateral move bad for my career?

Not automatically. A lateral move can be very smart if it helps you:

• Switch industries without starting from scratch.
• Build missing skills you need for your next promotion.
• Move into a culture or environment where you can actually thrive.

It becomes a problem only if you’re hopping sideways every year with no clear thread connecting the moves.

How do I explain multiple lateral moves?

You need a storyline that ties them together. Maybe you were exploring different environments to find the right fit, or you were building a portfolio of skills across functions. The important part is to show what you learned at each step and how it all points toward where you’re headed now.

Should I ever admit I moved because of a bad manager or toxic culture?

You can acknowledge misalignment without going into a rant. Something like:

“There were some differences in expectations and working style that made it clear it wasn’t a long-term fit. I learned a lot about what I need in a work environment, and now I’m focusing on roles where…”

Keep it short, neutral, and future-focused.

For general guidance on dealing with difficult workplaces and protecting your mental health, the American Psychological Association (https://www.apa.org) has helpful articles and resources.

What if the interviewer insists it looks like a step back?

You can calmly reframe:

“I understand it might look that way on paper. From my perspective, the key factor is that this role gives me direct experience with X and Y, which are missing from my current scope. I see that as a necessary step to reach [future goal].”

If they still don’t buy it, that might be a sign they’re looking for a different profile, not that your whole strategy is wrong.

Can I say I want better work–life balance?

You can, but phrase it carefully. Instead of, “I want less stress,” try:

“I’m looking for a sustainable pace where I can do my best work over the long term. I’m drawn to environments that value focused work and realistic expectations, and from what I’ve learned about your culture, that seems to be the case here.”

That sounds thoughtful, not like you’re looking for a paid vacation.

A lateral move doesn’t have to be something you apologize for in interviews. When you frame it as a deliberate step toward a clear direction, it stops being “same level, different logo” and starts looking like exactly what it can be: a smart move in a longer game.