I'm gearing up to hop back into the technical world as an analyst after a five year stint as a recruiter (don't hit me!). I've relocated twice, and placed some excellent people who thrived and moved up in their organizations quickly.

One question I rarely asked is "Why did you leave your last employer"; I put more emphasis on what a person is capable of, what they've accomplished and how they solve problems versus what hangups they have for looking at a more attractive job (attractive because of salary, location or even just a new environment).

I know this question will one day come to me, and while I've got nothing to hide it's never been something I felt was relevant.

Is it relevant to those of you responsible for hiring?