{"id":7596,"date":"2020-03-12T08:00:11","date_gmt":"2020-03-12T15:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.careerarc.com\/blog\/?p=7596"},"modified":"2020-03-12T08:00:11","modified_gmt":"2020-03-12T15:00:11","slug":"talk-about-layoff-job-interview-tips-from-a-career-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intoo.com\/us\/blog\/talk-about-layoff-job-interview-tips-from-a-career-coach\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Talk about Your Layoff at a Job Interview: Tips from a Career Coach"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Layoffs are one of the most challenging topics for job seekers to talk about during a job interview. The prospect of addressing past job loss brings up many urgent questions for candidates: Should I bring it up? How much detail should I go into? What can I say to frame my work history in a positive light?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get some answers, we talked to Intoo career coach Natalie<\/a>, who has more than 19 years of experience helping people find new jobs and careers. In this Q and A, Natalie shares her best tips for talking about a layoff experience with honesty and confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy did you leave your previous company?\u201d is a very common\nquestion during job interviews. For candidates who were laid off by their\nformer employers, how would you recommend tackling this question?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The unfortunate reality of job loss, while confidence shaking at\ntimes for the candidate, is not a topic to mask or dodge in the interview\nprocess. It\u2019s critically important to maintain perspective because interviewees\nwill be received in the way that they present themselves. If the circumstance is\naddressed confidently, honestly, succinctly, and from a standpoint of learning,\nit’s going to be seen for what it is\u2014just a small portion of one’s career\nstory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I share with candidates three main areas of consideration to focus\non as they prepare to discuss the circumstances of their employment separation:\nmindset, honesty, and learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It all starts with self-awareness and coming to terms with your\njob transition. You are not interview-ready until you can view the event as\nprofessional rather than personal. This takes time and the process is unique to\neach individual. Avoid emotionally-charged language and any negativity that you\nmay have initially felt about the event itself, other parties, and even\nyourself. Make sure you’re in a position to present your value in a way that is\nprofessionally focused. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be prepared to speak about the circumstance of your termination in\nan honest manner rather than trying to hide the reasons and the timing. If the\nlayoff was part of a larger restructuring that impacted numerous personnel, come\nprepared with the numbers. A truthful approach will demonstrate self-respect\nand that, in turn, will earn the respect of the other party. Keep the answer\nbrief and factual. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the facts are out, focus on your learning. Speak about the\nskills that you gained and refined during employment at your former workplace. The\ncapacity to learn from setbacks demonstrates perseverance. Discussing it openly\ndisplays a blend of humility and confidence that most employers seek. A\nchallenge for so many is that the topic generates a sense of vulnerability. Any\nlife transition exposes us in that way and it’s okay to feel vulnerable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And keep in mind\u2014a candidate who has experienced a layoff may be\nmore available than some of their competitors to start right away. From the\nemployer\u2019s perspective, that’s an advantage. Consider how are you uniquely\npositioned in the search. Don’t apologize for or attempt to rationalize any\ncircumstances that were out of your control or your influence. Instead, focus\nyour attention on the prospective employer\u2019s needs and be ready to talk about\nhow you can meet or exceed their expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if you were laid off partly due to performance issues? Is\nthis something you should talk about?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked the circumstances around your departure, one of the\nideas in the employer’s mind may be determining whether this was a performance-based\nfiring or layoff resulting from a reorganization or downsizing. The first step\nis to gain clarity on the nature of your separation from the employing organization.\nThat information will influence the way you\u2019ll present yourself in future\ninterviews and communicate with the unemployment office in your state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your termination was performance-based and you\u2019re asked to\nspeak about it, the focus should be on what was learned. Demonstrate your ability\nto self-reflect, to assess your performance, to determine how you could have\ndone things differently, and ultimately take steps to learn and minimize those\ngaps. Be ready to explain why the concerns that impacted your previous\nemployment will not have the same impact on your future opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are there common mistakes to avoid when talking about layoffs? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes. Avoid speaking negatively about yourself or other parties and\nfocus the answer on achievements rather than emotions. Any fabrication of\ninformation or attempt to hide the reasons for and timing of a job transition\ncould have negative impacts on future employability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if the layoff has created a gap in your resume?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many candidates are\nconcerned about gaps in employment. There are ways you tend to it upfront\nrather than attempting to cover it up. Coaches are prepared to collaborate with\ncandidates on the best layout for their r\u00e9sum\u00e9s and develop cover letters that\nelaborate on circumstances appropriately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be prepared to share\nwhat was learned during your time out of the workforce. Demonstrate the ways\nin which you\u2019ve stayed up-to-date on industry trends, technology, and connections.\nDiscuss how you\u2019ve spent your time during the employment transition–reflecting\non your goals and alignment with their organization, volunteerism\/community\nleadership, classes\/certifications, informational interviews\/job shadowing,\nfreelancing\/contract work\u2014as your efforts could be very relevant preparation for the next\nopportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

__<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By offering unlimited, on-demand personal coaching from highly-experienced career transition coaches, Intoo’s outplacement solution helps companies retain positive relationships with departing employees and protect employer brand during a layoff or workforce change. Experience our advanced outplacement program firsthand by\u00a0requesting a demo<\/a> today, and learn how we can support your workforce\u2019s unique needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Layoffs are one of the most challenging topics for job seekers to talk about during a job interview. The prospect of addressing past job loss brings up many urgent questions for candidates: Should I bring it up? How much detail should I go into? What can I say to frame my work history in a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":7602,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[69,19],"tags":[145,149,140,172,92],"class_list":["post-7596","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-outplacement","tag-career-advice","tag-career-coaching","tag-human-resources","tag-interview-tips","tag-layoff"],"yoast_head":"\nHow To Talk About a Layoff In a Job Interview: Tips From a Career Coach<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Layoffs are a challenging topic for job seekers to talk about during a job interview. 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