TANDEM'S TIPS: HOW DO I EXPLAIN A LAY OFF?
Kent R.
Over the next several weeks, I’ll be responding to frequently asked questions that have not been addressed here on the blog recently. Q: How do I explain being laid off by my last company when I start interviewing?
A: People tend to take a lay-off very personally. More times than not, lay-offs have everything to do with the state of the company – NOT with the quality of you as an employee. There’s no shame in addressing what happened. Of course, you don’t want to dwell on it because you want to keep the conversation focused on what you can do for the company before you. The same general line of thinking applies even if you were “fired.” It will do you no good to exude guilt and embarrassment. Have a sensible, succinct response in mind in case you are asked and move on.