What should I tell employers about being laid off
Hi, I was laid off last month under questionable circumstances (the typical rampant nepotism and favoritism) at least in my mind that is the reason. However, that is a topic for another discussion. I have applied for at least a hundred positions and have been fortunate to have interviews coming in, however somehow nothing is sticking, I have even gone as far as a third interview with no job closure. I have re worked my resume, practiced my interview styles and, even do graduate school level research on the companies i'm interviewing with. Everyone is impressed with my resume, yet I cannot land anything. I am wondering, if it has anything to do with the fact that I was laid off. Almost every interviewer asks me why I am leaving my current role and I tell them the truth, which is, I was laid off? Should I withhold that information, because it may give the impression that I wasn't a valuable enough worker for them to keep on? At the same time, I don't want to lie and then they find out and it affects any offers I may receive. Can someone advise me please, I am beyond stressed.
Thanks! CAF
I would say that if they ask you about being laid off, don't say it was nepotism or favoritism. It sounds like you're too critical of the bosses and you could be hard to get along with. Instead, since you aren't really sure exactly why they laid you off, you can come up with a reason like they were going through a tough time financially, and needed to let some of the employees go at the time. There are all kinds of reasons why people get "laid off", and sometimes the employers are really never absolutely honest as to why they do it. I don't think that in the interview you owe them any kind of gut-wrenching explanations. I do know what you're going through and especially wanting to be completely clear and honest. I was fired from a job about 15 years ago, and it created havoc in my life. I did finally get a new job, and they caught the fact I had been fired and didn't tell them. What they wanted to know once they found out my indiscretion was what exactly did happen in my own words. They just wanted the truth from MY perspective. If they felt like they are happy about having hired you in the first place, even if you don't tell them up front everything about the lay off, and they ask about it later if it comes up in a personnel review of your prior positions, that's when you confess with all honesty from your heart. Usually a new boss really wants to work with the new employee, and doesn't want to exile you from your job or future jobs. It was the only time I had been fired from a job that I was promoted into, and I was so humiliated, and had been for years. I finally had to face it for myself that it wasn't my fault, and that employer just found a reason to fire me, and what I found out later is she wanted to rehire the woman who had the position before me. Who knows why? I don't care, it doesn't matter. I just would not say about the nepotism or favoritism. It would make you look bad. Try to come up with a more plausible and kind of mild reason, not something toxic to you, or your prior company.
Hi Cass, Sounds like you're doing all the right things and that employers are responding, so keep up the good work. As for explaining the layoff, you can say that you and your manager had a difference of opinion and you mutually agreed to separate. Prepare to explain a little about it, but don't directly talk about nepotism or favoritism, as it'll make you look bad. And try not to take the previous rejections personally - job hunting can take a lot longer than people expect. Take a deep breath, remind yourself of how awesome you are, and be positive, energetic, and helpful to each person in the interview process (which it sounds like you are). Good things will come your way, just keep plugging away at it!!
Best of luck! Marijoy
Do you follow up on applications/after interviews? Sending a thank you note is always good, and then calling about a week later to see where they're at with everything.
Do you just have a resume? Or a portfolio? My portfolio gives me the edge all the time. I would not go into reasons for lay off that make you look bad. Say something like, the company had to close its doors or downsize and it was by seniority or something. Hold your head high and keep you, looking good.