| This is a question that is asked in almost every job | | | | simply state, "I was laid off." This answers the question |
| interview. The interviewer wants to know, "Why are | | | | but still leaves a lingering doubt in the mind of the |
| you available?" The answer you give regarding your | | | | interviewer, - "Why were you laid off?" The more |
| departure from your last company will be either simple | | | | specific your answer, the more effective it will be. |
| and straightforward, or very challenging - depending on | | | | "There were six rounds of layoffs at my last |
| your circumstances. | | | | company. I survived five rounds, but when it came to |
| The following are three possible categories to answer | | | | round six they had to cut deep. My position was |
| the question of why you are available: | | | | eliminated along with half of my group because the |
| Need a Change/Challenge | | | | project we were working on was cancelled." |
| Even the simple, straightforward answer can raise | | | | Not everyone will have such a definite statement to |
| suspicions if the wrong message is conveyed. What if | | | | make. Whatever your situation is it will be helped by |
| you are just tired of your job, don't like your boss, or | | | | including facts and figures to explain the circumstances |
| need a change? Everyone is entitled to a new position | | | | surrounding your layoff. |
| or challenge now and then, right? Of course, but the | | | | "10% of the workforce was let go," or "One out of |
| tricky part is telling the interviewer the reason you are | | | | every ten jobs was affected, company-wide." |
| leaving but not sounding like you're "burned out" on | | | | When you quantify a statement it has more depth. |
| your current job. | | | | When you tell the interviewer whether it was 10 or |
| "I am looking for a new challenge. I have been with my | | | | 1000 people were laid off helps put the situation in |
| current company for two years and don't find the | | | | perspective. |
| work as interesting as I once did. I am looking for a | | | | Fired |
| company where I can take on new challenges and | | | | If you were fired, you probably dread being asked this |
| learn new things." | | | | question. Not only have you been fired, you have to |
| If your answer has too much emphasis on "challenge | | | | talk about it - over and over. How you deal with |
| and change," the employer becomes concerned that | | | | questions about being fired will depend on how you |
| you may be dissatisfied with this job once you've | | | | have resolved the issue with yourself. |
| learned new things and met the challenges. The | | | | Whether you were let go under unfair circumstances |
| interviewer is listening for patterns, and if you were | | | | or for something you did and regret, scripting your |
| bored on your last job, what makes you think you | | | | answer ahead of the interview will help you. You don't |
| won't get bored on this job? | | | | want to bad-mouth your former employer or sound |
| Changing the tone of your reply to be more pro-active | | | | like a victim (even if you were). Practice your answer |
| is a stronger answer. | | | | with someone in a mock interview and obtain |
| "Since there are no advancement opportunities within | | | | feedback on your comfort-level while discussing your |
| the company, I decided it would be a good time for me | | | | situation. |
| to look outside. I have set some career goals for | | | | Preparing will make a difference |
| myself, and I know that I cannot achieve them at my | | | | Any question can throw you off balance during the |
| current company. My goal is to work for a larger | | | | interview, but there are certain standard questions that |
| company with a possible career path." | | | | you can almost expect to be asked every time. For |
| This answer has a tone of control and planning. When | | | | example, "Why did you leave (or are planning to leave) |
| you think as an interviewer, it will help you see "their" | | | | your last company?" is a question that you can bet will |
| point-of-view and will address the concerns "they" | | | | be asked in one form or another in almost every |
| have about your leaving a company. | | | | interview. You will feel more confident and focused if |
| Laid off | | | | you script and practice answering this question before |
| If you are among the millions of people who have | | | | it is asked. |
| been laid off in the last two and a half years, you can | | | | |