5 Tips for Explaining a Layoff in an Interview
 Because of today’s struggling economy, even employed individuals do not really have a sense of job security. If your particular company is struggling and taking a loss, you might just be on the list of layoffs coming down the pike.
It doesn’t rightly matter how good of an employee you are to the company or how well you are education. Having an MBA and being a valuable asset to a company will not matter if that company is simply failing to turn a profit.
Getting laid off is not the end of the world, however. If you can put a positive spin on it, you can convince a future employer that the layoff in no way reflects negative son your job performance or aptitude for the type of work.
The key here is to be honest and up front about the layoff in your job interview. Explain yourself and use these tips to help guide you through the process.
5 Ways to Handle a Layoff in Future Interviews
1: Develop and Tell (Sell) Your Story
Although it’s certainly easier said than done, you need to dust yourself off and move on with your life. You can wait around for a year and see if the company is going to rehire you, or you can attempt to move on to greener pastures. Going with the latter is how you can develop your story and present yourself as a premium candidate for any employer.
Take stock of what you have learned thus far in your career, develop your story, and prepare to present yourself in a positive light to employers. Use the layoff to your advantage as an opportunity to grow.
2: Deliver on the Honesty
Explaining your layoff has no room for bitterness or dishonesty. Never duck the question if it arises or attempt to lie about the reasons you were laid off. Either one will work against you as a job candidate. Being up front and honest about the situation will bode well in your favor, as it will show that you’re undeterred by a bit of bad luck and are ready to work hard for another company.
3: Bring the Intangibles
Companies are looking for motivated employees out there. That means that after your layoff, you shouldn’t be lying around and bemoaning the system. You should be showing the quintessential intangibles employers are looking for: grit and determination.
It’s up to you to pursue your career, and you do this by chasing after your dreams, even after—especially after!—the rug has been yanked out from underneath your feet.
4: No Beating the Dead Horse
A lot of employees who’ve been laid off have a tendency to dwell on the situation when the topic comes up. They will start giving excuses about it and allowing their bitterness to show through. This is something you definitely want to avoid.
When to topic of the layoff comes up, and it will, be sure that you do not dwell on the subject. Tell your employer how you learned from it, how you grew from it, and that you’re ready to move on.
5: Realize the Commonness of Your Situation
Some employees who get laid off do not realize just how common it is. You can follow the abovementioned tips, but as long as it’s in your head that there’s something wrong with you in particular and that’s why you were laid off, you will never come to grips with the situation and thus won’t be able to ace a new interview. You’re not alone in being laid off. Many people are experiencing layoffs in this climate. Your employer knows it, and you should know it too.
It is unfortunate that so many people have to contend with layoffs in this day and age, but it is something that is becoming increasingly more common, so you can find solace in the fact that you are not alone in having to look for work elsewhere.
As long as you can successfully move on, keep your eye on the ultimate prize, and use your layoff as a learning experience instead of fodder to become a bit more jaded, you can ace any interview and use a layoff as a stepping stone to a brighter future.
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