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Returning to the field and interviewing for your next position can be just as difficult. Talent acquisition inevitably asks about what happened in previous jobs. What should I say?
We spoke to two career coaches to get their thoughts. Here’s what they advised:
If you are fired
Generally speaking, prospective employers are more understanding of layoffs than layoffs. After all, it’s easy to explain unemployment if many of your colleagues were also laid off.
In many cases, the goal is not to fire you, but to fire the position, says a career coach. Marie G. McIntyre.
If you are asked about being fired during an interview, ask a career coach. Dorianne Saint Fleur Suggest saying something like, “My team has been affected by mass layoffs and unfortunately we have had to make some decisions regarding hiring and resources, so my role no longer exists.” I am.
If you’ve recently joined the company or had a more junior role, you can also mention that. These factors can help explain your termination without making it reflect negatively on you.
You can also mention whether you made it through previous rounds of layoffs before you were finally fired. You might say: “The company was going through multiple layoffs and my boss was really trying to figure out how to keep me around for as long as possible, but in the end I decided to join one of the company’s subsequent layoffs. It was decided to do it. ”
This “indicates you had a good relationship with your boss and they tried not to make you the first one, so you must be some kind of top performer.” St. Fleur said.
If you are fired
McIntyre said one of the first things you should do when you’re fired is negotiate with your future employer how your departure will be portrayed.
She advises asking your human resources department exactly what information they will provide when asked to verify employment. In some cases, she may be able to persuade her employer to let her leave without being fired, or she may be able to agree to discuss the termination with a future employer as a “mutual decision.” , she says. In such cases, aim to obtain a reference letter with agreed reasons that you can use during the application process, says McIntyre.
Saint-Fleur said it is also effective to describe the dismissal in an interview as a “mutual decision to part ways,” or to say “we didn’t get along” or “we just didn’t get along.”
Less is better
When talking about unemployment, St. Fleur says, remember that “less is more.”
Talk about leaving, then quickly turn the conversation back to your current role.
“This is kind of a politician’s answer. I’m not directly saying I quit because I got fired because of this or that. Instead, I’m trying to focus on what I’m actually looking for in the future. “We’re having a conversation,” Saint-Fleur said.
“I’m no longer with my company. I left in October and I’m currently looking for a role where I have the opportunity to use my strengths in X, Y, and Z.” That’s why your company and this position are for me. It’s very attractive. ”
focus on the next thing
Just like when you’re interviewing, you should be looking ahead when you lose your job.
Saint-Fleur advises customers to “change your mindset and understand that these are not damaged goods.”
“Just because you’ve been laid off or fired doesn’t mean you’re not performing well or that you’re not worthy of another job,” she says. She added that her thoughts on layoffs “affect the entire job search.”
“The important thing is to find out what the right next step is for you,” St. Fleur said. “Try to find the next best thing based on what you want to do, your level, the skills you’re trying to develop, and the lessons you’ve learned from previous roles. You’re out.”