Answering the daunting question - "Were you laid off"

Layoffs are among the toughest experiences a professional can endure.

Only those who have gone through it truly understand the trauma.

The impact can linger, influencing your behavior and worldview long after it happens.

If you’ve faced a layoff or are currently going through one, the best thing you can do is, not let it define your entire professional journey.

Think about all the wins you have had in the past as a skilled professional.

Reflect on your past achievements as a skilled professional.

Think about all the contributions you made to your team and organization.

Consider all the hard work that led you to that job.

You've overcome challenges before.

Think about the efforts you made to get into a prestigious college, excel in your courses, or put in long hours to complete a project.

You’ve faced difficulties and emerged successful.

You can navigate this too.

This is a time to show courage, not to lose confidence in your abilities and intellect.

This is crucial because YOU need to believe in YOURSELF before convincing an interviewer to believe in you.

When asked about a layoff in an interview, it can stir negative emotions about the unfairness and trauma.

But an interview is not the place for that.

Most interviewers are not interested in how bad it was. They ask about your layoff because they want to know:

• Was it a performance issue? Should they worry about your performance in this new role?

• Does your layoff make you cynical? Can you work with positivity?

Here’s a script for answering layoff questions

(Ensure your response is truthful and personal to YOU. Personalize this with tips given)

“ Yes, I was laid off in Feb 2024..”

 <Add specific month and year details>

“..It was a company-wide activity affecting my entire team/org of 25 members…”

<Mention if more people were affected>

“..We were informed it was part of a reorganization.”

 <Share what was communicated. Be respectful and avoid a rant>

“..It was one of the toughest situations in my life.. “

<Acknowledge your vulnerability>

“..I never thought it would happen to me, given my excellent performance in all my roles and academia…”

 <Highlight a good track record>

“..In hindsight, I’m grateful for the experience. It taught me hard-to-accept lessons and gave me a different perspective towards life and work...”

“…I reassessed my life, health, relationships, and professional skills. I also upskilled, taking courses I couldn’t due to long office hours...”

<Mention how you spent your time away, upskilling if applicable>

“..This experience has made me a better person and I am confident in my ability to contribute to this role..”

<Show you’re looking forward>

There may be many experiences during this time that aren’t covered in this response.

Focus on the interviewer’s perspective and their goal with this conversation.

Be honest, but emphasize details relevant to the discussion.

I hope this helps.

Share it with someone who could benefit. 🌻

If you're struggling with your job search or have questions about refining your approach, hit reply and let me know. I'm here to help you navigate this journey.

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All the Best

Aditi