What do you do if you need to address a layoff during a job interview?

Don't over over explain. Be succinct and to the point. Be accountable and don't play the blame game. Everyone has got it wrong at some stage.

Retaining integrity and honesty is key. Great relationships between a prospective employee or business are born on mutual trust, if trust is broken it’s often hard to overcome. By being honest this ensures that engagements and relationships last longer and in turn will result in a harmonious relationship.

Addressing a layoff during a job interview requires honesty and tact. Focus on the circumstances surrounding the layoff, what you learned from the experience, and how you've grown professionally since then. Emphasize your skills, achievements, and readiness to contribute to the new role.

Every interview should be approached with honesty and while discussing a layoff can be hard and often traumatic for some, it can be used to show transparency and if done can show professionalism that impresses a potential employer. Acknowledge the layoff and the reason behind it by not disparaging anyone during the interview. Hiring managers realize that restructuring, economic changes, and other factors beyond a person's control can lead to loss of employment, and sharing what you learned and how the productive ways you handled the layoff versus complaints about what was done wrong to you shows resiliency and adaptability to change that is needed in today’s workforce.

Understand that being laid off, especially in today's uncertain times, often stems from market fluctuations, economic downturns, and the increasing presence of AI replacing humans. It can be a painful experience, and it's important to understand that it's not necessarily a reflection of your performance but rather the circumstances. Don't let being laid off define your identity. Instead, focus on researching the latest skills, particularly in AI and ML, relevant to your field. By staying informed and continuously improving your skills, you empower yourself to adapt to future demands and ensure your career remains fulfilling and secure in the long term.

Focus less on the layoff and discuss how your journey post-layoff is preparing you for future endeavors. Perhaps post-layoff you went back to school, took a course to upskill, or networked with peers in a new industry. All of these activities position you for future success and can steer the conversation toward you being an asset in your next role.

Highlighting your enthusiasm to leverage your skills and background in a new role is key. Share your career aspirations and how they sync up with the company's mission and objectives. This shows that you're not just looking for any job, but you're genuinely interested in making a meaningful impact within the organization. By steering the conversation towards your potential contributions and how they align with the company's goals, you demonstrate your proactive mindset and dedication to adding value to the team.

Referencing specific projects or accomplishments from your past roles that directly relate to the position you're applying for is a powerful way to showcase your qualifications. Reminding the interviewer of your relevant experience and successful outcomes demonstrates your capability and value as a candidate. Even if you've experienced a layoff, highlighting your proven track record reinforces your ability to deliver results and contribute effectively to their organization. It's an opportunity to leave a lasting impression and instill confidence in your candidacy.

Make sure to bring your confidence at the table in any interview circumstances. Keep in mind that the layoff doesn't define you, what does is your ability to overcome it and move forward towards new opportunities. Speak with confidence and honesty and underline how this experience helped you grow personally by strengthening your resilience and trust in yourself and your abilities.

Negative questions, such as probing on your layoff, are not intended to make you feel bad. Probing with negative questions is used to see how self-aware a candidate is about gaps in qualifications or a period of adversity. Address the constructive facets that negative questions elicit — demonstrate your self-awareness (what might you do differently), give examples of your resilience (how did you move on), share what you’ve learned (highlight the positives from that job). Practice talking about the layoff in a neutral voice with clear lessons and positive takeaways highlighted.

The business departure reason should be factual, succinct, and unemotional. If someone would google the company that you were part of the reduction in force your story would match that. Always state why this role you applied for was so appealing or how your skills are a match for the role and you are looking forward to working for Company (add in facts from your interview prep research on the company).

I recommend keeping your answer short and simple, something like "my company went through a significant reduction in force and my role was one of many affected by it." If you happen to know the actual number, it's fine to share that as well (e.g. I was one of 500 colleagues affected). When you state it matter of factly like this, most recruiters and hiring managers will take that answer and move on. If you try to overexplain, it could create some seeds of doubt in the HR/HM minds. Acknowledge, let them know that you enjoyed your previous role and colleagues, and you are excited about the opportunity to join "their" company.

Being laid off is typically a painful experience, regardless of the reason; however, it's good to remember that this is a common experience, with millions of people in the U.S. experiencing it every month, including, possibly, the interviewer themselves in a prior role. If you're asked about a layoff, be honest, direct, and state the basic facts. Interviewees sometimes feel the need to over-explain but interviewers rarely care about all the details. State the basic facts, position yourself as one amongst many (if accurate) and quickly move to your interest in the role and the skills you offer.

If you need to address a layoff during a job interview, be honest and direct about the situation. Briefly explain the circumstances of the layoff, focusing on the broader business context rather than personal details. Emphasize any positive outcomes, such as skills you developed or experiences you gained during your tenure. Highlight your resilience and adaptability by discussing how you have been proactive since the layoff, including any new skills you've learned, networking efforts, or interim positions you've held. Conclude by reiterating your interest and fit for the position you’re interviewing for, showing enthusiasm and readiness to move forward in your career.

Considerations about what to say about your layoff are not restricted to your last job. Whenever a recruiter is interviewing you, they will most probably ask about the reason for changing prior jobs, so if one or more of them is due not to you resigning but because you were terminated, be prepared to answer. They are not as important as the last one, if that has just happened, since you did eventually found something else, but be prepared to have an answer, especially if the prior job somehow looks better than the newest one, although at times job titles do not show the whole picture.