Explaining A Layoff

Job seekers worry about how to explain a layoff in an interview. The key is to move forward by focusing the interview on your skills and successes, and not dwell on the past. Here is how to do that.

By Matt Krumrie, Star Tribune Sales and Marketing

Last update: September 17, 2009 - 9:06 AM

Dear Matt: I was recently laid off along with 30 other employees. A few days later I noticed some new job postings at the company I previously worked for. In fact, they are advertising that they are hiring 180 employees for similar positions to what I did. How can I explain this to employers who may wonder why I was laid off when they are obviously hiring at my old company?

Matt: I often have people who are laid off ask me how they should explain a layoff in the interview. I always tell them to be straight forward - hiring managers are well aware of what is happening in the job market these days, and layoffs happen.

Elizabeth Laukka, an independent Twin Cities recruiting and HR consultant whose recent clients have included Wells Fargo, Colle + McVoy and ProStaff, agrees.

"When asked by a potential hiring manager why you left your past employer,I would simply explain that you were laid off with 30 other employees," says Laukka. "That couldmean more of a downsizing or restructuring versus a termination due to aquestion ofyour individual performance. Either way, what your past company is doing now should not reflect on you and the skills you bring to a new employer."

Laukka says it's important to focus on your contributions and talents, not the reasons behind the layoff, and recommends steering the conversation that way as much as possible.

"If the person you are interviewing with directly asks about why your old employer is hiring a similar role again, I would remain professional and unbiased and simply explain your successes in your previous role and that you felt you did the best you could, and perhaps the newposition they are hiring for isdifferent," says Laukka. "Do notjudge or speak poorly of your old employer."

The question of why your old company is hiring for similar roles is of course intriguing and frustrating. It could be that they indeed restructured and want to bring in and train a whole new group in a new way, or that they indeed wanted to start fresh and hire new individuals doing the same job - but try not to focus on that - try to find a new position that is a great fit and look toward the future instead of dwelling on the past.

Matt Krumrie is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights, and has nine years of experience reporting on the employment industry. This column will answer readers' questions. E-mail questions or subject ideas to askmatt@startribune.com.

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