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If you've been laid off, please avoid this mistake in interviews

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If you've been laid off, please avoid this mistake in interviews

#1
I interview a lot of people and in the past year that has included a lot of people laid off for COVID reasons. I've noticed that there is a big difference in interviews with people who have been laid off versus those who are searching while having a job - and that difference is confidence. People who have been laid off talk at me so much more than other candidates. They spend precious minutes of a phone screen trying to explain away why they got laid off or giving me a laundry list of achievements. Sometimes I don’t get to ask my full screening list of questions because they have spent so much time trying to explain every single project they’ve ever done. As a hiring manager, I get that these are tough times and lots of companies are laying off. I do not think it is your fault or that you are unqualified. I would not have taken the phone screen if I did not like your resume! Don’t hide the fact that you got laid off, but it’s much better to note it ‘Yea the company hit hard times and laid off a bunch of the workforce, but I’m really excited to talk about how your company is tackling XYZ.’ Then move us to a conversation about how we could work together. Paint a picture of how you could fit in at the company. Ask about what the challenges are that we have right now, then help paint a picture of how you could help solve them if you joined. The candidates who already have jobs tend to seem more self-assured and spend more time asking me questions or engaging me in conversation - and that is very appealing!

I know this may not be very helpful advice because I get that you need a job yesterday. It can be very hard to relax and be your best self in those situations, but if you can slow down a little and put yourself in the mind-frame of "hey they would be lucky to have me and need to sell me on their company" it will help you to come off as a better and more desirable candidate.

Re: If you've been laid off, please avoid this mistake in interviews

#4
post #3

What suggestions do you have for someone who may have been laid off months ago and is now facing the stigma of, let's just say "less than short term unemployment?" Those people often don't even make it to your phone screen.

As an interviewer I wouldn’t look on that badly either. The job market nosedived. Simple as that so it’s not inconceivable that many talented people have been out of work for a long time.

Re: If you've been laid off, please avoid this mistake in interviews

#5
post #4
post #3

What suggestions do you have for someone who may have been laid off months ago and is now facing the stigma of, let's just say "less than short term unemployment?" Those people often don't even make it to your phone screen.

As an interviewer I wouldn’t look on that badly either. The job market nosedived. Simple as that so it’s not inconceivable that many talented people have been out of work for a long time.

Companies don't fire talented people. They fire those, who, during the good times were just barely adequate for the job they did, and in the bad times they became liability.

Re: If you've been laid off, please avoid this mistake in interviews

#6
It's probably not advisable to discriminate against someone because of their lack of interest in getting you to sell the company to them. If they are really in need of the job, the last thing they want to do is appear as though the company is not interesting enough for them, or insufficient for some other reason, which could be something that comes with asking too many or even slightly too hard of questions.

Re: If you've been laid off, please avoid this mistake in interviews

#7
post #5
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an interviewer I wouldn’t look on that badly either. The job market nosedived. Simple as that so it’s not inconceivable that many talented people have been out of work for a long time.

Companies don't fire talented people. They fire those, who, during the good times were just barely adequate for the job they did, and in the bad times they became liability.

Nonsense. If they don’t have the funds they don’t have the funds.

Re: If you've been laid off, please avoid this mistake in interviews

#8
post #3

What suggestions do you have for someone who may have been laid off months ago and is now facing the stigma of, let's just say "less than short term unemployment?" Those people often don't even make it to your phone screen.

Meh if I was laid off, had a good amount of savings, and got severance for 1-2 months. I'd honestly just take a sabatical haha. When else are you gonna be able to get a few months off possibly paid to just focus on your well being.

Re: If you've been laid off, please avoid this mistake in interviews

#9
post #5
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an interviewer I wouldn’t look on that badly either. The job market nosedived. Simple as that so it’s not inconceivable that many talented people have been out of work for a long time.

Companies don't fire talented people. They fire those, who, during the good times were just barely adequate for the job they did, and in the bad times they became liability.

It's a grand pronouncement, and also pretty detached from reality to claim that companies never fire talented people. A few counterexamples: Steve Jobs, JK Rowling, Walt Disney, Thomas Edison, Isaac Newton, Jerry Seinfeld, Nikola Tesla... the list goes on.

Re: If you've been laid off, please avoid this mistake in interviews

#10
post #5
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an interviewer I wouldn’t look on that badly either. The job market nosedived. Simple as that so it’s not inconceivable that many talented people have been out of work for a long time.

Companies don't fire talented people. They fire those, who, during the good times were just barely adequate for the job they did, and in the bad times they became liability.

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