| The key to successful interviewing is being prepared. | | | | workforce by 25%. The accounting function was |
| Certain questions are considered "standard", yet few | | | | outsourced and all ten accounting professionals were |
| people think about their responses ahead of time. | | | | let go. |
| When candidates are unprepared, their answers may | | | | Prepare multiple level responses |
| showcase emotions that are valid, but could be | | | | If you were let go, but your co-worker who |
| damaging to reveal during an interview. One of the | | | | performs the same job function was not, it is wise |
| most common interview questions is "Why are you | | | | to create two responses. Part one is a general |
| currently in a job search?" When you have been | | | | response and part two is used if the interviewer |
| downsized and you need to communicate your | | | | probes further about your situation. |
| situation to a hiring manager, your response should | | | | Level One A business decision was made to reduce |
| combine a positive reflection regarding your previous | | | | the help desk staff by 50%. |
| employer with a brief discussion of the business | | | | Level Two |
| reasons why you are no longer employed by them. | | | | For some interviewers the previous answer satisfies |
| Below are five strategies for crafting an effective | | | | their curiosity. Others may probe and ask: How many |
| statement. | | | | were in your department and how many were let |
| Examine your emotions | | | | go? Why were you let go rather than your |
| Was your position off-shored to a country where | | | | co-worker? |
| labor costs are one-third of what they are at home? | | | | Assure the interviewer that the job loss was not |
| Did management reduce their front line staff while | | | | performance based. Don't discuss any speculations |
| increasing executive bonuses? Did your position | | | | you may have about the company or your manager's |
| become redundant after a company merger? When | | | | motives. |
| jobs are lost because of these types of situations, | | | | Example The company suffered low 4th quarter |
| people can become angry and feel betrayed by their | | | | earnings which translated into a 50% reduction of |
| former employer. If this anger comes across in the | | | | staff in four departments. In my group the 50% |
| interview, you will not be seen as the top candidate, | | | | reduction represented the elimination of one position. |
| even if you are the most qualified. Nobody wants to | | | | The specific reasons for the decision were not |
| hire someone who's carrying around excess baggage | | | | communicated to me; however I can assure you that |
| or has a chip on their shoulder. | | | | the decision was not performance related. My |
| Prior to your interview, you need to separate your | | | | manager was extremely satisfied with my |
| emotions from the business reasons for a job loss. | | | | performance and has offered to serve as a |
| Acknowledge your emotions to yourself and those | | | | reference on my behalf. |
| close to you, but prepare a statement that conveys | | | | Keep in mind that if your company's workforce |
| the business reasons for why you are currently in a | | | | reduction was significant, the situation may have |
| job search. | | | | received widespread media attention. If this is the |
| Say something positive | | | | case, the interviewer may comment on what they've |
| Before you discuss the situation that led to your job | | | | read in the papers or say something like "I recently |
| loss, say something positive about your experience | | | | read that company X laid off 3,000 employees in the |
| with that employer. | | | | 4th quarter...that must have been an extremely |
| Example I was fortunate enough to work with | | | | difficult time." Stick to your original story, be sure to |
| company X for seven years. I had the opportunity to | | | | say something positive about the company, and don't |
| work with some exceptional programmers and hone | | | | turn it into an emotional exchange. |
| my technical skills. I was proud to provide quality | | | | Practice |
| customer service to clients at XYZ company. They | | | | Write out what you plan to say and make revisions. |
| stood by their products and rewarded employees | | | | Practice your response with someone close to your |
| that made a favorable impression on their customers. | | | | situation such as a family member, friend or colleague. |
| Discuss the business reason for the job loss | | | | Record your response on your telephone answering |
| Discuss your job loss in the general context of the | | | | machine, play it back and critique it. Have you |
| company. Rather than personalizing the situation by | | | | personalized your situation or discussed it in a |
| saying things like "I was let go", "My job was | | | | business context? Do your words flow and do you |
| eliminated" or "My position was outsourced", discuss | | | | sound sincere? |
| how a department, business group or particular type | | | | Preparing an effective statement to explain the |
| of professional responsibility was eliminated. This | | | | reason you are in a job search is critical to the overall |
| shows the hiring manager that others lost their jobs | | | | success of your search campaign. Reflect on the |
| as well and that the loss was not due to your | | | | positive aspects of your work experience and take |
| individual performance. | | | | the time to create a statement that explains your |
| Example Unfortunately my entire department of 20 | | | | reasons for being in a job search. You will enhance |
| was eliminated. As a result of a global company | | | | your confidence during the interview and improve |
| restructuring, the company had to reduce their NY | | | | your credibility with the hiring manager. |