Explaining Your Layoff

From DICE, December 18, 2008...

If you’re out of work, one of job-hunting’s trickiest aspects is explaining the circumstances surrounding your departure from your last position. It’s a sensitive subject - perhaps more sensitive to you than to any prospective employer in this day and age. So, it’s important not to let your emotions get the best of you. Some insight from The Wall Street Journal:

"When applying, avoid expressing bitterness or self-pity. Many layoff victims send cover letters that blame the economy for their job loss. There’s no need to even point out the fact that you’ve been laid off. “If your last work day was in October, your résumé will say that,” says Cynthia Shapiro, a career strategist in Woodland Hills, Calif. Plus, since so many workers have been handed pink slips in the past year, this information is unlikely to kill your candidacy upfront."

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