Interview Answers for Tough Questions - What To Say If You've Been Fired, Laid Off, Or Out Of Work

By Don Georgevich
 

Job interview questions are impossible to answer when you feel angry about being fired, guilty about being laid off, or depressed about being out of work. Your emotions are going to work against you in the job interview.

The best thing to do is keep a clear head and have some prepared answers!

We all know that the unemployment rate is soaring, and it's true that layoffs are common, but it doesn't seem so common when it happens to you. You probably feel like you have a lot of explaining to do.

You have to explain why you were fired. You have to explain why you were the one laid off in your department. You have to explain why it's taking you so long to find work. You have to explain why there is a gap in your resume.

The best way to explain your situation in a job interview with a potential employer is to be honest, but brief.

Did I mention brief? Brief is the key. Rambling on and on will get you in trouble. You'll get tongue-tied and say the wrong thing. Rambling is a beacon to your interviewer that you are hiding something.

And there's really nothing to hide. Just explain yourself clearly, be honest, be brief, and be prepared with the best answer.

Land of Opportunity

This week we celebrated Columbus Day, a day of opportunity.

It was on October 12, 1492 that Columbus first set foot on what would become The Americas, giving way to many countries including America, the Land of Opportunity.
The great American inventor Thomas Edison said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."

In today's the job market, it might seem very hard to find opportunities especially if you don't know how or where to look. Many Fortune 1000 Companies are not posting their job opportunities publicly, you have to work smarter to find them.  Once you find them, you need to know how to get your resume in front right people.

Luckily, there are tools and other networking sites help you work smarter to find job opportunities and ultimately their decision makers.  It is up to you to utilize them, because most people wont.

The United States of America is still the Land of Opportunity and Thomas Edison is still right.

Cheers,
Mike

Avoiding the Resume Black Hole

Astoundingly, 75% Resumes are Overlooked

If you are like most people you have applied to and uploaded resumes for dozens of jobs and heard nothing back.  This is generally referred to as the "Resume Black Hole".  But don't lose hope, there is a solution.

The root of the "Resume Black Hole" problem is a piece of technology called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS).  The ATS was designed to streamline the flow of applicants for companies.  This is accomplished by having a central place where all applications and resumes are warehoused.  If you are applying to jobs online and uploading your resume it is surely landing in an ATS.

Interviewing and Credit

Image by Casey Serin via Flickr

We talk to thousands of job seekers every week and we hear first hand how the economy has impacted them directly.  Most of us know people who have been hit really hard.  This is why I was floored when I came across a recent article by Lisa Pulliam Weston who writes for MSN Money and The Los Angeles Times.

She writes, "Many employers -- including the federal government -- routinely scour credit reports on current and prospective employees to help decide who's hired or fired."  So regardless of your desire to find a public or private sector job, most companies are using your report as factor prior to making a job offer.

** Update:  Some states are considering banning this practice.   As of now it is still legal and a matter of practice at most companies.

Companies and the federal government routinely check credit but this recent downturn in the economy has made maintaining a positive credit score more difficult. The Society for Human Resource Management reports 35% of companies pulled credit on current or potential employees last year, up from 19% in 1996.

Most people think their credit will not be a problem, however, credit files can contain correctable errors.  Employers are looking for severe marks on your credit history and will generally overlook a few late payments.

Not knowing what is on your credit file is a gamble you should not take. There are many steps you can take to improve your credit and remove items that are old or not accurate.  It all starts with knowing what your credit looks like. Mrs. Pulliam suggests checking your credit a few times a year.

Cheers,
Mike

Now is the Time To Get a More Prestigious Job

More job seekers get new and better jobs in the first few months of the year than at any other time of the year.

You may be pleased to learn that the first few months of the year are typically the months where qualified professionals most often "move up" in terms of the prestige level of their jobs. Now, before we get too far into 2010, is a once-a-year opportunity that will be over before you know it.

As I am sure you are aware, the job market has been improving a great deal since the beginning of the year and thousands of peoples have "moved up" and found great positions-even those who were formerly happily employed in other jobs.

Every year after the first few months of the year I hear a surprising number of success stories:

• A large number of people "moving up" from small to larger employers with greater benefits, prospects and salaries;
  
• People getting jobs in their dream cities;
  
• People finding their dream job with one or more of the following: fewer hours, a better work environment and more interesting work.
  
  

What Can We Learn From Marc Cenedella, The Founder of TheLadders.com

Announcing a new event where Marc Cenedella, The Founder of TheLadders.com, will be joining us to discuss entrepreneurship. TheLadders.com is the world's leading and largest online marketplace for $100K+ jobs and $100K+ job seekers. It's also the 3rd largest job searching site after Careerbuilder and Monster. TheLadders.com has received numerous accolades including the 2009 Webby Award for Best Employment Website, 2009 Best Companies to Work for New York, 2009 Silicon Alley Award - Most Likely to be Worth $1 Billion and "Best of the Web" designations by BusinessWeek and Forbes.

You Need to Bring a Singular Focus to Everything You Do

Career Tip of the Week

Those who do one thing well are more valuable and wanted than those who can do many things not so well. This is what separates those who make the biggest impact from all the others who are just as smart. Any person or group of people who achieve greatness in any calling generally do one thing in the best possible way. Bring a singular focus to your job search and do what you do as well as it possible can be done.

FREE Interactive Job-Seeker Webinar: Finding the Unadvertised Job using Social & Professional Networks

The recent proliferation of social and professional networking websites has added a complex new dimension to the job search process. During this webinar, Bob Larson, CPC, President of Berman Larson Kane, former Chairperson of the National Association of Personnel Services and author of the book " Aim, Shoot, Get Hired" will compare the most popular sites and discuss the job search possibilities these sites offer. If you're confused by invitations to join a group on LinkedIn, or to connect to a "friend" on Facebook, we'll show you why you should consider saying "Yes" to these invitations, and how these sites can play an important role in your quest for employment.

Be Ready to Take Risks

Career Tip of the Week

Are you stuck in a job which is not satisfying? Many employees hate their present jobs, but they stick to them because they feel changing jobs is tremendously risky for their careers. But remember: To grow in life, one needs to explore opportunities and be positive. So, take risks and get going!

The Buzz: April at Freelancers Union

Get Paid, Not Played!
Have you ever had trouble getting a client to pay? Over 77% of freelancers have, so we’ve launched a new web page dedicated to the effort to pass legislation protecting independent workers from deadbeat companies. Add your name to the campaign, and join us on our April 12 strategy phone call as we take the campaign to the next level!

Health Care Reform and You
The bill is signed into law, but how does it affect independent workers? Founder and Executive Director Sara Horowitz answers your questions about how health care reform affects you and speaks to Fox Business about how the new law helps freelancers and about what steps still need to be taken.

NYC Entrepreneurs Networking Reception at Pulse

Announcing a new meetup at Pulse Restaurant and Bar. The venue will be private for NYEBN members from 6 - 10 PM. The venue overlooks the entire Rockefeller Plaza. The event is made free for all NYEBN members on the RSVP list. To support our venue partners, you're supposed to get one drink minimum per person. Please check out the following details before you RSVP


1. Venue

Pulse is a unique restaurant that overlooks Rockefeller Plaza, a bar and cafe area where everyone can relax and grab a drink. Pulse is a great space if you are planning to surprise your partner with a romantic dinner or just looking for a fine dining restaurant with a friendly atmosphere and amazing views. Among other things the private event space is utilized to celebrate any special occasion such as company parties, corporate functions, birthdays, graduations and more. In either setting, Pulse staff is dedicated to providing an upscale experience with superb service to ensure that every detail is perfect. To check out their website, go to pulse-restaurant.com

Organize to End Unpaid Wages

Ever had trouble getting a client to pay?
Tomorrow and next week we're having meetings to organize freelancers against unpaid wages.
Over 77% of our members have had payment delayed or denied within the last year. That needs to stop—but we need your help to end it.
Join us at our upcoming Unpaid Wages Organizing Meeting in your neighborhood.

Rockland Co. Event- April 1st
Westchester Co. Event- April 6th
Nassau Co. Event- April 7th
Suffolk Co. and Upstate Webinar- April 8th

Together we can hold companies' feet to the fire.

RSVP to your local meeting today.

Let's get paid,

Explore Career Options

Career Tip of the Week

Match your identified skills with available career options and see where you fit best. One of the best ways can be trying out intended jobs through internships, part-time work, summer jobs, or volunteer job options.

Digital Media Event: An Evening with Marketers, Entrepreneurs, & Tech Geeks

Announcing NYEBN's 1st digital media networking event. We host this type of event because there is a large demand for it. The event is meant to be free, but we need your commitment for it. Here is how it works:

1. PayPal Payment/Refund
A small fee of $5 needs to be deposited in order to RSVP for the event. We will refund you the $5 fee if you do the following:
A. Show up at the event yourself
B. Drop your business card in the bucket
C. Write your PayPal email address on the back of your card
If you do not pay in advance via PayPal, it's $10 at the door for admission.

2. Attendees
Please note this is not a pitching type of event. Instead, we are creating an environment where you can connect with the right people in the media and tech industries to assist you with your businesses. Let's keep the discussion focused on digital media only for this type of event. If you fall into any of the following categories, you should come:

Avoiding the Resume Black Hole

Astoundingly, 75% Resumes are Overlooked?

If you are like most people you have applied to and uploaded resumes for dozens of jobs and heard nothing back.  This is generally referred to as the "Resume Black Hole".

If you do not know how to beat the Resume Black Hole chances are your resume can be overlooked.  The root of the "Resume Black Hole" problem is a piece of technology called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS).  The ATS was designed to streamline the flow of applicants for companies.  This is accomplished by having a central place where all applications and resumes are warehoused.  (Climber.com helps solve this,  please continue on.)

To further compound the issue, ATS's are only 65% to 80% accurate in reading the information in your resume. This means that one-fifth to one-third of the time the ATS is just plain wrong in importing data wholly and properly into the ATS.  If your resume makes this cut, the ATS then screens and ranks your resume against open positions.

Next, resumes that pass the ATS screen are generally sent to a gatekeeper who spends about 30 seconds reading the resume before they decide to move it along to the Recruiter or Hiring Manager or pass it along to the trash can.  About 1 in 10 resumes are passed along to the decision maker who decides if you will be interviewed.

Here are a few more tips:

   1) Job Fit: Make sure the job fits.  Especially in today's tough job environment, it is even more important to make sure that you have the skills and background required for the job.

   2) Join other networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter:  Each offer tools to interact with recruiters and hiring managers.  These are great ways to start open dialogs and ask for a recruiters assistance in routing your resume.

Cheers and good luck in your career,
Mike

NYEBN Seminar: How To Get The Most Out Of Online Marketing

Announcing a new event featuring Gabriel Shaoolian, the founder of Blue Fountain Media, and Ellen DePasquale, The Software Revitalist. They are both well-known speakers and sought-after entrepreneurs in NYC. Scroll down to read their bios. This seminar is focused on giving value and getting you familiar with internet marketing.

Here is a glimpse of the meeting agenda:
6:00 - 6:30 PM: Registration and informal networking
6:30 - 7:00 PM: Getting the most value out of your website (Gabriel Shaoolian)

Details:
~ Features that create better usability – visitors can find what they are looking for
~ Easy navigation
~ Increase conversions
~ Strategies to increase new and returning visitors
~ Create brand royalty
7:00 - 7:30 PM: How to market efficiently online (Gabriel Shaoolian)

Details:
~ Forms of online marketing
~ Search engine marketing
~ Social media marketing
~ Bringing qualified traffic to your site at low cost per visitor
~ How to measure the results
7:30 - 7:45 PM: Q&A for Gabriel Shaoolian
7:45 - 8:45 PM: Prospecting in the Digital Age (Ellen DePasquale)

Plan out your career before doing anything

Career Tip of the Week


You need a plan for your overall life and career that you are seeking to accomplish. People without an overall strategy for their goals never rise very high. Set a strategy for both your personal as well as professional objectives

The Holidays Are the Best Time to Search for a Job

Career Tip of the Week

Searching for a job and applying for the same should be intensely calculated activities in your career. You should critically analyze the factors that would help you in getting hired. The holiday season is one of the best times to apply for a job and get interviewed. There is less competition, employers are in a happier disposition, there is less pressure of work on their shoulders, the temperament is more tilted towards giving than taking, and the basic mood prevailing is one of sharing, kindness and empathy. This should hence be seen as the best opportunity to get hired.

Continue the Communication Process

Job Tip of the Week

A little-known job search secret is that a significant percentage of people get jobs each year using non-traditional methods to communicate with potential employers. Communication is key. Once you interview with a company-or even send in a resume-you do not have much to lose by communicating further. For example, calling before sending a resume is a great way to get the employer’s attention. Calling after an interview to reaffirm your interest is another great way to get an employer’s attention. Making sure you remain on the employer’s radar with a series of notes (even if you end up getting the job six months from now) also helps a lot.

10 Secrets for Searching for a Job During a Recession

Focusing your efforts on jobs in growing industries and demonstrating how your work has generated revenue are just two simple ways to distinguish yourself from the rest of the job seekers competing for positions in a down economy. 

If you're tired of struggling to find a job and don't want an economic slowdown to hurt your chances of landing a new one, follow the best practices outlined in this story for conducting a job search when times are tight.