I was thrilled when an editor from The New Yorker magazine requested an interview based on my book, Losing Your Job & Finding Yourself: Memoirs, Myths, and Methods for Inventive Career Transitions. In Who? Me, Impeached?, the editor’s angle is how Donald Trump could handle his résumé after being impeached. This post addresses Q&As for any job seeker who needs to work around career trouble spots for job applications, résumés, and interviews.
Q: How should you deal with a black mark on your résumé, such as being fired, laid off, or failing a class that tanks your GPA? Should you open a job interview with it or wait until you’re asked about a professional regret? How do you put a positive spin on it?
A: The purpose of your application and résumé is to land an interview. They must be the truth, but not the whole truth of everything that’s happened in your career.
Conduct yourself like a witness for the defense in a lawsuit. Answer questions truthfully but avoid unnecessary elaboration. Never volunteer information about trouble spots you haven’t been asked to explain.
For example:
Why did you leave each job (especially if fired or laid off)?
- For applications, say you sought or accepted a new opportunity.
- For interviews, craft a true statement in advance that allows you to control the conversation and keep it positive. Such statements are known as departure, exit, or bridge statements.
- Start with a factual statement of what happened followed by one or two positive statements about what you gained from the experience and how you moved forward.
- If laid off, “There was a major reorganization and/or 100 jobs were eliminated.”
- If fired, never use the word “fired.” Say something like “The job was no longer a fit with my skills or interests, so it was time to make a change.”
- For both scenarios, “I had a great 10-year run and expanded my skills in many directions. I took the opportunity to step back and figure out where I want to go next.”
- Don’t say anything negative about your former boss or company and end your statement on a positive note.
- Since pervasive layoffs began in with The Great Recession in 2008 – 2009, many mid- to late-career job seekers have been laid off—at least once. If you use an effective departure statement, most interviewers move on without skipping a beat.
Why are there time gaps in your work history?
- Close gaps with consulting and/or volunteer work you’ve done. It’s not necessary to distinguish paid vs. unpaid projects.
- Omit gaps between jobs by including years of service without months.
Why did a job last less than a year?
- Don’t include hiring mistakes on your applications or résumé. A job that didn’t work out need not be part of your written or oral story.
How can you age proof your résumé?
- Unless you’re a fresh graduate, don’t include years with your education.
- Don’t include more than 20 years of work history unless earlier jobs demonstrate your fit for the jobs you’re pursuing. Going back only 15-20 years can help you get through automated or other initial screening steps.
Why is your GPA low?
- This is relevant only for students and recent graduates. Once you’ve had one professional job, move your education to the bottom of your résumé and omit your GPA unless it’s stellar.
- If your overall GPA is low, show a higher GPA for your major or a subset of courses.
- If every option is low, consider not showing a GPA. If asked, you can provide context around one or two classes that made the overall GPA lower.
Q: How should you answer a question about your biggest regret, failure, or mistake?
A: Talk about a situation that caused you to learn, improve, or grow. Choose something related to the job you’re interviewing for to demonstrate a new capability you gained, or something unrelated and inconsequential. Keep it short and positive.
Q: How should you handle a job search after being fired or laid off? Can you continue looking in the same field or do you need to make a change?
A: Whether fired or laid off, do some candid assessment and soul searching about what happened and what you can learn from it to take into your next role.
For example:
Did you get fired or laid off because of a skills gap, such as getting behind on critical technology?
If you’re receiving unemployment compensation, pursue state-funded training grants (e.g. through a local CareerLink office). Many states partner with training organizations that offer a wide range of computer courses, project management, business writing, etc.
Take advantage of free online technology classes. Check out Google Analytics Academy for free certifications; W3schools.com for free courses such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript; and HubSpot Academy for free digital marketing certifications. Also see LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com).
Are there other reasons you didn’t have a seat at the end of this round of musical chairs?
If leadership or interpersonal glitches got in your way, consider taking a course or hiring a coach.
If you’re unhappy in your line of work and thinking about making a change, engage a career coach to assess your situation, identify transferable skills, and repackage yourself to pursue a new career direction. Losing Your Job & Finding Yourself addresses how to tell a credible story of what you’ve done, creatively positioned for what you want to do next.
Do you want to find another job like the one you left?
Assess your situation and go for it! Losing Your Job & Finding Yourself provides practical guidance on how to conduct a successful job search in the digital age.
Q: If you were fired or laid off, should you expect a pay cut in your next job or is it possible to get a higher salary?
A: Being fired or laid off should have no effect on your next salary. Your salary history is irrelevant and nobody’s business. Your desired salary range is the only relevant conversation to have with prospective employers. Before providing your range, research salaries for similar jobs in your geographic area. When asked for your salary range or requirement ask for their range for the position before giving a number. Like any negotiation, the person who says the first number loses.
Q: Can you provide tips for how to deal with a transitional period—especially how to deal with it emotionally?
A: Expect your job search to take time. A good rule of thumb is one month for every $10k in base salary. Start by making family and financial adjustments as needed to weather the storm.
A job search can be a full-time job, but it’s also an opportunity to enjoy free time and flexibility in your schedule. You don’t want to look back and wonder why you didn’t take advantage of that time to take better care of yourself and enjoy things you haven’t had time for while working.
Losing your job is a golden opportunity to step back and think about what you want to do next. It’s a great time to make a change if you were unhappy or not well suited to your last job. Take full advantage of any severance, subsidized COBRA, unemployment compensation, and outplacement services at your disposal.
As described in Losing Your Job & Finding Yourself, use a balanced approach in your job search: Superior Marketing Materials (Résumé and LinkedIn) + Online Job Search Platforms (Indeed and LinkedIn) + Networking with Purpose.
The myth that 80 – 90% of jobs are never advertised is rooted in the pre-digital age and long overdue for extinction. With the internet, at least 40% of jobs are filled via online channels. One caveat is the higher you go on the corporate ladder, landing your next job will likely entail more networking and executive recruiters than online searches. That said, don’t discount the fact that you will find many attractive VP-level jobs online.
Finally, attend local career transition meetings and professional networking events. You’ll gain comfort in knowing you’re not alone and access to valuable speakers and other job search resources. Maximize the value of outplacement services or hire a career coach. Seek therapy if you’re depressed and/or anxious and support from family and friends is not enough.
I hope this has given you ideas and actions to apply during your transition, and I wish you a safe landing!