A lot of contingent and temporary workers struggle when it comes to answering questions about a previous lay-off or termination from a job. This is especially true when it comes to individuals who have large career gaps or a series of short-term assignments. Whatever your exact case may be, it’s important that you are ready and prepared to answer such an important question…

Be Honest

Just like with every other aspect of your resume and career, it’s important to be honest when responding to an interviewer or hiring manager. Never make something up or tell a flat-out lie, as your body language is bound to give you away (or you will get caught in the lie down the road). Remember, many interviewers and hiring managers are trained to pick up on such things. Especially if you are interested in applying with Automation Personnel Services, Inc. as honesty is a core value that we look for in an employee.  At Automation Personnel Services, we encourage all applicants to give complete, honest responses during the application process.  We understand that some employment gaps are unavoidable and we can help you succeed in your job search if you give us your complete employment history.

Address Any Career Gaps

Once you’ve explained the reason for your most recent lay-off or departure, it’s time to start addressing any gaps in your resume. If there are multiple gaps, you may have to explain the reason for departure with your other positions.   Make sure that you can account for all employment gaps that are listed.  Changing your hire or departure dates to bridge a gap is NEVER a good idea!  Employment dates are easily verifiable and some employers will run a check to confirm this information.

In any case, try to fill these gaps with worthwhile activities, specialized training or higher education. If you spent this time volunteering for the community or pursuing your education, for example, don’t hesitate to point this out. Apart from simply filling in a gap, this kind of experience can actually benefit your resume and career. 

Positively Explain What You’ve Learned

Whether you invested your time off toward a worthwhile cause or not, it’s important to explain to an interviewer or hiring manager what you’ve learned following your most recent lay-off. This can be something that you learned from your previous employer and the entire process of being laid off or even something that you learned while you were away from the workforce. Either way, demonstrating how you’ve been able to turn a lay-off into a positive learning experience can work wonders for highlighting your self-motivation, determination and willingness to better yourself.

Avoid Negativity

No matter what the details are surrounding a lay-off or termination, you should never talk negatively about a former employer or manager. Not only does this come off as unprofessional on your part, it also eats up precious interview time that would be better spent discussing your skills, achievements and qualifications for the job at hand.

Share References

Finally, make sure to leave the interviewer or hiring manager with a comprehensive list of both professional and personal references for them to verify. Positive references can go a long way in counteracting a career that is full of gaps or temporary assignments, but they can also serve to underscore your achievements and skills.

Utilizing past managers or employers as professional references can have an even greater effect, especially when you’ve been laid off from your last position. This gives your current interviewer the chance to speak with your previous supervisor in a private, one-on-one session, where they’ll be able to find out for themselves if a previous lay-off was a fault of your own or something that was completely beyond your control.

Automation Will Find You Your Next Job

A leader in light industrial staffing, we feature jobs to meet customer needs in warehousing, manufacturing and more. If you are ready to take the next step in your career, contact your local Automation Personnel Services branch to speak with one of our qualified Staffing Coordinators.  We are proud to be one of the largest staffing firms in the US and have a variety of clients looking for qualified, energetic workers to fill key positions!