How To Discuss Losing Your Job Or Furloughed In Your Interview

How To Discuss Losing Your Job Or Furloughed In Your Interview

You can still use this to your advantage. Losing a job just means that a role came to a close, not the end of a career.

Let’s look at ways to approach and also realise that we’re not robots, many of us have been put in situations we have never experienced before.

A question we have been asked on some occasions is if employers expect you to show evidence that you have done something constructive during furlough. Hannah Sills, head of permanent and specialist recruitment, looks at this from both sides. “If you can demonstrate a way that presents your own initiative and drive, that can help become your differentiator. You don’t have to focus on something that represents the industry you are within, but anything that shows your attitude, willingness and motivation. It can become a fantastic ice breaker if you have retrained, produced something creative, supported others, or produced something relatable (from cake making to writing).”

“However, let's not forget that it is perfectly ok to not demonstrate your resourcefulness and creativity during furlough. To many people, this has been the toughest period of their lives that they have struggled to get through. Employers need to be appreciative that it has been hard and extra pressure does not need to be put on candidates. Becoming a part of the flow of conversation is much better having it as a specific question.”

Rob Bruce, senior recruitment consultant, brings everything back to the relevance of the job interview you are in, “Always remember that the reason for the interview is for a prospective employer to know that you have the skills and application to do the job they are looking for. Being laid off is not as important as the fit you have with another business. Another aspect to remember is that thousands of people lost their jobs and if you see that an employer might have a small issue around losing a job and an effect on your attitude to work, demonstrate the energy and drive you will bring to the role.”

The role of the interview is to keep pace with what the interviewer wants to know and how you bring your personality and skills to the role. Once the question of furlough or losing a job has been answered, it is time to move on to the next question. An interview represents a conversation, not a deep dive into one aspect of your career.

From a candidate's point of view, turn the interview into your favour by always bringing the conversation back to the job you have applied for and how the future will be beneficial with your involvement in the business.