Job interviews can be difficult, even at the best of times. You’re in an unfamiliar environment. You’re nervous. You’re trying to make a good impression. Now, throw into the mix the fact that you’ve recently been laid off from your job, and you have a recipe for a potential interview disaster.

Being laid off is never an ideal situation to find yourself in. And it goes without saying that it needs to be handled with caution in a job interview. But don’t let questions about losing your job catch you off guard. The best strategy is to be ready to speak comfortably and calmly about the situation.

Below are two interview questions that employees who have been laid off should always expect to answer in a job interview.

“Can you explain why you were laid off?”

It’s highly unlikely that this question won’t come up at some point in your interview. So you might as well prepare yourself to answer it honestly. Lay offs are often the result of things entirely outside of your control, such as budget cuts or downsizing. If this is the case, simply tell your interviewer the truth.

Explain the situation at your past workplace – as you understand it – and clearly let them know when and how you were laid off. If you feel insecure giving details surrounding your lay off, this may also be a good opportunity to let your interviewer know that even though you were laid off, you have references who can attest to your qualifications, skills, and value in the workplace.

“What about since then? What have you been doing since your lay off?”

Job searching can take time. Particularly when employees are searching for jobs on their own, it can sometimes take weeks – if not months – before a new job is secured. If you’ve been laid off, this means you may be out of work for a while.

If your interviewer asks about how you’ve been spending your time since your lay off, be sure to note all of the ways in which you’ve been searching for work and/or interviewing with different organizations. You may also want to discuss any additional certifications you’ve looked into, research you’ve done, or any volunteer experience you’ve gained – in or outside your field. Make sure that your interviewer knows that you’ve been productive during your time out of work.

Looking to learn more about interviewing for a job? If so, contact HCR today. We are a leading GTA and Southwestern Ontario employment agency with offices in Toronto, Newmarket, Milton, and St. Thomas.