I just had a job interview yesterday and my last job was elimated and I did not elaborate about this and it was not asked.

7 Comments

1. Lesa Edwards, Career Coach & Master Resume WriterMarch 25,2022 at 5:08PM UTC

   Sarah,

   I would leave it as is with this company - you've learned some valuable things about what you want to mention during interviews in the future.

2. Jill L. FergusonMarch 25,2022 at 5:28PM UTC

   I agree with Lesa on this and wouldn't send another e-mail.

3. AnonymousMarch 25,2022 at 5:36PM UTC

   You have a great I interview. Give them a chance to offer a 2nd interview and include these points in that interview.

4. SamanthaMarch 25,2022 at 5:37PM UTC

   I wouldn't follow-up, either they don't care, or they did and they don't want to hire you - it's a crappy learning experience.

   Also, I don't think everyone are fast learners - you could bring something totally better to the table than a fast learner does. Don't count yourself out! After a lot of interviewing, I've learned that you have to leave the interview as is and just move on. If they liked you, they'll let you know, if not, it wasn't the right job in the first place.

5. AnonymousMarch 25,2022 at 5:54PM UTC

   I can tell you from experience that it's perfectly okay to mention you took time off to be with an ill parent or child, especially when it's a situation like what you talked about in your post. If an interviewer is not willing to help you balance work with the challenges of life, you don't want to work there, but you will never know that unless you talk about it, even in passing.

   It seems that you are reluctant to tell interviewers more than just what you did in your jobs with out elaboration. I know from experience that they want/need to hear what you accomplishments were, how you problem-solved, how you got along with the people you work with. They need to hear things like your job being eliminated, so they know how you landed, and if that means you took time off to be with your mom (like I did) while re-evaluating what your next steps were, then they need to hear that as well.

   Now, that doesn't mean they need to know everything, but it does mean they need to hear what is relevant to your career and to the position they are recruiting for.

   If this is a job you want, wait to see what happens. If not, move to the next one. Be positive, be honest, stick to your experience. You'll be fine!

6. Heather CutlerMarch 25,2022 at 5:59PM UTC

   Don't answer unasked questions. I think as women we tend to over-explain thinking that this will buy us favor in some way. If the employer hasn't asked, they're either not interested or they're not placing much value on it.

   As far as the "what kind of learner are you" question? Embrace this opportunity for some self-reflection and think about how you'd answer a similar question in future interviews. Or expand on your current answer of learning in three different ways: I learn in these ways and it leads to...example, example, example. These are easy interview tweaks that can be implemented immediately.

   Best of luck to you.

7. Sarah Cleveland, SPHR, ACCMarch 25,2022 at 10:15PM UTC

   You don’t need to provide specific, personal details about why you left a job. If your role was eliminated, that is explanation enough. I would not send another email. It’s normal to go through in your head what you said, how you would have answered if you could go back, use that to make notes for future interviews. But no need to over-explain things.