How to explain a job loss

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Cautious

Researcher in MI who wants to relocate

12/15/20 at 11:49PM UTC

Career

How to explain a job loss

So the Friday after Thanksgiving I applied for a new remote job in another state. I had a full time job, was working it remotely and had had it for just over three years. On December 2nd I heard back from them inviting me for a half hour phone interview, and they gave me three days and times to choose from. I picked one and wrote back. Crickets. On December 3rd I lost my job. I have worked in nonprofit fundraising for over 20 years and this is not the first time this has happened to me, but I always survive. Consequently I have gaps on my resume but I never give up and always found something. So I just today heard back from the perspective employer’s HR department explaing that they were busy with open enrollment and would I be available to talk W or Th. I am now in no position to tell them to bag it, but I am apprehensive that they could not have explained that sooner. But the bigger issue for me do I just come right out and say I did have a job when I applied but now I don’t? It just seems like it will look and sound so suspicious to them, but it is what it is.

16 Comments

BeaBoss979975

107

12/15/20 at 11:55PM UTC

What does your current employment status have to do with how you will perform for them? I see no reason to bring it up.

Jennie

Marketing Pioneer

12/16/20 at 12:17AM UTC

Sorry that you lost your job. The most important thing is that you have found one that you are interested in applying for. There are two things here. One is that they didn't get back to you when you said they would. I am not sure why you would tell them to bag it just because they have been slow to get back to you. One thing i've learned through my own job search is that you can't take things personally. Remember that the company is trying its best to do their work. Despite best intentions timelines slip, and in the case of HR I can see how end of open enrollment can take a lot of time. Of course if a company is acting inappropriately its fine to decide you don't want to work there, but I'd urge you to get an interview and see how you feel about the role and the company. The worst thing is you get some interviewing practice. The second question relates to gaps in employment. The best advice I can give is to prepare your answer in advance for each position. Don't go into lots of detail, do not be defensive, do not badmouth the old companies or your bosses. What the interviewer wants to know is a high level understanding of the gap (companies restructure all the time particularly during Covid), and that you've moved on and are looking forward, not backward. Good luck.

2 Replies

Wendy Dackson

162

Former academic, current office manager

12/18/20 at 2:50PM UTC

Having worked for church institutions, I can confidently say that in the nonprofit world, sometimes top performers lose their jobs precisely because they've outperformed slackers.

Caroline Lenher

Coach, Editor, Consultant

12/18/20 at 4:04PM UTC

I agree with all Jennie said and wanted to add that many companies use outside resources for their hiring, recruiters or even internal recruiting services that are not indicative of the company itself. So I agree, take the interview and go from there. It is really hard to not take these "hits" personally, but as Jennie said, they are nothing to do with you...recruiters are ticking boxes and trying to get through all the applications and internal communications around the hire. Go get em!

JYJ

1.33k

12/16/20 at 12:24AM UTC

Things happen. If it comes up, you say you were happily there for x amount of time, but recently parted ways. OR-You've been there for x amount of time and it's been a fantastic experience because of a, b, c.... don't bring it up unless you're specifically asked.

Anonymous

12/16/20 at 4:43AM UTC

Don't over think this. So you're now out of a job. So what? It's been a week. Where did you get the idea that you have to be on blast at this point in the process? If it is appropriate, relevant and/or is brought up then by all means share. But I don't see this company over-sharing. They didn't even follow up per their agreement so I doubt seriously that complete transparency comes into play here. The expectation is that there is a professional flow of events happening and things will unfold. Shit happens, schedule change and things slip. Don't over think it. Just be prepared for your call and expect the best outcome.

Peg Glover

608

12/16/20 at 5:11AM UTC

All of the above advice is spot on. First, just do the interview. Then figure out what comes next. Trust me HR is slammed between regular job duties, the magnitude of work due to COVID and open enrollment can be a long process. Give them some grace. Bur more importantly give yourself some grace. Losing a role hurts. I would say now more than ever people have gaps in employment. I have recruited for 30 years. Its how you approach that. What did you learn in the gaps. Did you get certifications, do grant work, volunteer....it all applies. As for telling them - I believe honesty is the cleanest process. How can they trust you if you bury the lead? This is also year end. Funding dries up and jobs are lost at the end of the year. Its a budgeting process. If you hit it head on it doesn't look suspicious but that you are acting from a place of integrity. I wish you the very best of luck!

Susie Kendis

Helping leaders out-perform against their goals

12/16/20 at 12:14PM UTC

Everyone is stretched so thin that their slow response shouldn't be a show-stopper. As for the job loss, I'd tell them honestly if they ask, and highlight how it's been a volatile industry and you've successfully navigated the ups and downs. All in all, interview practice is good, and you can ask questions to collect market research to help your continued search. Good luck!

Lesa Edwards

763

THE career expert for high achievers

12/16/20 at 1:02PM UTC

If they ask, you tell them. In your line of work, with a nonprofit especially, no one should question why you are out of work in 2020 - and it has absolutely no bearing on your qualifications for the new job. You've got this!

Anonymous

12/17/20 at 1:28PM UTC

Do the interview. And while you prepare, work on letting go of your irritation about the communication (because yes, it most definitely is coming through). As someone who's been in HR for nearly 30 years, I can tell you that open enrollment is a bitch. When you add the things that need to be done for that with all the regular job duties that don't stop just because it's OE, with the year end things that have to be done, AND add in that lots of people are probably taking vacation days so they don't lose them, sometimes, timely communication is the thing that gives. So, you can choose to hold a grudge or you can get over your pique and maybe get yourself a new job.

Anonymous

12/17/20 at 1:49PM UTC

Companies are hypocritical as they are the ones laying people off yet they feel the right to be judgmental about employment gaps. They need to drop their holier than thou trope and realize their part in this. Quit treating interviews like going to confession.

Cheryl Neas

102

12/17/20 at 3:24PM UTC

I am not surprised that the HR folks are busy this time of year but they do in general need to keep in mind that people who are job-seeking, even in a tough market like this one, use how they are treated as candidates as an indication of how they will be treated as employees. Slow response is one thing, asking people to hold time for you and then not connecting in time for them to be able to use it for something else, and then asking them to hold a DIFFERENT time, is another. That said, I agree with everyone else--do the interview. You were interested in the position before you were laid off, clearly, so all this change means is that you can probably be available sooner if you're the successful candidate.

Anonymous

12/18/20 at 1:29PM UTC

I would only bring it up in the interview if asked about it. These days, it's all too common to be laid off, unfortunately.

User edited comment on 12/18/20 at 1:40PM UTC

Anonymous

12/18/20 at 2:57PM UTC

Don't overthink it, I too, had applied for jobs when I had a job but I quit when companies started calling for interviews. One interview I only bring it up when they asked while another I didn't mentioned and both had no issues, I ended up getting the job with the company I didn't mentioned about I stopped working because by the time the other company called for final interview I had already accepted the first one. So it's not that big of a deal since most likely the last place you worked at will come up on background check so it's not like you lied about working there. I too was worry over how I will handle this so just focus on the skills you can bring to the table and not sweat over this small thing. Best of luck!!!

Anonymous

12/18/20 at 4:40PM UTC

Non profits are stretched thin and non responses are common at least from a volunteer point of view. As long as you are prepared for the interview then losing your other job is no big deal. Spin it right and putting your best foot forward should be sufficient. Personally when I interviewed and hired people and there was a delay I would try to communicate that to them. If you feel that slow responses become a red flag then move on.

Anonymous

12/19/20 at 2:19PM UTC

Sorry to hear that you lost your job, but it's great that you already have an interview prospect. With respect to telling this new company that you aren't working, it will likely come up naturally in the interview - they are likely to say something like, "So, you have been with X for [this long]..." or "How much notice would you be required to give at X...", etc. At which point you can tell them that you are no longer there. It might even give you a bit of an advantage since presumably you could start right away. As others have said, in this environment a job loss isn't surprising.