How to talk about being laid off
Tens of thousands of people have been laid off recently. In fact recent estimates suggest that over 100,000 people were laid off in the first quarter of 2023 alone. If you're among those affected and looking for a new job, this search comes with a fresh challenge: How do you talk about being laid off?
Layoffs are a wild ride. Shock, betrayal, rejection, shame, embarrassment...these are just some of the big emotions that come up. These can erode your confidence and bring uncertainty into your interviews with recruiters, HR reps, and hiring managers. When I coach people through layoffs and career transitions I hear things like:
"How do I talk about this?"
"What do I say if people ask why I left?"
How do I explain this?
So let's talk about how to talk about it.
It's about them, not you
Layoffs feel deeply personal. But here's the thing: It's actually about them — your former company.
Yes, your name ended up on a list, but that list was created as a solution to a company problem. Something wasn't going well for the business. The solution was to downsize.
It's about them, not about you.
This opens up a way to talk about it.
A simple approach
If you've been laid off, you may be dreading questions like...
Why did you leave?
Why are you looking for a new role?
What happened at <company name>?
Are these questions making you anxious? If so, here's a simple approach you can try the next time you face one of these questions:
The company was struggling with ___ and because of that they laid off a number of people, and unfortunately I was one of the people caught up in that.
Some examples
Let's look at a few examples. Here's a super simple one:
The company was struggling to reach profitability and because of that they laid off a number of people, and unfortunately I was one of the people caught up in that.
Here's one that gives a bit more of the surrounding context:
The company didn’t make its quarterly targets for a few consecutive quarters, and because of that they laid off a number of people to reduce costs. Unfortunately I was one of those people.
And here's one that's less about a business issue and more about organizational change:
The company was restructuring and because of that they laid off a number of people, and unfortunately I was one of the people caught up in that.
You can get more detailed if you have more details. For example you can include numbers if you know them:
The company grew too fast and because of this they decided to downsize and laid off 500 people. Unfortunately I was one of those people.
But no matter how you approach it, it's short and simple. It doesn’t need to be any more detailed than that.
Why this works
This approach works because it puts the event in its full context. In just a few words it explains:
The company faced a challenge
Their solution was to reduce headcount
You were just one of the people affected
Above all, it shows how the event was about them, not you.
Parting thoughts
Layoffs feel terrible and talking about them isn't easy. If you're struggling to figure out how to talk about one, try putting the event into context. It's really about the company. Put them at the center of your explanation. Explain the context. Make it more about them, less about you.
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Need help bouncing back from a layoff? Job search coaching can help you navigate the process with less struggle and more confidence. Reach out and let's talk.
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