If you are interviewing for a job and have been laid off or fired you probably will be dreading the “why did you leave your last job?” question.  Though depending on the circumstances there may be no need to fear the question at all.

Firstly, it is important to differentiate between both being fired and being laid off.

Being laid off is often beyond the employee’s control, it can occur due to market forces, a downturn in the employer’s economic outlook and many other reasons so, in most cases, no blame can be aimed in the employee’s direction.

There are a number of reasons why someone can get fired including misconduct, excessive absenteeism, weak performance in his/her role and many more reasons. The tips outlined below should help you craft an answer that suits your scenario.

                                                                                                                                                   If You Have Been Laid Off

 1) Explain the honest reasoning why you were laid off and be sure to make the interviewer aware that it wasn’t just you, your department was laid off also for example.
                                                                                                                                                    2) As part of your answer describe that it was disappointing given that in your previous 10 years (for example) professional experience you have never faced the situation before.

3) Express that you have overcome the disappointment and are now eagerly looking forward to a new challenge.

                                                                                                                                                       If You Have Been Fired

1) Describe the reason why you were fired before going on to explain how you have learned from your mistake and are now older and wiser.

2) Mention how your failure in your previous job has made you even more determined to be a success in your next job.

3) Be honest never try to blame anyone else for past mistakes as this will make you come across as a bitter ex-employee and that is not good.

                                                                                                                                             Don’t bring the subject up unless the interviewer does, as there is a slight chance that the question about why you left your last job may not even be asked.  Prepare for it regardless as in most probability you will be asked it and by answering the question correctly you will have overcome a significant hurdle in your quest for interview success.

A behavioral job interview is an interview wherein the employer uses past behavior as a baromoter to possible future success of the interviewee. In this type of interview your answers need to focus on specific examples in order to demonstrate to the employer that you are a suitable candidate for the position.

Behavioral interview questions are usually open-ended in order to allow the interviewee provide extended answers rather than yes/ no answers. This type of interview differs from situational interviews as a situational interview usually seeks answers to hypothetical questions whereas a behavioral interview seeks answers based on past performance.

Example behavioral interview questions.

• Describe a problem you encountered in your last job, how did you overcome it?
• Summarize a situation where you had to demonstrate ability to use your own initiative, how did you do this?
• Demonstrate an example where you had to use your leadership skills.
• Have you ever had to work with a colleague or client with whom you had a difficult relationship?
• Provide an example of when your communication skills were used effectively in a work situation.
• What factors do you take into account when making important decisions?
• Describe a situation where you were put under extreme pressure, how did you handle the pressure?

Open-ended questions offer a great way for candidates to showcase their ability to potential employers through descriptive responses so ensure you know your resume inside out and provide examples to boost your chances of job success.

3 Sample Situational Interview Questions And Example Answers.

In a situational job interview, questions are asked based on hypothetical situations in order to ascertain how a job applicant would react should such a scenario arise. The questions often begin with phrases like “How would you react…?” or “What would you do…?” or “How would you handle…?”. The ability to think on your feet and to remain calm under pressure are key in this type of job interview.

 1.  How do you react to pressure?

I enjoy the challenge of working under pressure, the sense of accomplishment can be very rewarding. Through good management and work practices I try to avoid a situation becoming pressurized.

2.  How would handle delivering bad news to colleagues?

Laying off colleagues is a never a nice thing to do, however the ability to do so in an emotionless manner is a fundamental aspect of any supervisors role. I faced a task in my previous job where I had to tell a colleague, who was also a friend, that due to downsizing his job was being made redundant. I explained to him the unfortunate reasoning as to why the job was no longer needed, despite his disappointment he understood and we remain friends to this day.

3.  How would you react to indecision between team members?

I would reiterate the importance of coming up with a solution in a timely manner. I would listen to any questions or queries between colleagues and provide solutions to those queries.  My goal would be to repair any conflict between colleagues to ensure that work is carried out effectively,with the group working in unison and well within deadline timelines.

Situational interviews allow you to prove to employers that you have the ability to handle the most difficult of scenarios.  A confident situational interview will help ensure you stay ahead of other job seekers in the search for employment.

Funny Job Interview Answers

Since my blog was launched back in April, I have focused on providing serious tips and strategies to help improve resumes and interview skills today we take a break from the serious stuff and have a lighthearted look at some of the funniest, sharpest, wittiest interview answers I have received over the years.

A job interview is not usually the time for jokes and humor but depending on how the interview is going, and how the general flow of conversation progresses, deadpan humor can work well in helping to personalize your job application and in creating a bond with the interviewer.

Q. Describe a poor business decision that you’ve made?

A. Would dating the boss’s daughter count? (in this example the guy was actually dating his boss’s daughter, in fact they are now a happily married couple.)

Q. Why did you leave your previous employer?

A. More than likely for the same reasons you left your previous employer! (not recommended but had me laughing at the time.)

Q.  How would you describe yourself in 5 words?

A. Tall, chubby, enthusiastic, honest and unemployed.

Q. If successful could you come back tomorrow for a mandatory medical test?

A.  Tomorrow? No I’d need more time to study for it.

It should be noted on each of the above occasions, the interviewee then said, “No seriously….” and gave a proper answer. The general rule of thumb is not to initiate humor during an employment interview however don’t be afraid to let your natural personality shine through should the situation arise during your interview.

Five Types Of Job Interviews.

There are a number of types of job interviews, however no matter how varied these interviews may be, each share the same goal in mind, to find out whether you are the right person to fill the vacant position. Today we look at 5 of the most common interview types and what you can expect to face within them.

1. Behavioral Interviews.

Behavioral interviews are interviews wherein the interviewer will probe your past in order to assess your suitability for the role. Common questions in this type of interview include;

Give me an example where you overcame a difficult situation in work?

Provide an example of when you had to complete a project within a strict deadline?

2. Panel Interviews.

Panel interviews as the name suggests is when your interview is not one-on-one as is the norm but rather an interview with a small group of people, usually from different areas within the company. In this instance you can expect a Recruiter, HR Manager, and the person to whom the role reports to, to be in attendance.

3. Telephone Interviews.

Telephone interviews take place for a couple of reasons, firstly as a screening interview to weed out unqualified candidates and secondly, if the applicant lives in a different state or country telephone interviews offer a chance to assess their suitability before having them travel all the way to the office for an interview.

4. Stress Interviews.

The aim of a stress interview is to challenge the applicant and see how he/she reacts under pressure. Your qualifications or suitability for the role may be doubted by the interviewer in order to see your reaction and ability to cope when put on the spot.

5. Situational Interviews.

Situational interviews are along the same lines as a behavioral interview expect rather than “Give me an example of how…” the questions are related to how you would propose solutions to possible scenarios such as “How would you react to…”

No matter what job you are being interviewed for, to be the best qualified candidate, be prepared for questions that fit into each of the interview categories and then provide a confident interview that will be the springboard to interview success.

5 Cliches To Avoid During A Job Interview

Knowing what to say and what not say in a job interview is important so it is key that you do not provide tired old cliches that you can bet the interviewer hears time and time again. The fear of having the interviewer think you have not prepared correctly and are on auto-pilot in effect will have a damaging effect on your interview success-rate so with that in mind let us look at 5 of the most oft-used cliches used in interviews.

1. At the end of the day.

Sporting heroes are to blame for this overused cliche, but you are in an interview so omit it from your vocabulary for the duration of your discussions.

2. I’m task-oriented (or multi-tasked).

Stating the obvious will do you no favors when being interviewed so choose different expressions that reflect on the specific tasks that are related to the interview.

3. I think outside the box.

In business-speak terms this phrase is up there with the most annoyingly common cliches used in interviews. You will be better served providing examples of how you dealt with certain situations that prove you have the know-how to get things done.

4. My resume speaks for itself

No matter how qualified you think you are displaying cockiness will harm your chances of getting the job. The interviewer will have read your resume and knows exactly what is in it so use the interview as a chance to sell yourself, your strengths and your personality not your resume.

5. This is a company I really admire.

The recruiter will think “I bet he/her says that about every company when interviewing” instead provide a reason/example of why it is a company you admire otherwise don’t mention it at all.

A proactive, vibrant interview will do your chances of getting a job the world of good, so eradicate these annoying cliches from you vocabulary and look forward to interview joy.