February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Sometimes, you may have been left high and dry as a result of downsizing or the company going bankrupt. If that’s the case, say so briefly, but without embarrassment. It is also best to talk about your “position being eliminated” — this sounds less personal than saying “I was laid off.” Be extra careful if you were either fired from a previous job or left because you hated it. Your interviewer doesn’t want to hear you launch an attack on your previous employer. If you left of your own accord, you might say that the position wasn’t an ideal fit for your skills. If you were fired, say so — it’s unlikely you will get away with a flat-out lie. But try to give the impression that you have learnt from the experience.
ASK QUESTIONS YOU WANT ANSWERED
When the interviewer asks whether you have any questions, there is a natural tendency to try to impress him or her. While it’s certainly important to ask things that suggest you have some knowledge of the company, there are also presumably issues that you want to know more about for your own purposes. You might, for example, be concerned as to whether you will be expected to put in regular late nights at the office. If so, ask the interviewer what she/he expects in terms of additional working hours. Similarly, you might ask the interviewer what kind of people you will be working with. How she/he answers will reveal a lot about office morale.