Redundancy- tell new employer in application form or interview?

Dave1216

My partner has just been made redundant (staff cut backs) and has been looking for a new job. For her last interview, she was honest and said she was currently unemployed as she had been made redundant. Unfortunately she felt this had a negative affect on her application as there is some stigma attached to being unemployed. The interview seemed to turn sour after mentioning it.

She has just received another interview for a different job and is unsure whether to imply she is still employed or whether to risk the interviewers not being interested if they think she is currently not working.

She is looking for a very specific professional job and the vacancies are difficult to come by. She is worried that if she implies she is still working this may catch her out in the future.

Any thoughts?

Fran

I can't see any advantage in lying at the interview, they may ask for references and what skills she has from her "present" job etc. Plenty of people are unemployed between jobs so I would think she's better off being truthful.

paint

How about something along the lines of "I was happy in my previous role, but also seeking a new challenge. When the opportunity arose to apply for voluntary redundancy with my previous employer I did so and was succesful in that. This has given me the opportunity to focus my energies on establishing longer term career goals; and to seek out employers and roles which match my skills and career aspirations". Or something like that. A bit of positive spin. Good luck.

Claudie

I think Paint has said it very well indeed. It is also good to remember that it was the job that was made redundant, not the person.

There is a terrific book Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions for interview practice. The book gives quite a few scenarios and helps you plan a confident, positive answer. Even if you are good at interviews, the practice is really worthwhile.

Good luck

May

I was made redundant last year after 5 years in a job. As I knew in September that my job would be redundant by December, I chose to look for jobs. Upon the interviewer querying my reasons for leaving, I advised them of the redundancy and that I chosen this opportunity to look for a new job that offered a new challenge.

I studied the person specifications as well, detailing on applications and in interviews how my previous experience matched the skills required for the advertised post that I was applying for.

Good luck.

Debt_Free_Chick

Paint & Claudie have it spot on! What future employers pick up on is how you communicate it and whether or not they think you have been "tarnished" by the experience. Many who are made redundant can become very bitter about the whole experience and project a negative attitude. All too often this translates to a negative or bad attitude in a new job.

Your partner needs to practice communicating the redundancy in a way that sounds positive and as if he's complete moved on. He must be confident and not feel shy about describing the redudancy. No need to go over the top but he musn't behave as though he thinks the interviewer will stigmatise him

HTH

Dave1216

Thanks all for the above. She did feel rather let down by the situation. Claudie, it really cheered her up to realise it was the position being made redunant - not her.

She will defiently tell them the truth - with positive spin!

The book recommended will shortly be purchased from Amazon.

Debt_Free_Chick: My partner is a she!

Thanks again,
Dave

Claudie

Glad she is feeling a bit more positive - redundancy can really take it out of you.

And that book is superb....everyone I know who has really taken it on board has found it helpful and more importantly - found a job

Let us know how she gets on.