I was laid off a few months back and I had some health issues after that. Long story short, I am ready to join the workforce now and I was contacted by a recruiter (she's also recommended by a good friend). Anyhow, should I tell her that I was laid off, is there some kind of stigma associated with it or would it be better not to talk about? I am not even sure if I can avoid mentioning it, she'll ask me why I am not with WFC anymore and I cannot lie. Anyhow, please share advice if you have experience with things like this.
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You probably weren't laid off since they don't intend to bring you back. Your position was likely "eliminated", ie, replaced by 2 new positions off shore.
"Wells has had sporadic rounds of layoffs since 2016 and it unexpectedly surfaced in our department recently", is how I would say it. No shame.
@1uxu - You are wrong. It's not about a heavily secure position. If you are going to another bank or a supplier who supports financial institutions, there will be background checks. It's a contract requirement. In addition to the financial industry, almost all legit jobs do a background check so they don't have a surprise down the road.
@1xfp+1hI1ywJw, not true. Not unless OP is going to a heavily secured position, in which they do thorough background checks.
These days, you can tell employers anything. Companies do not give reasons why someone left for fear of being sued. They only verify dates of employment, and salary information.
If you don't tell them up front, you'll have to explain it after they do the employment background check. Address it up front. Everyone knows WF is a sh1tshow.
Say, “as you are probably aware, WF has been recalibrating its business units for years. This time, I was impacted.” Done with grace and honesty.
Just say the word off very quietly. She will think you are saying "I got laid..." and will believe you to be a super stud. Instant job offers!
I was laid off and was open about it. Lay offs are going to happen to everyone now because employees are no longer valued by companies.
No stigma to being laid off. You were not fired. Two different things.
So laid off is a word that can associate a stigma - layoff and Wells Fargo are kind of synonymous. You could say “I am transitioning from Wells Fargo to my next opportunity.”
Or just say: I worked for Wells Fargo and that ended.
Tell the recruiter you were laid........off.
Make sure there's that noticable pause in between 'laid' and 'off'.
It'll make the recruiter really remember you. Same with the hiring manager.
there isn't anything wrong with saying "I was part of a downsizing of my area, and then I took a break in looking for a new role to deal with a personal situation - so it was a blessing in disguise. "
Honesty is better since you never know who knows who behind the scenes. Officially WF will only give your dates of employment, not the circumstances of your departure. But unofficially word can and does get around.
It's not your fault. Be upfront. If they hold it against you, forget them. I've had recruiters be very understanding. It happened to me more than once. A recruiter at Popular Bank, and a hiring manager at JP Morgan kind of questioned why I was laid off so many times. I wrote them off, and said they weren't for me. Most of them are very understanding, offer their condolences and don't press.
A layoff is not the same as a firing. Two different scenarios.
It’s not your fault you were laid off, so personally I think that anyone who would hold that against you is not worth working for anyway.
Honesty is always the best policy. That way, you don’t have to worry about the truth coming out later and making you look bad for withholding it.
I was laid off in late April. Be upfront with recruiters regarding the layoff whether you are working with a corporate recruiter or a recruiter discussing contract or temp to hire opportunities. It paid off for me and I am currently considering an offer from a Fortune 100 company.