Receiving a notice of termination is never pleasant. But despite the outburst of emotions, felt sadness, anger, disappointment, or horror, employees should try to proceed as structured and organized as possible after a dismissal. This is the only way to get the best out of the situation ultimately. So what should you pay attention to when you have been given notice, and what exactly should you do after you have given notice? We'll show you step by step.
Redefine your expectations
People are used to thinking abstractly about the past or imagining the future, which often leaves us trapped in nostalgia, longing, or fear. However, after being fired, this can be used for good if, as Leahy advises, you look at the period of unemployment as a sabbatical or "the time between the previous and the next job."
“This is not your whole life,” - It's just a transitional period.
Many of us are confident that we will always work, and our income will only grow. But it is often different. There will be times when we don't work, and income fluctuates, Leahy says. In this context, 12 weeks without a job or wage cut no longer look so critical. Of course, we can only guess how long the economic downturn will last. It can take only a few years to recover, and the longer a person is off work, the more likely they are to develop more serious mental health problems, including depression.
Main reasons for job search
Sometimes giving reasons for changing jobs is very easy to formulate. Especially if you don't have a “gap” in your résumé and can apply directly from a permanent position. But there are also reasons that you shouldn't necessarily mention, for example, if you have been terminated.
We have compiled the most common motives and reasons for changing jobs for you, and in the following, we will use examples to explain how you can best formulate them in an interview.
1. Personal reasons: moving, distance, family
Do you want to move? Are you too far away from your old employer? Or would you like to spend more time with your family? It is a plausible reason for a job change to value a good work-life balance.
Example formulation for the cover letter
- "Due to a private change, I'm looking for a new job in [place]."
- "Due to a change in my family, I would also like to change my career and take on a new challenge."
- "After the birth of my child, I would now like to take a part-time job."
Example formulation for an interview
- "My work-life balance has been neglected so far, and the good reviews of your company on the online portal [name] I hope for a positive development for my private life."
- “Lately, the lines between my job and my personal life have become too blurred. That's why I would like to take on a new job that is easier to separate. "
- "My current job is difficult to reconcile with my family life, so I would like to find a job where that is possible."
2. Professional development
Will you be promoted by the job change, or will you get a higher salary? Explain how you imagine your professional future and what is important to you.
Example formulation for the cover letter:
- "The position you described fits very well with my professional plans and offers me exciting prospects."
- “For my professional future, I would like to specialize in the [XY] area. Since my current employer does not provide any development or development opportunities for this, I am looking for a new position where this is possible. "
- "With your job as [job title], I see an opportunity to develop myself professionally and at the same time to contribute my skills and my existing knowledge."
Example formulation for an interview
- "For structural reasons, there weren't any opportunities for advancement at my old employer."
- “I want to learn something and expand my skills. I think that would be possible in your company. "
3. New challenges
Is it time for a new challenge? Based on your reasons, explain what you have been missing so far and what you hope for from a change and what perspectives you see.
Example formulation for the cover letter
- "The position you advertise sounds like an exciting professional challenge."
- "The professional focus of the position offers me exactly the challenge that I am looking for in my day-to-day work."
- "The area of responsibility of a [job title] offers me development opportunities in which I can contribute my skills and at the same time accept new challenges."
Example formulation for an interview
- “Your employee [name] talked about his work in your company. It sounded fascinating and made me curious. Then I noticed that my current job had become too monotonous for me. That's why I want to reorient myself professionally. "
4. New working environment and ways
Would you like to get to know a new industry or working way, or do you want to work internationally? Describe what exactly attracts you and what you can offer a new employer in this regard.
Example formulation for the cover letter
- "For my professional future, I would like to gain valuable experience and put my skills to the test in an international company."
- "Through my many years of work on the agency side, I now want to deepen my knowledge and experience on the customer side and work in-house."
- "During my work in a large corporation, I was able to gain a lot of experience, know-how, and skills that I would now like to use in a young, dynamic start-up environment."
Example formulation for an interview
- “I missed working in a team at my old employer. From a new job I would hope to work more closely with colleagues. "
- “I have long wanted to work in an international environment. Your job advertisement seems to me to be the perfect opportunity for it. "
5. Professional reorientation
Whether you just want to change the industry or want to try your hand at a completely different professional field as a career changer, your motivation is the most important factor in the job change. Show commitment when applying to make up for lack of experience.
Example formulation for the cover letter
- “I have been doing voluntary work for several years and can therefore fall back on a wealth of experience in this area. I want to combine my experience with the tasks of the position you advertise and bring my wealth of experience to your company. "
- "As a career changer, I would be able to familiarize myself with this area and develop long-term skills thanks to my quick perception, curiosity, and perseverance."
Example formulation for an interview
- “The position exactly matches my interests. I can imagine that very well, and if I am still missing certain knowledge, I am happy to acquire it. "
- “I find the [XY] area incredibly exciting and want to gain a foothold in it professionally. That means a new start, but that's exactly what I want. "
6. Justify job changes after termination
Regardless of whether you have been terminated for operational reasons or other reasons, there is always an opportunity to deal with it professionally in the interview. We recommend that you do not give this reason, but rather focus on what you find exciting about the respective job offer.
Job change wording for cover letters and job interviews
- "This position fits my professional profile perfectly and sounds like an exciting opportunity to learn new things."
- “I have found your company very exciting for some time. So far, there have not been any suitable vacancies that matched my skills. On the other hand, I could ideally contribute to the advertised position by [justification]. "
7. Problems with the old employer or colleague
To explain the reasons for your job change seriously and professionally, you should never, but really never, gossip about your old employer. Even if there has been bullying in the workplace or maltreated, avoid bad comments because they can throw a bad light on you.
Our tip: Do not justify your change of job with the fact that you absolutely want to get away from your old employer quickly. Better formulate everything under the premise "Towards a new employer and new challenges." This way, the HR manager or recruiter will remember that you are pursuing a goal or have a strategy for your professional future in mind and are not running away from anyone. In such a case, use one of the examples above that most closely matches your situation and your wishes.
Tips for justifying job change after a short time
If your last job change was only a short time ago and you should have noticed that you are unhappy with your new job, many HR managers will be pricked up. Is it possible that you cannot cope with the tasks there? Are there any problems with the team? And above all: do these problems also arise in the new job?
The good news: You can take these worries away from HR managers. It is, of course, easiest to justify the change of job with external circumstances such as a move. However, it is much more important that you express your sincere interest in this exact position and explain why you are the perfect candidate for it.
Our tip: In this case, assigning blame is out of place. It is better to avoid it.
How to justify your job change
The reasons for your job change seem clear to yourself, but this is usually not automatically the case for outsiders. When making your applications, you should make sure that you build up your argumentation coherently and convince your counterpart of your real motivation for the job offer. We summarized the most important tips for you so that you can credibly justify your change of job and that it resonates honestly with your counterpart:
Show motivation:
Your drive for the new position must be noticeable and positively formulated. The HR manager should realize that you really want this job and that the interview is not a waste of time. Be yourself, find out about the company and bring your enthusiasm into the conversation.
Find individual reasons:
Justify your wish to change jobs with your individual ideas and wishes. Make sure to make it clear to what extent this would be beneficial for a new employer.
Prepare yourself properly:
You should be able to give a conclusive answer to why the advertised position suits you. So that this succeeds, you can prepare yourself very well in advance: For example, think about why you see your future with this company of all places and name points that convince you of the company as a potential employer.
Job change: Stay yourself!
In addition to all the arguments and reasons for your change of job, the letter of application and the job interview is all about one thing: you. Be yourself and be honest with yourself. Ask yourself whether the new job offer fits your ideas and find out more from a contact person or the respective recruiter in the company about any questions you still have on your mind.
Posted on Mar 11, 2021 by Anna
