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You make a good point. It's a two way street but a lot of people like to think it's just a one way street where one party is fully at blame, or is always to blame.
Yeah so many posters on here don't realized the applicant has to be impressed too
Personally, I haven't been in this situation so can't say how I'd answer this question. However, I do occasionally sit in on interviews when my boss is hiring a new person for my department and I've heard some good ones.
-Position was eliminated so took some extra time off to refocus their energy on a career change (probably not the best answer if you've been unemployed for say 6 years unless you can say you attended school during that time, but not bad if it's a year or less IMO.
-Went on an around the world trip (the guy that said that had his last salary listed as $8.25 an hour and he'd been out of work for about a year and a half so I didn't believe it from him, but it would be explain a gap for some people.
-Had to be out of the job market for awhile to care for a sick loved one (heard this one several times, but one that got hired eventually got fired when his "mother" died twice in the same month.)
-I wasn't unemployed, I just didn't list what I've been doing for the past 2 years on my resume or my application.
-I was tired of serving the man and figured I could do better on my own (I assume this means the guy got tired of making his boss money so he went into business for himself and it failed so he is now looking for employment again, but the way he said it didn't impress me or the boss, especially since he wouldn't elaborate on it.)
Personally, I haven't been in this situation so can't say how I'd answer this question. However, I do occasionally sit in on interviews when my boss is hiring a new person for my department and I've heard some good ones.
-Position was eliminated so took some extra time off to refocus their energy on a career change (probably not the best answer if you've been unemployed for say 6 years unless you can say you attended school during that time, but not bad if it's a year or less IMO.
-Went on an around the world trip (the guy that said that had his last salary listed as $8.25 an hour and he'd been out of work for about a year and a half so I didn't believe it from him, but it would be explain a gap for some people.
-Had to be out of the job market for awhile to care for a sick loved one (heard this one several times, but one that got hired eventually got fired when his "mother" died twice in the same month.)
-I wasn't unemployed, I just didn't list what I've been doing for the past 2 years on my resume or my application.
-I was tired of serving the man and figured I could do better on my own (I assume this means the guy got tired of making his boss money so he went into business for himself and it failed so he is now looking for employment again, but the way he said it didn't impress me or the boss, especially since he wouldn't elaborate on it.)
I believe that question only comes up when they know instantly they are not going to hire you and just trying to find a reason to reject you.
I believe that question only comes up when they know instantly they are not going to hire you and just trying to find a reason to reject you.
That may be true for a lot of bosses. My boss has usually hired the person if they answered it in a sincere way and the rest of the interview went well. In one case, I believe he hired the person simply because of his answer to that question even though the rest of the interview didn't go well and I recommended not hiring him because I didn't think he would be a good fit. We have a small group that works well together so we want new people to be a good fit as well and I didn't feel this person would be a good fit. He eventually quit to go to another company that pays less and works longer hours so it seems he didn't think he was a good fit either after working with us for a bit.
Anyone who would answer those questions has no confidence in their abilities. Someone who knows what they bring to the table doesn't have to answer foolish questions to get a job. Which is why I would have ended the interview instantly if they asked that question because there will always be other interviews.
Did it ever occur to you that what you think you know about yourself is useless to a hiring manager? If the questions are not asked, how do you expect the company to know all those good things about you?
Some employers will accept that answer, but some won't. A former co worker/friend of mine was on a job interview and she was asked what she had been doing during her period of unemployment, which was 4 years. She had been caring for her ill mother the entire time and the interviewer rudely asked her why didn't she just hire a nurse and work at least part time? That interviewer deserved a smack in the head if you ask me.
That's when you can tell them about your sense of dedication and responsibility and how those things are important to you in all your endeavors. But then you might get hired and have to deal with that @&&#@!3 daily.
Tell them: 1) I was helping to care for a seriously ill relative who has since recovered.
2) I was taking courses online to gain new skills (everyone should do that when they're out of a job. They're are even free /cheap course that can be useful.).
3) I took some time off to be with my kids while they're this age. They're only young once!
4) My spouse needed to be away for a few months for work so we thought it would be better if I was not employed outside the home during this time. Fortunately, she won't travel again like that.
5) I tried doing an online business and while I learned a lot I realized I'd much prefer to be working back in an office environment for a large company like (yours).
One of those should work.
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