Q. I received a two-month notice that my job is being eliminated in a reduction in force. I like having time to find a new job, but I worry about how potential employers will view me if they know I am “on notice.’’ I am looking for a new job now — will being on notice hurt my chances of getting hired? How should I handle this situation?
A. Being laid off is always difficult, but having a two-month notice can have significant upsides, if you let it. You might have been covered under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which requires certain companies to provide 60-day notices of layoffs or closures to allow employees time to seek employment or training opportunities.
Advantages to working notices are searching for a job while still employed and collecting your paycheck. Potential downsides could be the challenge of staying motivated, focusing on the job search and not your current role, and staying positive in all environments.
It sounds like you are questioning whether to tell the employer that you have received notice of a layoff. Withholding this kind of information from a potential employer can be detrimental to your success and is not recommended.
In fact, your company’s reduction in force is probably public notice, so employers might already be aware of it and might ask you directly. Build your comfort with the situation and with your message about it.
In any job search, you need to prepare for the, “Why are you looking for a new role?’’ question. To answer effectively, develop a brief public statement ahead of time and be prepared to explain your situation honestly.
This statement might look something like this: “I loved working at ABC Company for seven years, but as you might know, they had a reduction in force due to a strategy change after a merger; I am one of 75 impacted employees. I have a short working notice and am using that time to contact companies I respect and can make a contribution to, which brings me to you.’’
Be professional and honest. Hiring managers are aware of these situations, and it will not reflect poorly on you or your candidacy.
Depending on the length of the notice, you might be concerned about finding a job before your notice is complete. Some companies offer stay bonuses in addition to working notices if they need employees to complete necessary work.
In this case, if the money is significant enough to be an issue, speak to your current employer to see if your departure date has any flexibility without affecting your stay bonus.
If not, discuss a later start date with your new employer so you can fulfill the working notice terms without relinquishing monetary incentives.
They might offer a signing bonus that compensates for any loss of stay bonus if they need you quickly.
Bottom line: If you have a working notice, take advantage of the benefits and be honest with potential employers.
Elaine Varelas is managing partner at Keystone Partners, a career management firm in Boston, and serves on the board of Career Partners International.
