The minute they called the meeting, I knew. 

“We’re eliminating your position.”, they said. 

At the time, I was working at a NY-based global financial services corporation in a small office in Nashville with most of my colleagues in New York and the Bay Area.

We had an unexpected early morning visit from the Managing Director of our group, so tensions were high in anticipation of his reason for arriving unannounced.

Citi had just failed its annual stress test. Layoffs were their next logical step to course correct.

Which meant I was out of a job.

The words hit like a ton of bricks. In that moment, every fear, every “what if,” became the new normal.  

The next day, I was scrolling through job boards with a pit in my stomach, wondering if the words “Laid Off” would doom my chances before I even got an interview. 

But here’s the truth: being laid off isn’t the scarlet letter it once was. 

If anything, it’s an opportunity to showcase resilience and adaptability. 

So, let’s tackle the question head-on: how do you put “laid off” on your resume without fear or hesitation?

When To Put Laid Off on Your Resume

The job market doesn’t always work in your favor, and sometimes, being laid off leaves an unavoidable gap in your resume.

Do you always need to address being laid off in your resume?

No. It depends on the context.  

For example, if the layoff didn’t lead to a significant gap or you landed another role quickly, you may not need to highlight it at all. 

But how big does that gap have to be before it raises eyebrows? 

In most cases, a significant gap in your resume is considered anything six months or longer.

Why six months? Because that’s the point where hiring managers might start asking questions about what you’ve been up to. 

• 1-3 months: No big deal. Job hunting takes time, and most employers won’t even notice.
• 6-12 months: This might raise some questions, but if you can explain it (whether it was for caregiving, upskilling, or relocating), you’re golden.
• 1+ years: Longer gaps do require an explanation, but don’t panic. Highlight what you did to stay sharp and relevant (more on that next).

RELATED: How to Get a Job Fast

7 Skills You Can Pursue After Being Laid Off

The length of your unemployment gap isn’t as important as how you frame it.

What’s critical here is the narrative you build around that time. 

Were you freelancing? Pursuing certifications? Volunteering?

It’s not about the gap itself; it’s about showing you didn’t stand still. The right story can flip a red flag into a green light.

Here are a few skills you can pursue after being laid off to add context to your resume:

1. Freelance: Consult small businesses through cold outreach or get freelance gigs like blog writing or logo design through platforms like Upwork.
2. Entrepreneur: Pursue a passion project like a handmade goods shop on Etsy or offer local services such as a weekly local fitness class.
3. Skill Development: Take free or paid courses on coding, copywriting, social media management, Google Analytics, etc. You don’t need to have official certifications for these, just the skill.
4. Network: Attend industry conferences, join local meetups, or connect with peers online.
5. Personal Branding: Build a strong LinkedIn profile, start a blog to share your expertise, or create engaging social media in a subject you’re interested in.
6. Volunteer: Teach a skill or lead workshops at a local community center, mentor in your industry, or volunteer for a non-profit.
7. Educate: Go back to school for an advanced degree, read professional development books, or attend industry workshops.

RELATED: How To Write A Resume for a Career Change

Why Explain Being Laid Off on Your Resume

You should address being laid off on your resume because if there’s a gap, recruiters will notice — and they’ll definitely ask about it. 

Or worse, they just won’t call you for an interview. 

So, stop trying to dodge the question. Be honest from the get-go.

As a career coach, here’s why I advise addressing being laid off if you have a gap of 4 months or more:

• Transparency Builds Trust: Addressing being laid off shows you’re upfront (and it prevents assumptions). 
• Reframe the Experience: A layoff isn’t a failure; it’s a plot twist. Use it to show how you learned a new skill, took on freelance work, or explored new opportunities.
• Context Is Everything: Explaining your layoff gives you power over your narrative. It shows how you kept building skills despite the curveball.

Employers aren’t judging you for getting laid off — especially in today’s volatile job market. They’re more interested in how you handled it and what you did next.

RELATED: The Most Common Resume Summary Clichés (VIDEO)

Does being laid off look bad on a resume?

Absolutely not. Layoffs are often out of your control and have more to do with a company’s circumstances than your performance. 

In fact, many HR professionals (like me) have experienced layoffs themselves and won’t see it as a red flag.

What does raise red flags? Avoiding the topic altogether or being defensive about it in interviews. 

Being evasive in a job interview is something an interviewer can sense, which may prompt them to put more emphasis on it.

3 Laid-Off Resume Examples

Here’s how to handle a layoff gracefully on your resume:

Position Elimination

• Senior Marketing Manager
  XYZ Company | 2019 – 2023
  • Identified and addressed cloud infrastructure issues affecting application reliability and customer experience; implemented optimization strategies that reduced latency by 25% and improved performance by 15% within four months.
  • Note: Role concluded due to company-wide restructuring. Subsequently focused on personal brand development via LinkedIn, resulting in 500+ follower growth and engagement with industry leaders, including Satya Nadella.

Pandemic-Related Layoff

• Customer Success Specialist
  ABC Inc. | 2018 – 2020
  • Spearheaded an ad campaign that generated $27K in sales within one week during a 30% revenue drop.
    Note: Role impacted by pandemic-related downsizing (July 2020). Used the following four months to enhance copywriting skills through the Copy Posse course and secured 10 email copywriting clients on Upwork.

Gap Explanation

• Professional Development
  2023 – 2024
  • Completed certifications in Data Analytics and Project Management, gaining expertise in identifying and resolving performance issues, resulting in a 25% reduction in latency and application reliability issues.
  • Dedicated a year to self-study in personal finance, including advanced Excel budgeting and stock market analysis, growing a personal investment portfolio by 30%.

20 Synonyms for “laid off”

Sometimes, the phrasing matters. Here are 20 alternatives to “laid off” that you can use depending on your situation:

1. Position eliminated
2. Workforce reduction
3. Downsized
4. Role impacted by restructuring
5. Company-wide layoffs
6. Department consolidation
7. Job eliminated
8. Organizational changes
9. Budget cuts
10. Economic conditions
11. Position discontinued
12. Contract ended
13. Seasonal employment ended
14. Role phased out
15. Business closure
16. Company restructuring
17. Staff reductions
18. Reorganization
19. Division closure
20. Resource realignment

About the Author:

Hey, I’m Rayla! Let’s digitally shake hands…

I’m a Career Coach who is living for the chance to show you how to develop the tools you need to get a new job or promotion quickly and with confidence.

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