How to Talk About a COVID-19 Layoff in Your Cover Letter
Finding a new job after a layoff always comes with worries about how employers will look at a gap in employment. Unfortunately, some hiring managers discriminate against unemployed people while looking to fill a position. They may assume you’ve lost your job due to poor performance, whether your skills are sharp enough to keep up with other employees, or if you’ll quit once a better job comes along.
Because of the pandemic, however, employers are a bit more understanding of people who have been laid off—after all, 22.2 million jobs were lost as a result of COVID, so it’s a given that tons of exceptional workers were laid off and found themselves out of a job. Thankfully, many remote jobs have been created as a result of COVID-19. And with nearly half of the American workforce working from home right now, remote work looks like it’s here to stay, which is great news for those looking to re-enter the workforce during the pandemic.
Although hiring managers are more understanding of laid-off workers right now, it’s still important to know exactly how to address the layoff during your job search.
Here are some tips for addressing a COVID-19 related layoff in your cover letter.
Keep It Brief
Remember: A cover letter is all about selling yourself, highlighting your skills, and letting hiring managers know about your qualifications and achievements. While you absolutely should address the layoff in your cover letter, don’t let your explanation take up the whole thing!
Address the layoff in a single paragraph early on in the cover letter. This will make it easy for hiring managers to find your explanation, show them that your gap in employment isn’t a red flag, and reassure them that you’re a great fit for the position.
2. Give Context
Your cover letter offers more room for explanation than your résumé does, which makes it the perfect place to explain the layoff. Use your cover letter to be upfront about and add context about the layoff. Explain that the layoff is a direct result of the pandemic and that it is not the result of poor performance on your part. Highlight your great performance in your previous role and tell the hiring manager that you plan to continue your excellent work in your next position.
For example, if you were a hostess at a restaurant before being laid off, you can say something like:
“Recently, ABC Restaurant announced a round of layoffs due to pandemic-related budget cuts, and my hostess position was eliminated. I was consistently recognized for my excellent customer service skills, and I intend on delivering that same high level of service in my next role.”
3. Look Forward
Although you should address the layoff in your cover letter, you should avoid dwelling on it. Instead, take the opportunity to explain how your past experience, skills, and qualifications will help you succeed in the position you’re applying for. This is especially important if you’re making a career switch.
For example, if you are applying for a sales position after being laid off from your hostess position, you can say something like:
“I am excited to use my strong customer service and communication skills to provide high-quality service as a salesperson at your company.”
4. Show Off Your Versatility
Highlighting your versatility can help you set yourself apart from other candidates, and it shows that you are flexible enough to rise to any challenge. If you have a wide variety of skills, let potential employers know in your cover letter. Additionally, if you’ve taken on the work of another position while at your previous job, discuss that in your cover letter, too.
Showing off your flexibility shows hiring managers that you’re ready to start working and that your skills will help you succeed in your new position, even if your past job experience doesn’t seem all that relevant at first glance. Versatility is especially important as remote work becomes more prominent. Employers want to know that you’ll be able to meet their expectations even when you’re working out of the office.
Don’t Lose Hope!
Although re-entering the job market and putting yourself back out there may seem intimidating, hang in there! Your situation can be explained, and you can find another job you’re passionate about.
While we’ve seen a sharp uptick in layoffs throughout the pandemic, the unemployment rate dropped from 6.7% in December 2020 to 6.3% in January 2021, which shows that people are actively finding new jobs.
Additionally, new positions are being created in reaction to the events of the past year. For example, companies are creating more Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) positions as a direct result of 2020’s social justice movements. Since January 2020, there’s been a 16.2% increase in diversity executive team members, and experts believe more of these positions will be created in the near future.
Need help striking a balance between explaining your layoff and highlighting everything you bring to the table? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
Our team of professional résumé and cover letter writers can put your career story into words in a way that’ll have hiring managers running to their phones to schedule an interview with you!