Don't wait to be laid off or worse, fired, before starting your job search. I ended up being an unemployed applicant, and many companies I applied with took that as a green light to low-ball me. You lose a good part of your ability to negotiate when you are an unemployed applicant.
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Fljk+1eEJ8uQz, really?!
I am not in the position to need this tid bit right now and I am not sure if I would ever be so ballsy to... I'll say not disclose (instead of lie) but I am squirreling this away if the need ever arises.
I need to find a disgruntled HR specialists board where they divulge all their secrets so I can confirm. Lol
With all the applications it would be counter productive to check ahead of time. But... what happens when they see a person was laid off? Would they maybe cancel the offer because they caught you in a lie? Maybe it depends how long ago the person was laid off.
I guess it happens way more than I would ever realize.
Tip... Don't tell them you are unemployed. They will not know until they perform a background check and that's usually after they have made an offer.
You should go on at least 2 interviews a year whether you are looking or not. It keeps your resume current, interviewing skills sharp, and lets you see what is out there and make connections. Apply and interview even if the job isn't a good fit. I have gone on 2 interviews this month already.
The ability to negotiate is largely in your head. Start thinking of yourself as not an employee, but as You, Inc. Find out what the job pays as early in the process as possible. Use a question like 'what's the pay like?'. Don't wait till you're down the road, because that's a waste of your time.
Read up on negotiation techniques. Use this time to get education to enhance your resume, work on your skills, get healthy, and figure out what you want to do and how to get there. And if you have to get an interim job, or a contract, or if youdo what you need to do. Contracts can build skills without the obligation of 'belonging to a company' or dealing with corporate politics.
I speak as a person who's been through the UI mill more than a few times. Post 9/11, post-2008, and in between. And who's done all of the above.