The layoff is bound to come up in a job interview, and you’ll need to be prepared to address the subject. It may be tempting to “vent” about the layoff. You must remain positive in order to show the employer that you don’t think of yourself as a victim, and that you’ve moved past the layoff.

Mention the factual reasons for the layoff, e.g., the company was restructuring, or operations were being moved to a new location. Then add a positive spin, such as, “This has given me the opportunity to think about the kind of job I really want.”

If you have a significant gap in your work history, you must be prepared to explain it.

Did you make the most out of the time you took “off?”  Have you stayed busy and motivated? Taken online courses or classes at a local college?  Have you volunteered?  Joined organizations?  Assisted?  Held part-time jobs?  Blogged?  Taught?  Organized?  Coordinated?  Planned?  Spearheaded?  Led?  What skills did you grow through these experiences?  Explain how the above has made you marketable for the job you want at this time.

You must also be prepared to talk about why you are coming back into the workforce and how you feel about it. (This will not be about how good it will feel to make money again!)

Be prepared to show interviewers that you are ready and excited to get back into the workforce because, for example, you look forward to working closely with other professionals and interacting with and helping coworkers on a daily basis.  Or maybe you see working at that company and in that particular job as contributing to society, as well as to your own personal development.  You could be chomping at the bit to use your professional skills again, and learning more.  This is what the interviewer needs to hear so your gap fades in importance.