Have you ever been employed by a company that suffered production cuts resulting in mass layoffs? If so, tell me about your experience.

Offer your experience objectively. Omit emotional details. Describe the situation, what unfolded, and your understanding of why. If you haven't experienced this, offer your understanding of why they'd ask this question. This is an opportunity for you to tell them why you chose this field.

Perhaps you have been laid off through a process such as this. Maintain a positive attitude. Avoid speaking negatively about previous employers. Change is a part of life, and exhibiting a mature understanding of this goes a long way.

"I worked for a company right out of college that had a brief period of growth. The leaders of that company grew overly ambitious and over-expanded. When their profits slowed, they found themselves in a precarious situation burdened with the debt which resulted in mass layoffs. That's part of why I love this field. These things happened, but a trained eye can identify these risks early on and potentially curb the potential of such cutbacks."

"Never. But from an early age, I've made a practice of imagining myself walking around in other people's shoes. So with this lens, I consistently bring with me the kind of empathy required for effectively performing this role."