If you’ve lost your job -- or are going to lose your job -- the last thing that you want to talk about is why you lost your job. In fact, the question,“Why did you leave your last job?” is one of the toughest questions to answer.

If you are among the thousands of people who have been laid off in the last two years, you can simply state: “I was laid off.”

This answers the question but still leaves a lingering doubt in the mind of the interviewer, “Why were you laid off?” The more specific your answer, the more effective it will be. For example: “There were six rounds of layoffs at my last company. I survived five rounds, but when it came to round six they had to cut deep. My position was eliminated along with half of my group because the project we were working on was cancelled.”

Whatever your situation is include facts and figures to explain the circumstances surrounding your layoff.

“10 percent of the workforce was let go,” or “One out of every 10 jobs was affected, company wide.”

When you quantify a statement it has more depth, it helps to put the situation in perspective.

Fired
If you were fired, you probably dread being asked this question. Not only have you been fired, you have to talk about it. How you deal with this question depends on if you have resolved the issue with yourself.

Here are examples of how two candidates answer the question:

Candidate No.1 “I had a great boss, but he left. From the very beginning it was clear that my new boss and I were going to be at odds. We just had different types of personalities. She kept changing the rules. One day she would want it this way, and the next day another way,” rambled Karen. “I don’t usually have problems with bosses but this woman was really overbearing in her management approach.”

This is not the best way to present the situation. This candidate could be classified as a “whiner.” Badmouthing former employers during the interview is a bad idea. No one wants to hear about someone else’s shortcomings, particularly someone they don’t even know.

A better example of how to handle the situation:

Candidate No.2: “I was let go  after a major reorganization. The merging of different cultures caused a major change in the way things were done. There were some differences of opinion between my boss and myself and, in the end, I was fired. I take responsibility for my part in the way things turned out. I learned a lot from the experience, and in retrospect, I would have handled it differently. But, that is behind me now, and I am ready to move on with a new perspective.”

Thisanswer is much better because it demonstrates strength and self-confidence. Candidate No.2 took responsibility and dealt with the question honestly.

Whether you were let go under unfair circumstances or for something you did and regret, scripting your answer ahead of the interview will help you. You don’t want to bad mouth your former employer or sound like a victim (even if you were). Practice your answer with someone in a mock interview and get feedback on your comfort-level when you discuss your situation.

Lying
Probably the worst way to handle this question is to lie. One lie usually leads to another, and before you know it you're in over your head. You always take a chance whenever you put a lie on an application. The application usually has a signature line on the back where you sign, stating that the above is true, and that any false statements could be grounds for termination.

Perspective
It's a fact that “people lose their jobs everyday.” They move on and get new jobs. And, you will too. No matter what the circumstances, put it behind you and move on. Deal with your feelings about the loss of your job, and prepare your answer to the question before it is asked. Being prepared will make you feel more confident and less emotional about the situation.

For more career advice, visit Military.com's Careers Channel.