It’s the phone every employee dreads, the email no staff member wants to see in their inbox. You’ve been laid off, and no matter what your employer has promised to support you in your new role, the path ahead is still uncertain.
This has become a reality for tens of thousands of individuals over the past 12 months, with more layoffs being announced almost every week.
More than 70,000 Big Tech jobs will be cut in 2022, including Google owner Alphabet (12,000 employees), Amazon (18,000), Meta (11,000), Twitter (4,000), Microsoft (10,000), and Salesforce (8,000).
And before 2023 is launched: PayPal (2,000), Salesforce, (8,000), Spotify (6% of the workforce) and Yahoo also reduce the number of employees.
Heartbroken staff members have gone viral for sharing their stories on LinkedIn about how they lost their roles and what the impact was, while others have broken the stigma by posting about it on TikTok. The mom-to-be posted on Twitter that she knew she had lost her job on the platform when she couldn’t log into her computer.
But these moments of anger, panic or fear can’t ruin your journey to finding your next role, experts warn.
These are the red flags potential employers can spot from social media posts about layoffs, and here’s what they can do for you.
DO NOT post in anger
Jacqui Barrett, founder and CEO at Salt added: “It’s a balancing act. If you’re critical that can give the wrong impression even if it’s true. It’s better to have your own narrative and share your story honestly. Focus on your perspective and what employers and recruiter.
“It should be noted that when something is sent, the word goes out into the world. Take a moment to consider what you want to say, and if you are not sure, do it with someone you trust.
Shelley Crane, director of marketing at Robert Half, echoed that the wrong message can be “detrimental” to future prospects, adding: “It’s important to take time and think about what you’re going to say – don’t fall into the trap of sending something. negative ones about previous employers or intricate details of how you lost your job – even if the way they did it was inappropriate.
DO focus on achievements instead of job losses
“The most important thing is to set yourself up to be visible to recruiters by updating your LinkedIn profile. Whatever happens, this is always a good thing. Show your achievements, show your responsibilities, and highlight the value you bring. That’s more important than how you leave that role,” says Jennifer Wood, global head of marketing at UK-based digital recruiter Salt.
DO NOT mention former colleagues
Except you thank me.
So many leads can generate new work through former colleagues, says Lewis Maleh, founder of executive recruitment firm Bentley Lewis – especially if you’re leaving a larger company.
His message is simple: “Always leave gracefully. No matter how you feel, you never know when you’ll see each other again. It’s hard, especially when you have bills to pay but leave gracefully and it will pay you back a thousand.”
“Don’t mention names, it’s very unpleasant and a very bad thing to do. People always remember bad behavior and a lot of work done by people you know or may have worked with. If you want to mention names, just to say thank you for your help .
DO NOT prepare for follow-up conversations after you’ve made a public job search
On a more positive note, Crane, who is based in the UK, added: “It’s important if you’re in a position to follow up on the potential leads you get from your posts, so timing is really important. It’s important to step back, consider what you want from your next role, and when you want to start, so that when you post on social media, you are ready to follow new opportunities.
“When it comes to content, make sure you’re clear and concise about your skills and experience, the types of jobs you’re interested in, and most importantly you’re asking for help networking. Whether it’s to highlight a new position, put you in touch with recruiters in your area of expertise, or to give advice on next steps, for example.
DON’T waste time when you’re not working
Can’t get a job? Prove you are proactive and post about it.
Alistair Stirling, adviser at Stirling Careers Consultancy, says he always encourages his clients to do voluntary work and short courses while they are on the hunt for their next role.
He explains that not only does it give you someone to talk to – in an interview or on a platform like LinkedIn – it shows you’re not just sitting at home.
He cautioned that the style of the original-looking post should be consistent with previous updates.
Don’t keep your profile updated, but curated
An authentic-looking profile for a potential new employer should be consistently updated with professional assets and achievements, says Doug Ebertowski, career expert at remote work specialist FlexJobs.
He added: “Perhaps you have finally completed a course for a new certification – this is a good addition to share on LinkedIn with a brief explanation of the achievement. Have you completed a passion project related to your career field? Send a photo and a short paragraph or two about it.
However, he warned candidates that the professional profile should be exactly that, adding: “Social media mistakes for job seekers include writing or sharing information about proprietary projects or confidential tasks that have worked for current or past employers.
“Others overwhelmingly post status updates about every change in their personal and professional lives, or share or be tagged in personal photos on professional platforms.”
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