It’s the phone call every employee dreads, the email no staff member wants to see in their inbox. You’ve been laid off, and regardless of your employer’s promises to help support you in a new role, the path forward is still uncertain.
This has been the reality for thousands of individuals over the past 12 months, with more layoffs announced almost weekly.
More than 70,000 Big Tech jobs have been eliminated by 2022, incl Google His Alphabet (12,000 employees), Amazon (18,000), Meta (11,000), Twitter (4,000), Microsoft (10,000), and Salesforce (8,000).
And that’s before 2023 rolls around: PayPal (2,000), Salesforce, (8,000), Spotify (6% of its workforce) and Yahoo also sheds headcount to name a few.
Heartbroken staff members walked away went viral for sharing their stories on LinkedIn about how they lost their roles and what the impact waswhile others have de-stigmatizing removal by posting about it on TikTok. A mom-to-be posted on Twitter he found out that he lost his job working on the platform when he can’t log into his computer.
But these moments of anger, panic or fear don’t hurt the journey of finding your next role, experts warn.
These are the red flags a potential employer might spot from your social media posts about layoffs, and here’s what might work in your favor.
Do NOT post in anger
Jacqui Barrett, founder and CEO of Salt added: “It’s a balancing act. If you’re critical you can give the wrong impression even if it’s valid. It’s best to own your own narrative and share your story Be honest. Focus on your vision and what you bring that interests employers and recruiters.
“It’s always worth remembering that once something is posted, those words are no longer in the world. Take time to think about what you want to say, and if unsure run it through someone you trust.”
Shelly Handy cardirector of marketing at Robert Half, echoed that the wrong message can be “damaging” to future prospects, adding: “It’s really important to take your time and think about what you’re going to say – don’t fall into the trap of don’t post anything negative about your former employer or the intricate details of how you lost your job – even if the way you did it was bad.
Focus on your achievements instead of losing your work
“The most important thing is to position yourself to be seen by recruiters by updating your LinkedIn profile. Whatever happens, it’s always a good thing. Share your achievements, share what you have responsible, and highlight the value you bring. That’s more important than how you leave the role,” says Jennifer Wood, global head of marketing at UK-based digital recruiters, Salt.
Do NOT name former colleagues
Unless you’re saying thank you.
A lot of new job leads can come through former co-workers says Lewis Maleh, founder of executive recruitment firm Bentley Lewis – especially if you’re leaving a bigger company.
His message is simple: “Always leave attractive. No matter how you feel you never know when you will see each other again. It’s hard, especially when you have bills to pay but leave well and it will pay you back a thousandfold.
“Don’t mention names, it’s rude and a bad move. People always remember bad behavior and a lot of work comes through people you know or may have worked with. If you mention people name, just do it to thank them for their help.
Be prepared for follow-up conversations after you go public with your job search
On a more positive note Crane, who is based in the UK, added: “It’s important that you’re in a position to follow up on any potential leads you receive from your post, so it’s important It’s definitely worth taking a step back, considering what you want from your next role, and when you want to start, so that when you post on social media you’re ready to follow up on new ones. an opportunity.
“When it comes to content, make sure you’re clear and concise about your skills and experience, the types of jobs you want, and especially what you’re asking your network for help with. Is it to promote bags position, recruiters will contact you in your area of expertise, or for advice on next steps, for example.”
DON’T waste time while you don’t have a job
You don’t have a job? Verify that you are active and post it.
Alistair Stirling, adviser at Stirling Careers Consultancy, said he often encourages his clients to do voluntary work and short courses as they look for their next role.
He explained that not only does it give people something to talk about -in interviews or on platforms like LinkedIn – it shows that you’re not just sitting at home.
He cautions that to appear authentic the style of the post must be consistent with your previous updates.
Keep your profile updated, but curated
Profiles that appear authentic to potential new employers are regularly updated with professional assets and accomplishments, says Doug Ebertowski, career expert at remote work specialist FlexJobs.
He added: “Perhaps you have finally completed a course for a new certification – it is a good addition to share on LinkedIn with a brief explanation about what has been done. Have you completed a project of love related to your career field? Post photos and a short paragraph or two about it.
However, he reminded candidates that professional profiles should be accurate, adding: “Social media mistakes for job seekers include writing or sharing information about proprietary projects or confidential work tasks you have worked for your current or previous employers.
“Another is excessively posting status updates about every change in your personal and professional life, or sharing or tagging overly personal photos on professional platforms.”
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