- America’s quitting rate — the percentage of workers voluntarily leaving their jobs — is at a historic high, reaching 3% this fall.
- People are celebrating their resignations in “QuitToks,” which are TikTok videos celebrating that they quit their jobs.
- When intending to post about leaving your job on social media, there are some best practices to follow.
America’s quitting rate — the percentage of workers voluntarily leaving their jobs — is at a historic high, reaching 3% this fall.
These resigners aren’t shy about letting the world know when and why they quit, either.
People are celebrating their resignations in “QuitToks,” which are TikTok videos celebrating that they quit their jobs.
On social media platforms like TikTok, users are publicly announcing publicly that they’re leaving their jobs, often saying their decision is about finding happiness and focusing on mental health.
Resigners have also turned to the Reddit forum r/Antiwork to brag about being free from their 9-to-5 jobs, as well as taking to Twitter to post screenshots of texts to their bosses declaring they have quit.
Many may see these declarations as uncouth, but the pandemic changed a lot about the way we approach work – or the lack of.
When intending to post about leaving your job on social media, there are some best practices to follow.
It’s best not to post negatively when you get laid off or quit your job
Getting laid off or terminated from a job is unpleasant, and it can create a strong emotional response. Without other avenues to find sympathy, some people take to the public space of social media to air their frustrations with their previous job.
Career coaches have traditionally advised their clients not to criticize former employers online.
Recruiters also often raised their eyebrows at candidates who have gone public about negative experiences in their previous roles.
Although some workers are ready to reject professional norms and vent, they may want to consider the repercussions of posting negative things online about leaving their previous jobs. Not only does this burn bridges, but it might deter future potential employers from hiring these workers.
But quitters currently have the upper hand. They feel they can punch back at their old bosses without fear of alienating potential future employers because the supply-demand curve of the labor market is working in their favor, and employers are growing less choosy.
Some career coaches are cringing at the uptick in public resignation stories
Many career coaches have warned that hiring managers (even desperate ones) should search potential candidates on social media and consider their posts about former employers to be a red flag.
Others noted that the current labor shortage – with the workforce down by 3 million people – won’t be permanent and that at some point, jobs will be in higher demand than workers.
The Department of Labor statistics suggest there are approximately one and a half jobs available for every person who remains unemployed right now, and experts warn that the message that “QuitToks” and other public resignations send could be misinterpreted.
“You worry at times that people could be burning relationships, burning existing relationships, or set themselves up for problems with relationships in the future. If you want to share, be authentic, respectful and helpful. You can empower others without risking your own future,” Glassdoor CEO Christian Sutherland-Wong said.
Boss-bashing is becoming popular, but what is it?
The subreddit r/Antiwork is dedicated to “those who want to end work, are curious about ending work, want to get the most out of a work-free life, want more information on anti-work ideas and want personal help with their own jobs/work-related struggles.”
This online community is supportive and encouraging of individualized action to change individual circumstances, and posters frequently report that they’ve recently quit an exploitative job.
In one popular post on r/Antiwork, one worker calls on others in the forum to start naming companies that they’ve said are exploitative. The comments are filled with workers naming other companies that have allegedly taken advantage of them.
Instead of a passing trend, experts say viral boss-bashing is actually part of a larger shift in the culture of work — and don’t expect the formula to become any less popular in the near future.
How to best share that you’ve quit/been laid off and are looking for a new role
On social media such as LinkedIn or Twitter, notifying your extended network (including your friends and contacts who you otherwise wouldn’t reach out to via email) so they can help you find a job lead is the best practice when posting about leaving a job.
Even though you may feel a sense of embarrassment about losing your job, or maybe even quitting, the truth is these things happen and it doesn’t necessarily reflect what kind of employee you were.
When you’re ready to post online about leaving your last job and looking for another, start reaching out to your contacts and networking to let them know you are seeking new work.
If you were let go due to a well-publicized layoff, feel free to reference that, as it’s an easy way to explain why you left.
When leaving a job, here’s a good format for posting on social media:
After [X years] with [Company], I’m now on the lookout for new opportunities. I’m excited about continuing to expand [skillset] in a [type of role]. Please message me if you know of any jobs that might be a fit.
