Photo courtesy of Chris WIlliams
- As massive layoffs increase across industries, people are taking to LinkedIn to vent.Chris Williams, ex-VP of HR at Microsoft with over 40 years of executive experience, weighed in.He said a carefully constructed rant could actually attract new employers.
You've been laid off after being branded an "underperformer," or you've tried forever to get HR to rein in your toxic boss with no success.
Should you vent your frustration on LinkedIn and other social media platforms? Can you make your case and get some resolution online?
As the former VP of HR at Microsoft and an executive with over 40 years of experience, I've seen a lot of rants on LinkedIn. Most were dumpster fires, yet some were actually net-positive. The difference comes from how you construct the message you post.
Be very careful ranting online about your job
The No. 1 rule for social media, rant or not, is to be careful — anonymity is not possible.
No matter how hard you try, someone can find you. If your rant is pointed enough, someone will try. So don't say anything you don't want your name or the company you work for associated with, especially on LinkedIn.
Be careful about burning bridges. Aggressively trashing your company, especially individuals, will provoke backlash. Releasing confidential information is also easy in mid-rant and could get you in deep trouble.
Even if you don't provoke a response, an extremely harsh rant speaks volumes. Other potential employers will see your post and think, "Do I want this kind of drama here?" You look like a risk for volatile behavior, so they'll steer clear.
That doesn't mean you can't be critical, but an unhinged rant is a long way from thoughtful criticism.
Complaining about work on LinkedIn won't help
Perhaps the most frustrating part is that your rant won't fix the immediate problem. Ranting about your layoff or your boss won't change it. You'll still be out of work, and they'll still be someone's boss.
Even if you call out clearly terrible behavior, it was almost certainly already known. The company deliberately chose to label you and lay you off or to keep that toxic boss. Your rant won't change it — that's hard to swallow.
Although LinkedIn features millions of experts on nearly every topic under the sun, be careful of the advice you receive. Many of the most vocal people on the platform simply want to sell you their book, their course, or their service.
Don't look for help from random internet strangers. If you get it, make sure you weigh it against your personal experience, the people you trust, and the credentials of the person giving it.
LinkedIn is free, and much of the advice there is worth every penny.
Venting on social media can still be a good thing
All of this said, social media can help a great deal in these times of crisis.
Venting on social media is a cathartic experience that can help you release things bottled up for years. I never underestimate the value of a good release.
In addition, a great social media post can spread your reputation broadly in ways nothing else can. A crisp, well-spoken, and thoughtful post says a lot about you and your ability to get your point across.
Companies often look for smart people who can communicate well. If you can make a strong case against the status quo, that's very attractive to many employers.
Rather than tarnish your brand, a great social media post is the best publicity you can ask for. As long as it's not more toxic than the behavior that sparked it.
Chris Williams is a former VP of HR at Microsoft. He's an executive-level advisor and consultant with over 40 years of experience leading and building teams.
