• Sweeping layoffs have impacted behemoth tech companies like Meta, Stripe, and Twitter recently.
• In response, people are sharing their gratitude, farewells, and hopes for the future on social media.
• A career coach and two former Meta employees explain how to move forward after layoffs.

Meta’s CEO and cofounder, Mark Zuckerberg, laid off 11,000 employees on November 9 and described the decision as “the most difficult changes we’ve made in Meta’s history,” in a memo to staff.

This round of layoffs follows similar news at Twitter and Stripe, among other technology companies, earlier this month. Subsequently, employees from these firms are posting their layoff stories, send-offs, and gratitude on social platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter.

“It’s a bit of a trend right now, where one person came forward and was brave and said, ‘Hey, I got laid off,’ and it gave other people more power” to do the same, said Erin McGoff, a career coach who shares advice with her more than 2.5 million followers across TikTok and Instagram. “It’s wonderful, because layoffs shouldn’t be something to be ashamed about. It’s just something that happens.”

McGoff shared the best way to go about saying farewell after a layoff and how to move forward professionally.

Strengthen connections before you leave

Taking a moment to process the news of a layoff should be an employee’s first step, McGoff said. Then workers should focus on solidifying any professional connections they made by sending thank-you or goodbye notes, she added.

Additionally, attach your personal email, phone number, and LinkedIn profile so you can connect after your work email is no longer active, McGoff said.

“Make sure that you connect with all of them on LinkedIn because you never know where they’re going to go,” she said. “They most likely won’t be in this company forever.”

Trey Maxwell, a former technical sourcer on the talent team at Meta, was one of the employees who lost his job at the company this week. After hearing the news, he shared it on social media to find connections and support, along with offering the same to others, he said.

“I wanted to be vulnerable, but also take this opportunity to express gratitude and reflect on the amazing time that I had working at Meta,” he told Insider. “Personally, it just helps to put it out there and to share your story because there may be other folks that might not want to post or might not want to be as vulnerable.”

Use LinkedIn to share what you hope to do next

While LinkedIn can be a place to connect with former coworkers and share news of a layoff, it’s also a place to advertise your skills and what you’re hoping to do next, said Maxwell, who’s worked in HR roles since 2015.

“LinkedIn is now your résumé, it’s your professional networking tool and resource,” he said. “I do want to share my experience with Meta, but I also want to share the kind of person I am and who I’ll be.”

It’s also important to stay positive, professional, and forward-looking in your public outreach, McGoff added.

Niki Woodall, a former product leadership recruiter at Meta, also posted a public announcement after losing her job this week. She did so in the hopes of finding a new position and encouraging others to share their stories as well.

Since many roles are filled through network connections, it’s important for job seekers to actively and transparently share what they’re experiencing, she said.

Additionally, she liked, commented on, and shared her former coworkers’ announcements to support them in finding future opportunities, she said.

“Helping others on the platform goes a long way, and I plan to share and connect with as many as I can to help others land gigs in this tough market,” Woodall said.

Prepare for the future

Layoffs are difficult to experience, but there’s nothing to be ashamed of, McGoff said. Instead, “use this as an opportunity to do something that you’ve always wanted to do and then come home and then hit the ground running,” she added.

When starting a job search after layoffs, begin by gathering your materials like accomplishments, notable metrics from past projects, HR letters, and manager recommendations that might help land a future gig, she suggested.

Before accepting a new position, take time to decide what you want your future to look like, McGoff, Maxwell, and Woodall agreed.

“Plant seeds now, tell everyone you know you’re looking because opportunities can pop up at any time,” Woodall said. “A job search is a great opportunity to figure out what’s important to you at this stage of life.”