Whether you’ve been the victim of downsizing, fired unfairly, or you’re leaving of your own volition, it might be tempting to bash your former bosses online or otherwise burn some bridges but don’t. A lot of former employees like to leave comments on Glass Door any other job-seeking websites. Or sometimes it’s tempting to say negative comments about your previous employer to anyone and everyone who will listen. But talking trash and gossiping about your former employer never pays off. Here’s why.
You might get recognized
Even though you think you’re sneaky and anonymous, chances are pretty good that someone in your company will recognize your comments, especially if you’re one of the only people to recently leave or be fired. If you hint at the department you worked in, mention something you feel jaded about, or complain about something else that hints at your position in the company, someone will be able to tell it was you. And the more negative your comments are, the more attention they’ll get, causing more people to chat about it, put clues together, and realize it was you!
Your comments are traceable
Technology is great, but if you’re using anything that belongs to your former employer—your device or the network—they can call on your IT department to figure out you were the one to leave these comments. And even though you might be trying to shed light on injustices and damage their reputation, you usually only end up damaging your own.
Your company’s prestige could suffer
If your comments spread and you do damage your company’s reputation, then having that company’s name on your resume isn’t going to do you any favors. You’d rather have prestigious, respectable employers on your resume to prove that you’re prestigious and respectable yourself.
You’ll lose references
If any of the above comes true—if they figure out it was you—you’ll lose valuable references. If you named names, those people for sure wouldn’t want to recommend you for a job. Even people you didn’t name won’t want to recommend you either. They’ll either be fearful of taking your side in the war you created, or they’ll be offended or resentful that you bashed the place they still work.
Your new employer doesn’t want to hear it
Even if you secure a new job without dropping any scathing comments anywhere, you still aren’t safe to speak negatively about your former employer. Your new manager and coworkers don’t want to hear it! They’ll worry that you’ll one day say the same things about them once you’re gone from there. Instead, stay positive and upbeat, no matter how dire your previous work situation was.
Have you recently quit your job?
As you look for a temporary job, temp-to-hire position, or direct hire job, SSi People Staffing can help you craft your resume, prepare for interviews, and place you in a position where you’ll perform your best. For more on how SSi People can help you, contact our team today.
