TikTok Career Hacks: How Gen Z and Millennials Are Using Social Media to Survive Layoffs

Workers Turn to TikTok for Career Advice

Employees in the United States are increasingly seeking career guidance from TikTok as widespread layoffs fuel job security fears. According to a new Careerminds study, nearly a quarter (24.5%) of U.S. employees have applied strategies or tips from TikTok at work at least once.

This trend is especially pronounced among younger generations:

• 48.22% of Gen Z respondents
• 36.29% of Millennial workers

Workers are turning to TikTok creators for workplace survival strategies amid economic uncertainty and rising layoffs across the country.

Popular TikTok Career Content

Some of the most viral TikTok career advice includes:

• @corporategirlielo's "corporate survival tips you need right now"
• @ida_theresa's "5 behaviours employees adopt when layoffs are coming"
• @cons.journals' "corporate hacks that help you, and the ones that will get you fired"

How Employees Are Applying TikTok Advice

Nearly half (46.47%) of workers who consumed TikTok career content said they looked for another job "just in case." Other common responses included:

• Taking on extra work to appear indispensable (38.2%)
• Avoiding PTO or sick days (33.53%)
• Cutting personal spending due to job loss fears (29.41%)
• Increasing visibility to leadership (17.06%)
• Delaying requests for raises or promotions (15.29%)

Layoffs Fuel Widespread Job Insecurity

Raymond Lee, president of Careerminds, noted that these findings reveal how U.S. employees are preparing for potential instability. "These findings show that workers across the U.S. are bracing for instability, even if their companies aren't explicitly talking about layoffs," Lee explained.

Recent data underscores these concerns:

• U.S. job cuts surpassed 1.17 million as of November, a 54% increase compared to the first 11 months of 2024
• November alone saw 71,321 job cuts from employers
• While down 53% from October's 153,074 cuts, November's numbers remain 24% higher than November last year

Andy Challenger, workplace expert at Challenger, Gray & Christmas, observed: "Layoff plans fell last month, certainly a positive sign. That said, job cuts in November have risen above 70,000 only twice since 2008: in 2022 and in 2008."

The Need for Better Employer Communication

Lee emphasized that employees shouldn't need to rely on social media for job security guidance. "Employees shouldn't have to rely on TikTok creators to understand how to protect their jobs," he stated.

He urged organizations to address employee anxiety proactively to prevent burnout, turnover, or harmful workplace habits. "The surge of corporate survival content points to a breakdown in employer communication and a growing culture of fear. Workers need clarity, transparency, and real support, not viral hacks. Companies that fail to address this anxiety risk losing talent, engagement, and trust," Lee warned.