Take a job in the tech or media industry and you are sure to live through a few layoffs. I’ve gone through two (and just narrowly missed a third by leaving days before the cuts came). Usually, everybody commiserates over the cuts at a local pub. And in the morning nobody can clearly remember what was said.

But now, we have Twitter where every observation — from the initial shock to the cold confrontation with HR — is broadcasted for the world to see. Yahoo’s Ryan Kuder did just that yesterday when he lost his job as part of a larger round of cuts.

It started with this memorable Tweet that says it all:

Y! layoffs today, I’m
"impacted". I’m heading into work to pack my desk, get my severance
paperwork and hand in my badge…more to come.

He then took us with him as he met with HR:

Heading into my HR meeting.  The room is called Lucy.  Cute, eh?

and an hour later:

  Finishing meeting with HR.  Need to go clear out desk now.


Some last goodbyes:

  Walking around saying good bye to some great people and good friends.

And things he’ll miss:

  This is a serious downer.  Trying to drown it in free lattes.  Which I will miss.

This fly-on-the-wall insight makes for the perfect material for journalists and industry analysts alike. AlleyInsider calls it a new form of literature in the making. Maybe. I just wonder what job prospects Kuder will have now that he’s become infamous in the tech industry for Twittering his final hours. I cannot imagine a recruiter or a clued-in HR officer for a prospective employer will be willing to hire a person who Twitters what’s happening behind the wall.