Fake Job Postings

I can remember when a person looking for a job would buy the Sunday or Wednesday newspaper and look at the Classified ads. It was a simpler world in those days. But was it more honest?

Sometimes I think that I earn part of my living helping the frustrated. Usually, it is someone claiming that they are being discriminated against. But sometimes it is complaints that applications go unanswered.

There can be a simple reason for an unanswered application: The company does not have a good process in place to handle job applications. Management is rude. Or, what seems to be more prevalent these days, the job posting isn’t real.

In May of this year, ResumeBuilder.com did a survey of over 1,600 hiring managers. The results were, to say the least, troubling. The key findings were: 40% of companies posted a fake job listing this year; 30% currently have active fake listings; and 70% of hiring managers believe the practice is morally acceptable

(For the record, the jobs are posted not only on job boards, but also on company websites.)

Why do companies do this? According to the survey for two reasons:

First, their employees are overworked. Posting ads gives the impression that help is on the way. The company recognizes the stress and strain employees are experiencing. Second, posting fake job postings not only increases revenue, but also morale and productivity, because the overworked employees think the company cares.

Apparently, these companies think they have stupid employees. Since the ads are fake, even if employees see “applicants” being interviewed, and 85% of the hiring managers questioned said they did interview for the position, after a while employees will figure out that it is all a scam. Help is not on the way. So, if revenue, morale and productivity had a rise, eventually, they will have a fall, perhaps even a crash. It’s a stupid way to do business.

Likewise, posting job ads is said to give the impression that a company is growing. That is an important message to send to competitors, if they are foolish. When it becomes clear that the ads are fake, competitors will use the strategy against the company as a way to question their morals and long-term sustainability. It will backfire.

What is most troubling for me is the 70% of the hiring managers surveyed saying, “posting fake jobs is morally acceptable.” It most assuredly is not.

The important question is, how can a job seeker spot a fake ad? They can’t. But there are two obvious indications of possible dishonesty. (Not being contacted is not one of them. Forty-five percent of the hiring managers said they contacted applicants for fake jobs!) First, the salary range could be ridiculous. That said, offering too much or too little will be self-sabotage. (Wasn’t it Walter Scott who said, “O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive?”) Moreover, it would defeat any benefit about increasing morale, productivity and revenue. If employees see that the company wants to pay significantly more than what they are currently earning, the employees will demand raises. On the other hand, if the employees see that the salary being offered is less than they are currently earning, they will think the company is looking to hire cheap labor and, if they are smart, they will immediately start their own job searches.

Second, on most job boards applicants can see when the job was first posted. If a company has been looking for more than a month or two to fill a position, apply but don’t hold your breath. (Of course, the company can “close” the ad and then repost it.) If the company really wanted to hire someone, they would have done so.

To be fair, the reason that a company cannot fill a position in a timely manner may not because the job is fake. It could very simply be that no one wants to work for the company. Either way, be careful.

Fake Job Postings | Employment Edification (wordpress.com)

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