Although April Fools’ Day is over, this is no joke. If we didn’t have enough to go into it, now we have to think about fake job ads. An increasing number of job seekers are noticing this trend. But, unfortunately, it’s one that’s been around for quite some time.
According to The Wall Street Journal, a Clarify Capital survey of more than 1,000 hiring managers found that 27% reported having job openings for more than four months. Of those, about half are left to give the impression that the company is doing well.
Other employers leave job postings for various reasons. They may want to give the impression to stressed employees that help is on the way. Or they may be hedging their bets that they will need employees in the future.
If this sounds depressing to the job seeker, it is. Job search is a tedious process that takes a great deal of time and energy. It requires job seekers to sneak out of work to conduct a series of interviews. If the job seeker gets caught in the process, it could put his current job at risk.
Some companies will delay hiring because they are looking for the perfect candidate. After some time, they decided not to fill the role at all. Other companies delay hiring to save money. In some cases, the hiring process can take a long time until the hiring manager changes. The new hiring manager may want to reassess the role.
Companies often view job candidates like a product. Imagine going shopping at a store like Target. You can look at each item and in the end, if you don’t want to buy anything, no one will care. But with a job seeker, this is not a fair trial. Job seekers are people, not products. These decisions have a real impact on their lives.
I once interviewed for a job at a large financial services firm. The company conducted me approximately 12 rounds of interviews over five months, including in-person interviews in another state. Towards the end of the process, they assured me that I would get an offer. I stopped looking for other jobs, and started packing my things to move. A few weeks passed and the hiring manager called. The role was put on hold from the start. He continued to meet with me, hoping that he would eventually be approved. he did not do.
If you are a job seeker, remember that your job search is a numbers game. If you don’t hear back from a company or if they are going slow, be careful with your bets. Apply for more roles. Keep things going, until you find an employer who is actually hiring. Look for job postings that haven’t appeared in months, and that contain specific details about the job. In the end, you will find a very suitable real opportunity.
Angela Copeland, a leadership and career expert, can be reached at www.angelacopeland.com.