Fake job mandates: online and recruiters
It seems odd that you see a job ad or get approached by a recruiter for a job that ends up not existing. From what people in my network have been saying, it seems to be happening more and more frequently.
In this short read, we’ll discuss why it’s happening and how you can spot it so that you don’t fall victim or waste your time.
Let’s start with why this might be happening
Going through the motions
The potential hiring firm has already kind of decided on who the right candidate is for a position - probably an internal candidate - but they’re obliged by their own internal processes to conduct a full search of the market. So they initiate search with a reputable executive search firm, who’s acting in good faith, not realising what is really going on. There’s no real position because the internal candidate has already been informally selected. In this case, it’s out of your hands.
Harvesting strong candidates
Recruitment firms want to ensure that their database is up to date with strong candidates in their areas of focus. So, from time to time, they place an ad to harvest the CVs of potentially strong candidates.
Search hijacking
A less than legit recruitment firm - perhaps based somewhere offshore - will hear of a firm trying to hire. They’ll sometimes then place their own ad without any prior agreement with the client firm. They’ll create a short list of good candidates very quickly and approach the hiring manager saying, ‘look we already have the candidates, why don’t you interview the strongest ones who are now exclusive to us, on this list. We’ll charge you a flat fee lower than you would be or are currently being charged in London”.
Market info rinsing
It may be that you’re working at a competitor of someone at a rival firm. Without anyone internal and certainly not being sanctioned by their employer, that person may be open to a conversation, in an informal way. This allows them to gain value from your expert market views, get the names of your client network, and or understand what strategy and tactics that your current employer - their competitors - have adopted. There was never a job. This individual just wants to use the opportunity to take value from you for their own benefit.
What should you look for?
Fake companies with weak social media presence or fake LinkedIn profiles. Do your due diligence.
Recruiters who won’t disclose the name of their client and are vague about the position, the role and responsibilities and reporting lines.
Interviewers who don’t seem to take a real interest in you or the value you have to offer. Rather, they focus on your market views, proprietary information about your current employer or your network - especially client information. They’ll become more than a little vague and perhaps flustered when the tables are turned and you ask them for what needs to be fixed, avoided or achieved in their value chain.
Something that looks just too good to be true. Promises of comp above the market level, WFH and other overly great benefits probably indicate that something is awry.
An inability of the recruiter to name any of the people you’ll be meeting or indeed, anyone who works in the department or firm. Also, a vagueness about where the firm is in their recruitment process should set off alarm bells.
One slight of hand that I’ve seen twice is that the employer explains that they are a start up and the candidate was asked to work for free ‘initially’.
It’s dreadful that job seekers who are keen to get back into work or make a move are being targeted in these ways. Keep your eyes wide open and do what you can to validate the people who you are interacting with in your job search.