In today’s competitive job market, the rise of fake job postings can be frustrating for job seekers. These postings, which advertise roles that may not even exist, serve a variety of purposes for companies. While they may seem deceptive on the surface, many organizations have strategic reasons for posting fake job descriptions. Regardless of their goals, this practice is immoral, cruel, and a different solution needs to be found. Below are some of the most common reasons why a company might engage in this practice:
1. Talent Pool Building
One of the main reasons companies post fake job descriptions is to build a talent pool for future openings. Even if they don’t have any current vacancies, they can use these postings to collect resumes and identify qualified candidates for roles that may open up later. This gives businesses a head start when positions do eventually become available.
2. Market Research
Some companies use fake job postings as a way to conduct market research. By reviewing the responses, they can gauge salary expectations, the level of qualifications, and the experience of job seekers within a specific industry or region. This information can be valuable for benchmarking their own talent acquisition strategies.
3. Brand Visibility
Even when not actively hiring, companies may post job listings to keep their brand visible. Posting job openings helps keep the company’s name in circulation, making it more recognizable to both job seekers and the general market. This strategy can boost brand awareness and positioning for when they are ready to hire.
4. Competitive Intelligence
In some cases, companies use job postings as a way to gather competitive intelligence. They may create fake listings to learn more about the talent available in the market or to identify employees from competing companies who might be seeking a new job. This insight can help shape their own talent strategies or serve as a way to poach talent from competitors.
5. Pipeline for Frequent Turnover Roles
Certain positions, particularly those with high turnover rates, require a constant influx of candidates. For these roles, companies may post continuous or fake job listings to ensure they have a steady pipeline of candidates who can step in quickly when needed. This allows them to be more nimble when positions open up.
6. Negotiating Leverage
Fake job postings can also serve as a tool in salary negotiations. By showing current employees that they are actively looking for external talent, companies can use this as leverage in salary discussions. This tactic is designed to put pressure on employees to accept their terms or demonstrate that external options are available.
7. Keeping Options Open
Sometimes companies post job descriptions with no immediate urgency to fill the role, but to keep their options open in case a “unicorn candidate” with exceptional qualifications comes along. They may not have an urgent need for the role, but they don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to hire someone extraordinary.
Conclusion
While fake job postings can be frustrating for job seekers, understanding the reasons behind them can offer some insight into a company’s strategies. Whether for talent pool building, market research, or maintaining competitive intelligence, these listings often serve a purpose that goes beyond immediate hiring. That said, it’s still a time waster for job seekers given the amount of time it takes to apply for roles, especially senior level positions. Companies need to figure out other ways to gain this information than through the manipulation and misrepresentation of sometimes desperate people. For job seekers, recognizing the possibility of fake postings can help manage expectations and refocus efforts on opportunities that are more likely to be genuine.
