Is This Job Posting Legit???
he average jobseeker will spend countless hours within a week applying for positions they see advertised online. I’ve always discouraged jobseekers from focusing on online submissions for several reasons. One reason is that you can never really know if an advertised position is truly a legitimate opening.
I know some of you may be shaking your head wondering why a company would advertise a position(s) they have no intentions of filling. Below are 5 reasons why.
1. The “Known Candidate” – Oftentimes, employers hire people who have been referred through various networking channels. A hiring manager knows of a near future need in his /her department but they haven’t gone through the channels of having the position approved and posted with Human Resources. In the meantime, the hiring manager meets a former colleague at a networking function who introduces them to Rebecca Referral. Rebecca Referral makes a great impression and the hiring manager decides to bring her on board.
Before the hiring manager can make Rebecca Referral a part of the team, HR requires that the position be posted internally and externally for 5 – 10 business days. In the meantime, Julie Jobseeker views the job online and merrily applies. Unfortunately, Julie Jobseeker will eventually receive a “thanks, but no thanks” email because the position is already filled.
2. The “Internal Candidate” – Similar to the “Known Candidate” the “Internal Candidate” may come along after a job has already been posted. Several external candidates have interviewed but once Ida Internal puts her name in the hat, she’s landed the job. While Ida Internal’s current manager and new manager work out a transition date, Julie Jobseeker views the job online and merrily applies. She will suffer the same fate as she did when she applied to the position that was already filled by Rebecca Referral.
3. “Testing the Waters” – On occasion, a hiring manager knows they will need to add a position to their team. However, they aren’t sure if they want to hire someone with 2 – 3 years of experience or someone with 5 – 7 years of experience. In this scenario, the hiring manager will ask Human Resource to post a job online so they can “see who responds.” They will review the resumes that come in and then determine the level of person they would like to hire…..in a few months. Once again, poor Julie Jobseeker views the job online and merrily applies. While it is possible that in a few months Julie Jobseeker could be contacted for the position, most likely she won’t. Why? Well the hiring manager’s original post was for someone with 5 -7 years of experience and their budget will only allow for someone with 2 – 3 years of experience. Unfortunately, Julie Jobseeker is overqualified.
4. “Visa Sponsorship” – If an employer identifies a foreign worker they want to hire, they must make a good-faith effort to fill the position with a U.S. worker. Before the hiring manager can bring Faith Foreigner onto the team, the company must advertise and recruit for the position in the U.S. first. Human Resources will post the position on-line and in other mediums per the Department of Labor guidelines. Julie Jobseeker views the posting and feels she is a great fit for the position and merrily applies. Julie Jobseeker even had the opportunity to interview via phone. However, once the company has satisfied all the Department of Labor requirements, Faith Foreigner accepts an offer and once again, Julie Jobseeker receives the “thanks, but no thanks” email.
5. “Database Refresh” – In many instances, third party recruiters a.k.a. headhunters, need to refresh their database of resumes. In this instance, they will place a job posting advertising multiple positions (e.g., Accountant, Financial Analyst, Finance Managers, etc.). Although they may not have a current “need” they want to add some fresh blood to their database. Well, poor Julie Jobseeker sees the posting on various job boards and merrily applies to the same posting multiple times. Well, we know her fate. Julie Jobseeker’s resume will sit in the database of a third party staffing agency. We can only hope she may receive a call in the near future.
Viewing jobs online is a good way for a jobseeker to learn about the types of positions an employer may have available and the requirements needed to qualify for the job. However, it isn’t always the most effective way to land a new job. Use the net as a way to network yourself into a “legit” job opening!
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