It’s a common complaint I hear at job seeker focused events. “I applied for a position, and immediately received a rejection email, or nothing at all.”
Posting positions that aren’t actually open is a practice that some companies engage in for various reasons, though it is generally considered unethical and can lead to negative perceptions by cleared candidates.
5 Reasons to Stop Posting Catch All Positions
Here are a few reasons why you really shouldn’t post these catch all positions:
1. Building a Talent Pool
Companies may post positions to gather resumes and build a database of potential candidates for future opportunities. This allows them to quickly fill positions as they become available, but it can be misleading for job seekers who think they are applying for an immediate opening.
2. Testing the Market
Sometimes, businesses post fake job listings to gauge the current job market, assessing the availability of talent and salary expectations without a genuine intention to hire at that moment.
3. Compliance with Policies
Certain organizations have policies or legal obligations to post job openings publicly, even if they have an internal candidate in mind. This can create a false sense of opportunity for external applicants.
4. Creating Buzz
Posting a job can also serve as a marketing tactic, creating buzz around a company and its growth, even if the role isn’t actively being filled.
5. Assessing Competitors
Companies might use job postings to attract talent from competitors or to understand what skills are available in the market, thereby gaining strategic insights.
Transparency in Hiring is Key
While these practices can offer certain strategic advantages to employers, they can also erode trust and damage a company’s reputation among job seekers. Transparency and honesty in hiring practices foster better relationships with potential employees and contribute to a more positive corporate image.
If you absolutely need to post these positions due to potential turnover, proposal or potential win openings, or something else, please be forthcoming in the job description and / or your communication with cleared candidates.
THE CLEARED RECRUITING CHRONICLES: YOUR WEEKLY DoD RECRUITING TIPS TO OUT COMPETE THE NEXT NATIONAL SECURITY STAFFER.
