What is 'career catfishing,' and how job seekers and employers can avoid It
NEW YORK (WABC) -- There's a tricky modern trend in the job market called "career catfishing," which frustrates both job seekers and employers. The term, borrowed from the dating app fraud called "Catfishing," involves deceitful posts and applications on job boards.
In a recent survey, job candidates told Resume Genius they've been dishonest on their resume by grossly exaggerating their skill set, and 70% of hiring managers admitted to a bit of "gig-glazing" or lying to candidates at some point in the recruitment process.
Career expert Vicki Salemi at job search engine Monster has the stats.
"Four out of five job seekers tell us at Monster that they've been career catfished. That's significant, we're talking about like 80%," Salemi said.
She says Monster is constantly weeding out potential employers that may bait-and-switch job seekers.
"It's where a job, an employer, says that a job is available, and then you start working there, and it's not what was advertised in the job description, or the culture is not accurate, or the benefits are not what was promised, or the pay," she said.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Suspicious listings range from inaccuracies to complete scams. Job hunters should be on the lookout for key red flags.
"If they give you an offer and extend it verbally, but you don't get anything in writing, or they tell you about the benefits, but there's nothing really tangible that you see in the job offer," Salemi said.
Job seekers should request detailed job descriptions, ask many questions, and try to meet the new boss and tour the office in person.
"It's always a good idea to see the environment and see how people interact with each other. Are they respectful? What's the culture like? What is the office like?" Salemi said.
WHAT NOT TO DO
On the flip side, job candidates can be impostors too, from faking to glazing and straight-up lies.
"You always want to be 100% accurate and honest on your job interview. Because number one, if you're not, you're dishonest," Salemi said. "If you say that you're fluent in these six languages and then you're asked to go, to go be a translator at the UN, you're not going to do well, and you may eventually lose your job."
Remember, a good recruiter can weed out prospects which seem too perfect. Consider hiring a resume writing service. When you land that interview, remember that honesty is the best policy.
Job seekers should also beware of recruiting texts that seem too good to be true. Fake job offers are being investigated by New York City's Office of Consumer and Worker Protection.
"There's been reporting that some of these postings have been fake altogether and are just ways to harvest personal information, really outrageous conduct," Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Sam Levine said.
Also on Levine's radar: employment agencies taking advantage of New Yorkers looking for work.
"People should not have to pay a fee in order to apply for a job. Getting a job right now is hard enough. Forcing people looking for jobs to pay huge fees, I think is unconscionable, and what we're really making clear is that it's also illegal," Levine said.
"If you fudge here and there, it will catch up to you," Salemi said.
People on the job hunt should watch out for how much information they're being asked to give right away. Identity theft can be the endgame with phony listings. If you are asked for your Social Security number right away, or if you're told to pay for materials, like a phone or computer, up front, that's a scam.
Don't click on links, and always research company reviews.
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