Hiring professionals often subject job seekers to weeks of scrutiny and skills testing to make sure they live up to their claims. Unfortunately for job seekers, many employers don't hold themselves to the same standards, and they misrepresent jobs to attract better talent for tedious roles. The next time you're hunting for a job, research companies as thoroughly as possible to avoid getting roped in by these sneaky hiring tactics.
Bait and Switch
Disreputable companies frequently target entry-level job seekers with bait-and-switch ads that promote exciting sales roles with great incentives. The jobs sound like white-collar roles with career potential, but you soon discover they're undesirable door-to-door positions requiring loads of legwork for little base pay. Interviewers are notorious for keeping up the charade throughout the interview process, making it essential to use sites like Glassdoor and Kununu to get insights from fellow job seekers.
Low Compensation
Beware of employers who justify a low salary with promises of fast advancement. Regardless of perks, healthy companies offer compensation in line with industry standards. Employers have no obligation to promote you up the chain once you accept the job, and starting low makes it harder to get a fair salary when hunting for a new job. Negotiate better pay, or hold out for a company that's willing to invest in strong candidates.
Distraction and Diversion
Many startups know the power of good marketing, so they write job postings with lots of personality and distracting perks to draw attention away from the downsides. They might play up the flexible hours, post photos of cool break rooms or boast about the fun, casual vibe. A closer look shows you the job has high turnover because HR is nonexistent and the company is overloaded with basic operational flaws that create conflict and hostility between employees. You might have to put up with horrible managers, slow pay or erratic work schedules. If you take the job, the "coolness" rapidly wears off, revealing a toxic environment full of unhappy people.
Inflated Job Titles
Putting a fancy job title on grunt work is an easy way to hook entry-level job seekers. You see a list of skills and traits in your wheelhouse and think, "What an amazing opportunity for someone with little experience!" In reality, finding engaging work with an innovative company is hard even with an extensive background, so don't be fooled by romanticized dream jobs.
Vague Details
Too often, employers are biased against job seekers who aren't currently employed in full-time positions. They try to lure top talent with evasive postings for seasonal, commission-only and temporary roles or jobs without benefits. Whether they're looking for a second job, consulting work or short-term experience, many job seekers are happy to take these positions. Employers could easily attract skilled workers with honest information, but they choose to mislead candidates to weed out people they deem unfit.
As a job seeker, you can't rely on employers to look out for your interests. Many companies want the best talent at bargain prices, even if their jobs don't require highly skilled workers. Ask detailed questions during the interview process to get a clear picture of the job, and move on when recruiters show signs of unethical behavior.
Photo courtesy of Sira Anamwong at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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