job

"Ghost Jobs" – Now You See Them, Now You Don't...

iStockphoto | nadia_bormotova

Now you see it. Now you don’t. The Wall Street Journal recently ran an expose of “ghost jobs,” the gist of which is that many openly advertised job solicitations are fake news. As if the job search process isn’t challenging enough, add another obstacle designed to waste your time and effort.

 The Wall Street Journal article, which refers to a study by Clarify Capital, reports that “Among those [hiring managers] who said they advertised job postings that they weren’t actively trying to fill, close to half said they kept the ads up to give the impression the company was growing,” and “One-third of the managers who said they advertised jobs they weren’t trying to fill said they kept the listings up to placate overworked employees.” But the reasons go on, and may include:

·      Stockpiling candidates in case an employee quits.

·      As a fishing expedition for exceptional applicants who show interest in the company (aka bait).

·      To create a steady rotation of applicants in case actual new hires need to be made.

·      Jobs are publicly posted due to company policies even if the person for the role has been pre-determined or will be an internal hire.

·      Poor hiring logistics (more common in large companies).

·      365 days a year recruiting strategy.

 

Notice a reason conspicuous in its absence from the already too long but hardly exhaustive list above - hiring qualified professionals to do the voodoo they do so well. For the job seeker, ghost jobs are a labyrinth of dead ends and frustration. It is likely you’ve applied for jobs in the past that were bridges to nowhere. Unfortunately, there is no tried-and-true way to avoid the pitfalls of pursuing a ghost job.

Why would companies intentionally risk creating a negative impression among potential candidates by sending them down a rabbit hole? There is a boomerang effect as well. Recruiters and hiring managers create more work for themselves by engaging in these practices. They must engage with interested candidates or spend time creating and participating in a deceptive system designed to fill jobs at the company’s convenience, not the professional looking for immediate work and who would not spend time pursuing any position that isn’t available right now.

Nonetheless, it’s still safe to believe the majority of the job postings you see are valid – companies pay real money to post jobs on the leading boards, and they’ll want to see an ROI. If you suspect an advertised job may not be on the up and up, here are some tips that are in no way guaranteed to work but may, at the very least, help you identify suspect listings.

  • Read the job description. At first glance, it can be difficult to ascertain whether or not a job posting is real or not. Is the job description short on details? Vague? The more information the better.

  • Examine the posting date. See if the ad has a posting date. If it doesn’t, you really can’t know the truth. If it does and it’s recent that’s a good sign. However, it could be an “evergreen job,” which are positions that are always open because there is a large volume of employees doing the same job, high turnover, or some other legitimate business reason which seeks to fill positions on a rolling basis. Try your best to read the tea leaves.

  • Research the company. Just because it’s a Fortune 500 company doesn’t make its hiring practices above reproach. It is always a good idea to research a business before applying for a job. Mitigating the risk of chasing a ghost job is an important component of screening a potential employer.

  • Beware multiple job postings. Remote jobs are sometimes advertised in multiple cities but there is only one job. Hiring managers want to ensure they have as in-depth a pool of candidates from as many locations as possible so they case a wide but deceptive net.

  • Whack-a-Mole jobs can be ghost jobs. Adding to the confusion, you may notice identical job openings a few months apart. That means it’s a real job and a lousy place to work because of the frequent turnover or they’re harvesting applicants with no real opening. Either way, it may be a red flag or two.


Philip Roufail contributed to this article.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.

Andrew Luck Walked Away From His Dream Career To Pursue A New Path. Can You?

iStockphoto.com | Yobro10

iStockphoto.com | Yobro10

Life is unpredictable. We set out on our path, carving out a life and career that’s been many years in the planning and execution.

But what happens when it all goes off the rails?

Exhibit 1: Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck announced his retirement at the end of August. At the age of 29, the franchise QB with a pretty bright future ahead of him decided to walk away from a massive contract to move onto the next stage of his life – whatever that may be.

To put this into perspective – It’s not unusual for a high-performing quarterback to play into his late 30s or early 40s. Tom Brady is 42, and he’s still starting for the Patriots.

In all likelihood, Luck stepped down less than halfway into his career, and entering his prime earning years. He cited the wear and tear of the never-ending cycle of injury and rehabilitation.

I get it, Andrew Luck isn’t your average Joe – he’s probably sitting on a huge nest egg, and has a bachelor’s degree from Stanford to boot, so he’s not going to starve. And yet, don’t underestimate the life transformation this will cause. He has approximately more than 30 years of productive career time ahead of him, and is basically starting over.

Most of us spend our lives preparing for and pursuing a career path. Consider all the time we invest in making ourselves who we are, between choosing a career path, pursuing a specific college degree (or even a graduate degree), and internships, even before starting in our line of work. The years progress, we build upon that experience, and become specialists in our chosen discipline. Next thing you know, we’re essentially stuck because it’s what we know how to do, and we’re good at it.

People change careers all the time, and injury is just one cause. These can include burnout, promotion, demotion, layoff, job elimination, or relocation. And I’ve encountered countless people (self included) who at some point in their career said they were good at their jobs, but their jobs weren’t good for them.

Being pushed into a career change is scary. For most of us, this frequently involves developing new skills and competencies in order to even think about moving forward toward a new path. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average employee stays with their employer for 4.2 years. Be prepared for change, whether you’re ready for it or not.

If there’s any lesson to be taken from Andrew Luck’s surprise retirement, it’s best to be proactive in managing your career. That means performing an honest assessment of both your professional landscape, and where you stand in it. Do you enjoy doing what you do? If you do in fact enjoy what you’re doing, can you do it at another company or is your employer the only game in town, so to speak?

If it’s clear that your career is reaching the end of its shelf life, build your exit strategy before you find yourself without options. Decide on a direction with an understanding of what you’d like to do, and what you’d rather avoid.

Research what the marketplace wants and invest in your skills to match it. Create an individual development plan that documents your goals, and how you intend to get there. And most importantly, always be training – any formal training, certification, or program is an asset, and some of what you learn will be transferable skills you will use no matter where you go or what you do. And it may not require going back to school for another degree, as an easy-to acquire certification may do the trick.


Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercareerstrategies.com.

Jump Start Your Career With A Professional Certification

iStockphoto.com ( SvetaZi )

iStockphoto.com ( SvetaZi )

 

If you're looking to move forward in your career, a certification can be a quick and cost effective way to sharpen your skills, improve your market value, and get some additional letters to place after your name on your LinkedIn profile and business card.

According to the U.S. Department of labor's CareerOneStop, "A certification is a credential that you earn to show that you have specific skills or knowledge. They are usually tied to an occupation, technology, or industry. Certifications are usually offered by a professional organization or a company that specializes in a particular field or technology."

Depending on the credential, the certification process can range anywhere from detailed and tedious, to a brief online course and test. It's faster than pursuing an additional college degree, and can often be done online per your own schedule. So, if you're looking to elevate your game, consider pursuing a certification to round out or solidify your credentials. Depending upon your specific field, here some certifications from which to choose. This list is by no means exhaustive.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project Management Professional (PMP): The leading certification for project managers. It's not easy to get, but it's highly valued.
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM): Not as in-depth as the PMP, but also quite good.

HUMAN RESOURCES
Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) and Certified Professional (SHRM–CP): Designations denoting different levels of expertise as evaluated by the leading body in HR.
Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and Professional in Human Resources (PHR): Different certifying body (HRCI), similar credentials to SHRM-SCP and SHRM-CP.

MARKETING
American Marketing Association Professional Certified Marketer (PCM): Specializations in Digital Marketing, Content Marketing, and Marketing Management.

ENGINEERING
Professional Engineer (PE): The National Society of Professional Engineers offers this designation to demonstrate a higher level of competency in the field.

QUALITY
Six Sigma: There's a ton of certifying bodies for Yellow Belt, Green Belt, and Black Belt certifications. Supply chain, logistics, engineering, and business professionals can leverage a Six Sigma qualification to demonstrate an ability to use a methodical approach to solve problems and improve quality.
ASQ Certification: More of quality discipline oriented credential granted by a governing body.

WRITING & EDITING
Poynter ACES Certificate in Editing: If you have any interest in working in writing or publishing, this can help you elevate your game. Editing and proofreading have their own language and best practices.

This list is just a sampling. The information technology field, for example, has certifications for tons of technologies, security protocols, and systems. Even we resume writers and career coaches have our own credentials. Go online and do some research. Chances are your chosen field has credentials which can help you more forward in your career!


Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, and career coaching services, including a free resume review. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.