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Fake Job Listings Are Proliferating

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Re: Fake Job Listings Are Proliferating

#21
post #14

We need more regulation of commercial speech. It should be unlawful with serious penalties to knowingly mislead people via commercial speech.

I concur. We already have laws about commercial speech regarding false advertising laws in the US. I am not sure why a job listings cannot be beholden to similar laws, as well. Aren't companies, on some highly pedantic level, "advertising" that they have an open position when listing a job?

Re: Fake Job Listings Are Proliferating

#22

Nothing new, just amplified by AI. Companies inflate open roles to make themselves look more legit. A bonus is they can trawl for candidates and keep resumes in the back pocket. AI makes this easier so it can be done for less effort so more companies can do it. If you want a real job that really exists, aim for intros to hiring managers.

My 'company' is actually a governmental agency, and they even had one or a few fake job postings. So, I completely understand companies using fake postings to artificially inflate themselves, but that would have not be relevant for us.

So, why did it happen then? Well, we have a handful of people on H1-B visas. Apparently, there is some requirement that employers are required to demonstrate that there are not any other capable applicants than the one they are sponsoring or something like that. So, my employer made the posts, collected all the resumes, and just stored them in one of my coworker's desk drawers.

I wonder how often other employers are doing this very same thing as well?

Re: Fake Job Listings Are Proliferating

#23

What people fail to understand is that fake job postings pollute the pool and make real hiring impossible. We’re back to a referrals only job market.

I was never able to get a job through applications on LinkedIn, Indeed, etc. Every job I got was through a referral, and the same is true for my friends who are also programmers.

I am so screwed then. I have been wishy-washy about going on the hunt again. However, I have absolutely no network. Every dev I worked with that I have any way of contacting, which were not many to begin with, has completely left the field in pursuit of some other role.

Re: Fake Job Listings Are Proliferating

#24
post #10

That’s why tools like Jobs Applier AI Agent are proliferating as well. Fight fire with fire, I guess?

We need a snappy word for everything in life becoming a shitty escalating cat and mouse game. I’m hearing the word enshittification a lot these days but unsure if it’s right here

It isn't quite snappy or trendy but "vicious cycle" describes it well, but not completely.

Re: Fake Job Listings Are Proliferating

#25
post #10

That’s why tools like Jobs Applier AI Agent are proliferating as well. Fight fire with fire, I guess?

We need a snappy word for everything in life becoming a shitty escalating cat and mouse game. I’m hearing the word enshittification a lot these days but unsure if it’s right here

It's generally called an arms race. When SUVs came along and now everybody has a big car because everybody else has a big car that's an arms race.

Re: Fake Job Listings Are Proliferating

#27
post #10

That’s why tools like Jobs Applier AI Agent are proliferating as well. Fight fire with fire, I guess?

We need a snappy word for everything in life becoming a shitty escalating cat and mouse game. I’m hearing the word enshittification a lot these days but unsure if it’s right here

You can call it a butter battle if you’d like

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Butter_Battle_Book

Re: Fake Job Listings Are Proliferating

#28

Nothing new, just amplified by AI. Companies inflate open roles to make themselves look more legit. A bonus is they can trawl for candidates and keep resumes in the back pocket. AI makes this easier so it can be done for less effort so more companies can do it. If you want a real job that really exists, aim for intros to hiring managers.

Who are these people keeping resumes in their "back pocket". Has anyone ever been reached out about a job months or years later. Has anyone here ever just keep a resume just in case?

This actually happened to me once, with about 4 years between sending my cv and recruiter contact. I don't believe it's very common tho.

Re: Fake Job Listings Are Proliferating

#29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who are these people keeping resumes in their "back pocket". Has anyone ever been reached out about a job months or years later. Has anyone here ever just keep a resume just in case?

This actually happened to me once, with about 4 years between sending my cv and recruiter contact. I don't believe it's very common tho.

Was it effective? Did you take a chance on the role they were offering you?

Re: Fake Job Listings Are Proliferating

#30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This actually happened to me once, with about 4 years between sending my cv and recruiter contact. I don't believe it's very common tho.

Was it effective? Did you take a chance on the role they were offering you?

It was Google in 22. I passed their interviews and hiring committee, but before getting an offer they started the hiring freeze and big purge. So yes and no I suppose.
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