Nowadays, GenZ are coming up with multiple workplace names and Career catfishing is one of them, an emerging trend that has gained traction, particularly among junior and mid-career professionals. This term, while reminiscent of the well-known concept of “catfishing” in online dating, refers to job seekers who accept offers but fail to show up on their first day without notifying their employers. It presents a deceptive persona during the job application process. This can include fabricating qualifications, such as degrees or work experience, or simply ghosting employers after accepting a job offer. The phenomenon has been notably prevalent among Generation Z workers, who often view this behaviour as a means of asserting independence in response to frustrating hiring processes characterized by lengthy applications and delayed feedback from recruiters.
While career catfishing is predominantly associated with Gen Z (those under 27), it is also seen among millennials, with 34% of Gen Z and 24% of millennials admitting to this practice. In contrast, only 11% of Gen X and 7% of baby boomers reported similar behaviours. This trend reflects a broader generational shift in attitudes towards work, where personal well-being often takes precedence over traditional corporate expectations
Types of Career Catfishing
- Job Ghosting is the most common form of catfishing where candidates accept job offers but do not show up on their first day.
- Impersonation means pretending to be someone else using another person’s credentials or identity.
- False Skill Certifications which fabricates certifications enhancing perceived qualifications.
- Fake Educational Information to list the degrees from institutions where the candidate has never studied.
Challenges for Employers and Recruiters
The challenges impact the time of hiring, especially with the notice period in most organisations now being prevalent up to 2 and 3 months. The pressure on hiring therefore is a dire need to have back-up candidates and/or offers. Unfortunately for hiring teams, job opportunities in the market and a shortage of good talent do not offer the option of backup candidates, since backup can be initiated only after knowing that a candidate did not show up on the date of joining.
Backup candidates need to be presented becomes a big challenge for recruiters because they need to restart the process from step one of sourcing, screening, shortlisting and interviewing all over again, which could take up to 3 to 4 weeks depending on the skill and level of the position, not to mention the actual loss in revenues to the company for up to 3-4 months until the replacement joins.
Which sectors are experiencing this the most?
Very first, this trend started with Technology / Software and IT services organisations in the 90s, the economic reforms, the opening up of the economy with increasing FDI and global organisations setting up operations in India, the banking sector growth, telecom growth, retail sector growth and the overall increase in compensation combined with increased aspirations has resulted in this trend in almost all sectors. This increasing trend with the junior-level potential employees, with mid-management joining the bandwagon, has now built up the challenge in business and hiring teams have been experiencing. However, no concerted effort from either the organisations or associations has taken any major step to finding ways to confront or manage this trend.
The Rise of Workplace Ghosting
The trend is seen as a counteraction to the pervasive issue of office ghosting, where employers or candidates abruptly cut off communication without notice. A 2023 survey by Indeed found that three out of four UK employees have ghosted potential employers, often citing perceived rudeness, misleading job descriptions, or delays in responses as reasons.
A Risky Strategy
While career catfishing allows Gen Z to reclaim a sense of power, it could have long-term consequences. Hiring managers often view Gen Z as challenging to work with, citing issues like entitlement and lack of motivation, as per a report by Resume Builder. These negative perceptions could make it harder for young professionals to establish trust with future employers.
Additionally, with job openings declining and competition increasing, rejecting roles or failing to show up might backfire. According to Fortune, the graduating class of 2025 is expected to face even tougher job market conditions, with applications already up 24% compared to the previous year.
What Can Be Done?
Ultimately, the rise of career catfishing highlights systemic issues in hiring practices. Clear communication, timely feedback, and mutual respect between employers and candidates are crucial to bridging the divide. Both sides must work toward more transparent and professional interactions to foster a healthier workplace culture.
The Impact of Career Catfishing
For Candidates
- It damages your reputation with the employers, might hamper your professional networks due to unprofessionalism, and your future opportunities might go down.
- It might also affect your future chances with the same or similar organizations, especially in tight-knit industries as applying the same strategy multiple times might ruin your subsequent opportunities.
- When you avoid confrontation, you also avoid constructive feedback that might contribute to your overall growth. You might lose the insight to gain valuable skills that will benefit you in the long term.
For Recruiters
- Not showing up to work without informing might severely disturb operations within the organization. Employers might stress over the fact that they immediately need to fill the position to keep things running without any significant disruptions.
- It increases the recruitment cost since the resources that were employed for the hiring and onboarding process of the previous employee who failed to show up have been wasted. They now have to begin the process all over again.
- Ghosting erodes the trust of employers for every successive hiring. They are now more cautious. It might lead to unfair behaviour, like an even more tough recruitment process for future candidates.
Career catfishing disrupts professional relationships and undermines the business, hampering productivity. While avoidance might seem like the best and easiest option, it is crucial to be competent and inform employers of the true nature of one’s qualifications, skills, and availability. It has dire consequences for both candidates and recruiters. Even if one refuses the opportunity, it showcases truthfulness and integrity that might keep future opportunities open. By fostering open and honest communication, we must eliminate the trend of catfishing in professional settings and ghosting employers in the name of independence, choice, and work-life balance.
