Do you think there are many employers that advertise jobs that don't exist?

Amber07

I have wondered this myself recently when my hubby was job hunting - there were a lot of jobs that were 'no longer availiable' (and some WERE pretty cushy sounding numbers) then he got emails about the more rubbish ones.

ceridwen

nirelandguy wrote: »

Yes, I'm not sure if this is the case UK wide, but in N.I for fair employment every job has to be advertised, so even though there technically is no job because they let someone in the back door, they still have to advertise the job.

Not just N.I. methinks.....that was the reason the job I was being interviewed for didnt really exist....some sorta Public Sector thingie about having to advertise all jobs openly to give everyone a fair chance to apply - in theory (even if they had already virtually been allocated "internally").

barneythedog

I recently spent most of the day in Maidstone on a CV delicvery job session. Not one of the agencies had an open position they could put me forward for despite me finding 11 suitabcle vacancies advertised in various windows. ironically i also had one job interview for the day with the Supreme Corporation on Bank Street for a position which advertised good promotional prospects, training in other areas etc. The position turned out to be a self employed sales role with no basic wage and all travel costs had to be met by the employee! This isn't the thread to harp on about this firm there are plently of others on various websites but my point is this particular role was misadvertised. I have allready written to Trading Standards and Watchdog as have many others so watch this space!

onlyforboards_2

seadee wrote: »

I see no point in advertising for something that is not there as it wastes too much time for everyone.

Well, for a lot of jobs currently on the Job Centre website the reason for advertising a non-existent job is to reap emails to sell on to marketers or to promote a new company.

Recruitment agencies do it all the time and even send people for jobs that get confirmed but do not exist. I haven't worked out the point of that yet!

Andy_L

nirelandguy wrote: »

Yes, I'm not sure if this is the case UK wide, but in N.I for fair employment every job has to be advertised, so even though there technically is no job because they let someone in the back door, they still have to advertise the job.

In NI it may be a anti-sectarian (sp?) thing but in England (and prob the rest of the UK) the private sector do not have to advertise.
In the public sectorthe jobs have to be advertised but junior grades only have to be advertised locally whilst more senior ones have to be advertised nationally (although with the rise of internet job sites that distinction is fairly meaningless) Depending on the department, the likleyhood of finding an internal candidate & how quickly they need to fill the post it may be advertised internally before going external or they may do both at the same time.

ScoobyStew

onlyforboards wrote: »

Well, for a lot of jobs currently on the Job Centre website the reason for advertising a non-existent job is to reap emails to sell on to marketers or to promote a new company.

Recruitment agencies do it all the time and even send people for jobs that get confirmed but do not exist. I haven't worked out the point of that yet!

that sucks! I'm starting to think that recruitment agencies are just con artists

DKLS

Public sector jobs it happens frequently. I have been in the position where I have already been working in the organisation, and gone for another role, and been told that the job effectively was mine, but they would have to advertise and interview. Seems a complete waste of time and money to me, as well as being unfair on candidates.

Private sector I have never seen it happen.

Dundunbanza

This is really frustrating, what I don't understand with the public sector is that if the job has been earmarked for an internal candidate why not only advertise the job internally and not waste everybodies time.

I also suspect that if a job is advertised externally in the public sector and an internal applicant applies that it is very difficult for the employer to justify to HR etc that an external applicant was more suitable due to extra costs etc., so the internal candidate gets the job even if they are not as good as the external.

I am currently looking of full time permanent work and had an interview a few weeks ago for a position through an agency...I was suspicious of the whole set up as I had applied for the exact same job 2 months previous and heard nothing from the agency then they rang out of the blue and offered me an interview but didn't mention my previous application. So I went along thought I did well...the interviewer said I would find out the outcome in 2 wks which I thought was a bit excessive anyway 2 weeks later I got an email from the agency saying they really liked me however due to the economic climate are no longer employing for the position, I have a strong suspicion that this job did not exist even though I attended an interview. It was just a big waste of time for me.

onlyforboards_2

I have been applying for council jobs the one thing I am noticing is that the job descriptions and person specs are very poor. One was only three lines for an £18 grand job!
This is making me think that these jobs already have internal applicants lined up, you have to dig around like crazy to find out what the job actually is.

marvalous

I recently attended a course by the outplacement agency that looks after those of us that were made redundant by our company and they said approximately 90% of the jobs in private sector are unadvertised. If you just think about for a minute, you will realise it is true as there are thousands of companies across the UK that need staff (recession or no recession) but only so many advertisements. Obviously, recruitment has been cut but this means that advertising is cut first and now employers are more heavily reliant on recommendations or internal candidates.

Therefore, you have to use your network and keep your ears to the ground. Just from my experience, 4 of the major jobs I have had in my career I have gotten through network contacts or based on my reputation