💼 The Honest Recruiter: Is the Company Really Hiring? Not Every Job Posting Means There’s a Real Vacancy.

Let’s talk about something most candidates and even recruiters (sometimes) don’t realise. 

Some companies post jobs… but they’re not actually hiring. Bizarre? Yes, it happens, and perhaps more common than you'd think.

Companies might be testing the market, or benchmarking salaries.

Or they’re just curious about how many people are out there looking for a job, or what kind of talent can they attract.

I received a couple who gave me a detailed brief for a “critical role.” I spent my time searching, shortlisting, interviewing, and some even reached the offer discussion stage… and then they paused everything, giving whatever reasons possible.

It was frustrating not just for me, but for the candidates who had invested time and energy into the process.

A note to companies:

We hope you don’t engage recruiters just to “test the market.”

It’s a waste of our time and effort, and worse, it damages our credibility with candidates. This is especially for recruiters who are working hard to build trust and deliver great talent, this kind of practice sets everyone back.

Recruitment should never be a guessing game for anyone involved.