Have you ever extended a job offer only to have the candidate fail to show up on their first day—with no explanation? If so, you might have experienced what’s becoming a widespread phenomenon known as career catfishing. This new trend is leaving employers frustrated and scrambling to fill vacant positions. But what exactly is career catfishing, and how can you prevent it from disrupting your hiring process?
What is Career Catfishing?
Career catfishing occurs when a candidate accepts a job offer, often after weeks of interviews, only to fail to show up on the first day of work—without any notice or explanation. It's a phenomenon that has been gaining traction, particularly in industries with tight talent pools and competitive job markets.
It’s not just about candidates ghosting their employers—career catfishing represents a deeper issue with how candidates perceive the hiring process, work environments, and even corporate culture. It can be seen as an act of silent protest in response to poor candidate experiences or unclear job expectations.
Why Is Career Catfishing Trending?
The rise of career catfishing is tied to several systemic issues in hiring and workplace practices. Gen Z, in particular, has become the poster group for this trend. According to the 2025 Future of Work Survey by CV Genius, one in three Gen Z workers have admitted to career catfishing, along with one in four Millennials. While this survey was conducted in the UK, it's clear that this behavior is affecting the U.S. market just as much. This behavior can be attributed to frustration with unsatisfactory work environments, vague job descriptions, and opaque hiring processes.
Matt Loop, VP and Head of Asia at HR platform Rippling, in a NY Post article explains that candidates may use career catfishing as a way to reclaim power in an often brutal and competitive job market. With limited trust in companies’ hiring practices, some candidates turn to this silent rebellion to demand transparency and better treatment.
💡 Curious about why Gen Z candidates are leading the charge in career catfishing? Take a look at our blog on "What Gen Z Talent Wants— and How to Deliver" for deeper insights into this generational shift.
What Can You Do About Career Catfishing?
While career catfishing is an emerging challenge for employers, there are several strategies you can implement to minimize its occurrence and protect your hiring process from this trend.
-
In-Office Previews Matter
If you’re hiring for an in-office role, it’s essential to engage candidates early by giving them a chance to experience your office environment before their first day. Whether it’s through a tour or a casual meet-and-greet with their potential team, offering this preview helps candidates visualize themselves in the role and better understand the work culture. This step not only builds excitement about the opportunity but also ensures that the office dynamic aligns with their expectations, making them more likely to show up on day one. - Always Have Back-Up Candidates
To stay ahead of career catfishing, always have 1-3 backup candidates in your pipeline for every role you’re hiring for. Job seekers are becoming increasingly unpredictable, and it’s your job to adapt. By keeping several options open, you ensure your hiring process remains robust, even if a candidate pulls out at the last minute. This not only saves time but keeps your recruitment process moving forward without interruption. - Rethink Your Recruiting and Onboarding Approach
Given that career catfishing may be tied to poor candidate engagement, it’s important to rethink how you manage communication and expectations throughout the hiring process. After a candidate accepts an offer, stay proactive by checking in regularly (at least weekly). For example, say, “Are you still all set to start on [insert date]? Has anything changed since we last connected? We are so excited to have you and can’t wait to introduce you to the rest of the team!” This proactive communication ensures the candidate feels involved and appreciated.
Additionally, create an “easy out” for candidates who may be hesitant to confront their employer after changing their mind or accepting another offer. Rather than pressuring them to stay committed, make it clear that honesty is valued. Let them know that it’s okay to share if they’ve had a change of heart or received a better opportunity. For example, you could say: 'If anything changes, please let us know as soon as possible. We appreciate your transparency and would prefer to hear from you early so we can adjust accordingly.' This ensures an open and respectful dialogue, helping to avoid ghosting and fostering trust on both sides.
- Leverage Market Data to Understand Trends
Your hiring strategy should be driven by data. Start by analyzing which roles or departments have the highest rates of career catfishing. Look for patterns—are specific teams seeing more no-shows? Are job descriptions too vague, or are unrealistic expectations being set during interviews? By identifying these trends, you can pinpoint the root cause and take corrective actions—whether it’s refining job descriptions, adjusting interview expectations, or improving communication across teams.
Tools like Hoops’ Market Insights Reports offer valuable salary benchmarking and compensation data to help you assess whether your offers are competitive. Perhaps the reason candidates are disappearing is because they received a better offer. By leveraging market data, you can identify where your process may need refinement to address these issues. - Avoid Ghost Jobs & Professional Ghosting
Avoid contributing to the problem by posting Ghost Jobs—openings that aren’t actually meant to be filled or are used to create a false sense of hiring activity—or by engaging in Professional Ghosting, where companies string candidates along through interviews only to abruptly cut off all communication. These practices can erode trust between companies and candidates. Instead, be transparent about the positions you're hiring for. If you're building a pipeline for future roles, clearly indicate in the job description that the position is part of a talent pool for upcoming opportunities, not an immediate opening. This is what we call Evergreen Jobs—transparent, honest postings for positions that may not be active today but will be in the future, giving candidates a clear understanding of the situation.
💡 Want more tips on keeping candidates engaged? Check out our blog on "Why Candidates Ghost You—and How to Avoid It" for actionable strategies to improve candidate communication.
Office Ghosting: A New Trend in Employee Engagement
While career catfishing focuses on candidates, office ghosting is a growing concern for employers once candidates do start their jobs. Office ghosting refers to employees who show up to their first day but then fail to return, giving no explanation. This can be as disruptive as career catfishing and usually happens due to poor onboarding processes or mismatched job expectations. Proactively engaging new hires, setting clear expectations, and ensuring they understand the role's duties will reduce the risk of office ghosting, ensuring they stay committed to the role.
Conclusion: Navigating the Rise of Career Catfishing
Career catfishing isn’t just about missing out on candidates; it reflects a larger shift in how today’s job seekers view the hiring process. Many candidates, especially among younger generations, are navigating the job market with a sense of frustration or jadedness, often due to previous negative experiences with unclear expectations or unfulfilled promises. While this behavior may also stem from systemic issues outside of your control, it's essential to acknowledge and address these challenges.
By fostering a culture of transparency, clear communication, and mutual respect, employers can start rebuilding trust with candidates. Engaging with candidates more effectively throughout the hiring process (especially after an offer is accepted), staying proactive, and leveraging tools like Hoops’ Market Insights Reports, can help mitigate career catfishing and create a more positive candidate experience.
Now is the time to lead the charge for change, not only to attract the best talent but to set a new standard of trust and respect in hiring that benefits both employers and job seekers.
Ready to combat career catfishing and improve your hiring process? Contact Hoops today for more insights on how we can help you streamline your recruiting efforts and strengthen your talent strategy.
Simplify hiring. Amplify growth. Visit hoopshr.com or call 877-262-7358 to get started!
#yourbesthire
