Working Wednesday: Don't Post a Job Unless You Are Hiring

 

I recently read an Associated Press report about employers. They posted the fewest job openings in April in the last five months. Usually Spring time employers start hiring again. Winter is the season for traditionally slow hiring months. Now experts are wondering what this means for Summer and beyond. Certainly what is going on in Europe may have some companies deciding to stay the course and not hire anyone. This was evidenced by fewer people quitting their jobs and staying where they are currently, else they would think they could find a better job some place else.

The last paragraph is really why I am writing this blog. Job postings increased by 13% in the past year. Gross hiring increased during the same time period by 4%.

See: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765584349/US-employers-post-fewest-job-openings-in-5-months.html

So what does that statistic tell us?
1. Companies interview but don't hire. They can't find anyone among those that apply?
2. Companies just want to see who applies and get resumes on file for when they do need to hire?
3. Companies got cold feet. They can't decide if the economy is recovering or not and decided to change their mind after they posted a job opening?
4. Or the cold feet reasons are different: retirement plans, health care costs, budget figures, etc. came in after the job postings were announced and all hirings were frozen?

It could be some or all of the above. Some of the questions above are logical and there are times when bad news stops forward progress. But do not be a company that cheats job seekers with premeditated intent. Don't put an ad in the local newspaper just to see who applies when there is no real hiring process. Don't tease by giving someone hope of a better future when all you want to do is take "all about me" way too far by screening for a job but not hiring just in case something comes up. Don't take advantage of people when you over emphasize "expanding" when in fact you're hiring just one extra person. Being literal in this economy is not fair.

People have a set of expectations. They have a set of expectations for large, medium, and small businesses. The evaluation is supposed to be a higher grade the closer a person is to dealing with a company. Smaller companies should get more A's than large corporations. Don't get an "F" for failing job seekers. Be truthful and only post a job when you are going to hire.