Companies love lecturing job applicants about honesty while somehow changing the salary, location, schedule, responsibilities, benefits and even the job itself halfway through the hiring process.
An applicant exaggerates something on a resume and suddenly it’s an integrity problem.
Meanwhile, a company can advertise an $80,000–$100,000 salary, drag you through multiple interviews and then send you an offer for $62,000 because apparently “the approved budget changed.”
A remote job can slowly become hybrid and then five days a week in the office.
A senior position can suddenly become junior — while keeping the senior responsibilities.
A temporary position that was “basically guaranteed” to become permanent can stay temporary indefinitely.
A promotion can become an undefined future possibility.
Training can become a folder of outdated documents and a coworker who doesn’t have time to help you.
Unlimited PTO can turn into unlimited conversations about why you can’t actually take PTO.
And even things you get in writing may contain language giving the company considerably more flexibility than you thought you negotiated.
In this video, we’re going through the many ways job postings, recruiters, hiring managers and employers can give applicants information that changes later — including salary bait-and-switches, remote-work changes, schedule changes, job-title changes, expanding responsibilities, signing-bonus repayment terms, benefits, offer letters, hiring assignments and jobs that disappear after someone already accepted them.
The issue isn’t that applicants should be allowed to lie.
The issue is that accurate information should work both ways.
If employers expect applicants to accurately explain their experience, employment history and qualifications, applicants should be able to expect an accurate salary, job description, schedule, workplace location and explanation of what they’re agreeing to.
Because the applicant isn’t just making a hiring decision.
They may be turning down other opportunities, quitting another job, relocating or reorganizing their entire life based on what the company told them.
What’s the biggest thing a company has ever changed on you during the hiring process?
Salary? Remote work? Schedule? Responsibilities? Benefits? Job title?
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