Career catfishing is essentially a professional practice where job applicants pretend to be committed employees during the hiring process, but they do not show up on the first day of work without informing their employer.
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What is career catfishing?
According to Dr. Astik Joshi, a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist from New Delhi, "the emerging trend of 'career catfishing' refers to job seekers accepting offers but deliberately failing to show up on their first day without informing the employer.
Gen Z is trying to overhaul the rules of workplaces since their point of view of traditional corporate structures shows a significant shift as they value their wellbeing over being overly committed to work. Career catfishing has become a buzzword wherein prospective employees accept job offers but go missing in action on the first day intentionally without informing the employer.
Dr. Astik Joshi further adds, "This deceptive practice extends beyond job ghosting, as it also includes fabricating qualifications, exaggerating experience, or even assuming false identities to secure employment. Career catfishing has become particularly common among Gen Z and Millennials, who are navigating a competitive job market with lengthy hiring processes and automated screening systems that often prioritize credentials over potential."
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Why is career catfishing practiced by the workforce?
In Dr. Gorav Gupta's psychological perspective on career catfishing, the trend is rooted in possible imposter syndrome, job insecurity, and fear of rejection playing a significant role in driving this trend.
He further opines, "Many candidates feel pressured to enhance their resumes or misrepresent their skills to match employer expectations. Additionally, frustration with traditional hiring norms; such as delayed feedback and vague job descriptions, has led some job seekers to justify deceptive tactics as a form of resistance."
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Is only Gen Z involved in this practice?
While career catfishing is more prevalent among younger professionals including Gen Z and their predecessors, millennials, it is not exclusive to them. Dr. Astik Joshi mentions that, "Gen X, and even senior executives have engaged in resume inflation or misrepresentation to secure better roles, transition into new industries, or maintain a competitive edge. This indicates that career deception is a broader workplace issue rather than just a generational trend."
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Conclusive thoughts by the psychologists on career catfishing
Experts warn that while career catfishing may offer short-term advantages, it could have long-term consequences on an individual's career. "Psychological effects such as anxiety, stress, and reputational damage if the deception is exposed could be faced by such employees," as per Dr. Astik Joshi. On the contrary for employers, the practice of career catfishing could also result in lost productivity, prolonged vacancies, and even disrupt hiring timelines.
Dr. Gorav Gupta concludes, "Ultimately, the rise of career catfishing highlights the need for streamlining recruitment processes, while job seekers should focus on gaining real skills and networking authentically rather than resorting to misrepresentation."
A workplace developed along the lines of accountability, honesty and trust is essential in addressing this growing issue.
