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Career catfishing is a rising trend among Gen Z and millennial job seekers, where candidates accept offers but fail to show up for work, leaving employers stranded.

Career catfishing impacts not just job seekers but also employers.
A new trend has emerged among Gen Z and millennial job seekers in the competitive job market — career catfishing. This term refers to the growing trend of candidates accepting job offers, only to ghost their employers and disappear before they even start.
Basically, after going through multiple rounds of interviews and tests, some job seekers don’t even show up for their first day of work, leaving employers in the lurch.
This behaviour has become so prevalent that research from a survey of 1,000 UK employees, conducted by CV Genius, reveals that over a third (34%) of Gen Z candidates are engaging in it. As a result, career catfishing has become a significant issue in workplace dynamics. The survey also highlighted that this trend is part of a wider shift, where employees are increasingly using strategies like coffee badging and quiet vacationing to gain more autonomy at work, reported Fortune.
A common practice?
Dr Astik Joshi, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, told NDTV, “This deceptive practice goes beyond job ghosting, as it also involves fabricating qualifications, exaggerating experience or even assuming false identities to secure employment,”
Dr Joshi added that career catfishing is particularly prevalent among Gen Z and millennials, “who are navigating a competitive job market” with lengthy hiring processes and automated screening systems that often prioritise credentials over potential.
Reasons For Career Catfishing
Career catfishing may stem from factors like imposter syndrome, work insecurity and fear of rejection. Dr Joshi said that many applicants feel pressured to make their resumes better or exaggerate their skills to meet workplace expectations. He added that some job seekers even justify dishonest practices as a form of resistance, which comes from frustration with traditional hiring methods, such as vague job descriptions and delayed feedback from employers.
Lasting Repercussions
While career catfishing can provide short-term gains, it can have lasting repercussions for one’s career. Dr Joshi highlighted that psychological effects such as anxiety, stress and reputational damage could arise if recruiters discover the deception.
From an employer’s perspective, career catfishing can lead to prolonged job openings and delays in the hiring process.
Dr Joshi said that the rise of this trend shows the importance of streamlining recruitment processes. He advised job seekers to focus on developing genuine skills and building authentic networks instead of resorting to misrepresentation.
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