EXPERT ANSWER
Dec 18, 2018 - 02:59 PM
Do bait and switch interview tactics work? Yes and no. Yes, bait and switch interview tactics work at deceiving candidates. Yes, they work for organizations wanting to hire people prone to lying, cheating, and stealing, and especially those who will tolerate it. And no, they don’t work at all for selecting, hiring, and retaining the kind of talent that principled organizations covet.
There are a few different kinds of bait and switch interview tactics. Some organizations try to spy on candidates outside of the formal interview. They set the candidate up as a foil in a hidden camera game, hoping to catch candidates off guard in an effort to “see who they really are.”
More common bait and switch interview tactics involve setting candidates up to accept an offer (usually inferior) that is different from the job description. Other organizations use high pressure sales tactics to deflect or conceal the true nature of their business. Either way they’ve lied to the candidate, and made it clear that deceit is an integral part of the company culture, and is an acceptable method for employees to get what they want.
For jobseekers: trust your intuition. Take it seriously if something really doesn’t feel right or seems too good to be true, or if you feel slimed, manipulated, or conned. Do what you can to determine whether you’ve been deceived and need to exit the situation, or there’s simply been a misunderstanding that can be cleared up.
There are a few different kinds of bait and switch interview tactics. Some organizations try to spy on candidates outside of the formal interview. They set the candidate up as a foil in a hidden camera game, hoping to catch candidates off guard in an effort to “see who they really are.”
More common bait and switch interview tactics involve setting candidates up to accept an offer (usually inferior) that is different from the job description. Other organizations use high pressure sales tactics to deflect or conceal the true nature of their business. Either way they’ve lied to the candidate, and made it clear that deceit is an integral part of the company culture, and is an acceptable method for employees to get what they want.
For jobseekers: trust your intuition. Take it seriously if something really doesn’t feel right or seems too good to be true, or if you feel slimed, manipulated, or conned. Do what you can to determine whether you’ve been deceived and need to exit the situation, or there’s simply been a misunderstanding that can be cleared up.
Aug 22, 2018 - 12:09 PM
As a hiring manager, you may wonder if bait and switch interview tactics work and if you should implement them. A bait and switch occurs when an employer makes a position sound better than it actually is, such as saying a job will pay between $70,000 and $90,000 annually when in reality the job will definitively pay $70,000. There are plenty of interview tactics hiring managers can utilize, so avoid this one.
Employers lose out on qualified candidates when they pull a bait and switch. The tactic leaves a bad taste in jobseekers’ mouths, and they may refuse to accept a position that is not everything the listing stated.
It is also possible a candidate will accept the role only to soon discover the role requires different responsibilities than what everyone agreed upon. This will immediately create a sense of disillusionment in the new employee, and this will result in lowered productivity. Additionally, the new employee may look for new work elsewhere right off the bat, and if he or she quits, then you will have to spend time and resources starting the hiring process all over again.
Employers lose out on qualified candidates when they pull a bait and switch. The tactic leaves a bad taste in jobseekers’ mouths, and they may refuse to accept a position that is not everything the listing stated.
It is also possible a candidate will accept the role only to soon discover the role requires different responsibilities than what everyone agreed upon. This will immediately create a sense of disillusionment in the new employee, and this will result in lowered productivity. Additionally, the new employee may look for new work elsewhere right off the bat, and if he or she quits, then you will have to spend time and resources starting the hiring process all over again.
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