Job Seekers Say Hiring Feels Rigged — And Employers Agree

[ad_1] by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors September 27, 2025

The report, primarily based on responses from greater than 2,000 individuals, together with 1,015 job seekers and 1,009 hiring managers throughout the USA, captures the methods either side deliver to the hiring course of.

In in the present day’s job market, pursuing the subsequent step can really feel much less like discovering the fitting match and rising your profession, and extra like rolling the cube or enjoying poker. Candidates bluff with polished resumes, employers take a look at the market with jobs they could not fill and either side maintain playing cards near the vest. A brand new survey from Kelly reveals how a lot hiring performs out this fashion.

The report, primarily based on responses from greater than 2,000 individuals, together with 1,015 job seekers and 1,009 hiring managers throughout the USA, captures the methods either side deliver to the hiring course of.

Candidates apply for roles the place they fall wanting listed {qualifications}, whereas managers publish jobs they by no means intend to fill. Either side are utilizing new instruments, together with synthetic intelligence, to play the hiring recreation.

The result's a course of that always feels much less about transparency and extra about unstated guidelines and hidden dynamics.

The place job seekers and managers agree — on AI and extra Regardless of frequent miscommunication, the survey discovered job seekers and hiring managers agree on some elements of the method. A type of areas is timing. Simply over half of candidates and managers say three days is the correct amount of time to determine on a job supply, lengthy sufficient to evaluate particulars, talk about with household or weigh different choices, however fast sufficient to indicate real curiosity.

One other level of settlement is on synthetic intelligence. Sixty-three p.c of job seekers say it's moral to make use of AI to enhance resumes or functions, and 67 p.c of hiring managers agree. A lot of those self same managers additionally use AI detection instruments to display screen functions.

Jobs the place candidates don't meet each listed qualification, often known as stretch functions, are one other instance of shared understanding. Practically all job seekers, 96 p.c, say they apply for these jobs anyway, and three out of 4 hiring managers say that's acceptable. Job necessities are seen much less as deal breakers and extra as want lists. Greater than a 3rd of candidates who apply this fashion say they'll rapidly be taught the lacking abilities as soon as employed.

Kelly What phantom jobs reveal

The survey additionally exhibits why job seekers usually really feel misled.

Many candidates describe spending hours making use of for roles and transferring by interview rounds solely to be taught the place was by no means meant to be stuffed. Survey information confirms that is widespread.

Eighty-four p.c of job seekers say they imagine phantom postings are widespread. Amongst hiring managers, 81 p.c admit they've posted jobs, performed interviews after which determined to depart the place unfilled. Practically one in three say they use the tactic ceaselessly. The highest causes corporations do that are constructing a pipeline for future roles and gathering trade insights.

Kelly When pay ranges are lacking The survey exhibits wage disclosure continues to be a sticking level in hiring. Most job seekers, 68 p.c, say they need wage info posted in job descriptions. Lower than half of hiring managers, 48 p.c, say their corporations present this info within the job description from the beginning.

For candidates, lacking or unreliable info can imply wasted time if a proposal finally ends up far beneath expectations. For employers, holding again particulars could appeal to extra candidates at first however dangers shedding them later within the course of.

Even when pay ranges are listed, skepticism stays. Solely 37 p.c of males say they totally imagine the numbers, in contrast with 27 p.c of ladies. Youthful employees usually tend to belief them, with 40 p.c of Gen Z saying they imagine the ranges, in contrast with 33 p.c of millennials and 30 p.c of Gen X

Kelly When distant work is oversold Few points generate extra rigidity than distant work. Greater than half of hiring managers, 54 p.c, admit they've made work-from-home insurance policies sound extra versatile than they're.

Candidates discover the distinction. Seventy-six p.c say the fact didn't match what was marketed. Some recall jobs labeled distant that also required workplace attendance. Others declare firm insurance policies have been unclear or modified.

Managers give a number of causes: 47 p.c of managers who admit to misrepresenting distant work availability say they wished to current the corporate favorably, 48 p.c imagine candidates will settle for stricter situations as soon as employed and 43 p.c try to draw high expertise.

For job seekers, the result's confusion and disappointment. For employers, it's a threat that workers will disengage or depart rapidly as soon as the fact turns into clear.

When advantages and progress get neglected Candidates say what a job pays and the place they work is simply a part of the story. Advantages and progress alternatives matter too, however these particulars are sometimes lacking from hiring conversations.

Job seekers level to fundamentals like well being protection, retirement plans and paid depart, together with newer perks like versatile schedules or wellness help. Many additionally need to understand how a task units them up for the longer term, whether or not by coaching, mentorship or a transparent path to promotion.

The survey exhibits these questions usually go unanswered. Just one in three job seekers say they're given upfront particulars on advantages, and hiring managers largely affirm that. Profession progress follows an analogous sample. Whereas 77 p.c of candidates say corporations clearly define development alternatives in interviews, simply 46 p.c of hiring managers say they at all times do.

Consequently, candidates usually depart interviews with out understanding what help or development alternatives are actually on the desk, and employers lose an opportunity to attach with individuals motivated by improvement and long-term progress.

Why honesty issues The analysis means that transparency stands out as the one technique that advantages either side. Candidates say they worth roles the place expectations match the posting, and managers say clear conversations about pay and adaptability make it simpler to safe dedicated hires. The survey signifies that when corporations present simple particulars about roles, compensation and work preparations upfront, they're extra prone to appeal to candidates who're each and ready to succeed.