"Career Catfishing": Navigating the New Job Market Phenomenon

The hiring process has become more digital, more complex, and - sometimes - more disillusioning. But one growing trend is turning heads in HR departments worldwide: career catfishing.

In 2025, candidates aren’t just ghosting recruiters mid-process; they’re accepting offers, passing background checks, and then vanishing without a trace. No first day. No explanation.

This isn’t just a fluke. It’s happening enough to have a name.

What Is Career Catfishing?

“Career catfishing” refers to the practice of candidates accepting a job offer and then never showing up. While it might sound extreme, this behavior is on the rise, especially among younger workers like Gen Z.

A recent report suggested that nearly 1 in 3 Gen Z job seekers have accepted a job and then not started it, often in favor of a better offer or due to dissatisfaction with how the process played out.

Why Are People Doing This?

There’s no single reason - but several factors are driving this trend:

1. The Power Has Shifted

Today’s job market, particularly in certain industries, favors candidates. With multiple options, job seekers are making fast decisions, and reversing them just as quickly when a better one comes along.

2. Hiring Fatigue Is Real

Drawn-out hiring processes with 5-7 interview rounds, unclear timelines, and minimal communication cause candidates to disengage. Some accept an offer just to “lock something in” while they continue interviewing elsewhere.

3. Lack of Transparency

When candidates feel they’ve been misled - about salary, remote work flexibility, or the role itself - they’re more likely to walk away, even after accepting.

4. Burnout and Detachment

Some professionals are simply burned out by the job hunt. After investing time and energy into interviews, only to feel like a cog in a system, they become emotionally detached from the processand the result.

Why It Matters to You as a Candidate

If you’ve ever considered ghosting a role before your first day, you’re not alone. But it's worth thinking through the long-term consequences.

It Can Damage Your Reputation

Recruiters, especially in niche industries, talk. A poor impression with one employer could ripple through your network; especially if you end up applying again down the line.

It Closes Doors

Ghosting shuts down the possibility of re-negotiating or adjusting the offer. Many hiring managers are open to compromise if they know your concerns.

It Might Limit Future Options

With some companies now maintaining internal “no-hire” lists of candidates who didn’t show up, walking away without a word might cost you access to future roles at that company.

What to Do Instead

You’re allowed to change your mind. You’re allowed to walk away. But how you do it matters.

Be Upfront

If you’re unsure about an offer, express that to the recruiter or hiring manager. Most prefer honesty over a no-show.

Communicate Clearly

Once you’ve made a decision to decline, do so professionally. A simple, respectful email goes a long way.

Give Constructive Feedback

If something about the process turned you off, say so (diplomatically). Companies are listening more than you think - and feedback could improve the process for others.

The Bigger Picture: What This Trend Tells Us

Career catfishing is a symptom, not the disease. It reflects deeper issues in the job market:

• Hiring processes that treat candidates like numbers

• A lack of trust between employers and employees

• A growing desire for roles that offer meaning, flexibility, and fair pay

As a job seeker in 2025, you have more power than ever; but with that power comes responsibility. The way you exit a process says as much about your professionalism as the way you enter it.

So go ahead, change your mind if the role isn’t right. Just don’t disappear.