What Is Career Catfishing, GenZ's New Work Trend For Ghosting Corporates?

Career catfishing is a trend largely associated with Generation Z employees which involves accepting a job offer but failing to show up on the first day without informing the employer. Highlighted in a report by Hindustan Times, this phenomenon has sparked debates amidst controversies such as the ‘90-hour workweek’ row by SN Subrahmanyan.

Understanding Career Catfishing

A report by CVGenius describes career catfishing as a rising act of defiance, particularly among workers under the age of 27. Gen Z employees view this as an assertion of their independence and control over their careers. Frustrations with lengthy interview processes, slow employer responses, and delayed hiring timelines have led to a surge in such behaviours, reflecting a desire for greater autonomy.

According to a CVGenius survey involving 1,000 UK workers: 34% of Gen Z employees admitted to adopting career catfishing practices. Similar trends were observed among 24% of Millennials, 15% of Gen X, and 10% of Baby Boomers. Beyond skipping their first day, 38% of Gen Z workers reported leaving jobs without formally resigning, a pattern mirrored to a lesser extent in older generations.

Other Trends: Coffee Badging and Quiet Vacationing

Gen Z employees are exploring other unconventional tactics to reclaim control over their work lives. Coffee Badging is visiting the office merely to be noticed before leaving to work remotely. Around 44% of Gen Z workers admitted to using this strategy. Quiet Vacationing is taking time off without informing managers or colleagues, a trend practiced by 39% of Gen Z employees. Juggling Remote Jobs is another trend and approximately 41% of Gen Z workers manage multiple remote jobs simultaneously without disclosing this to their employers.

Motivations Behind These Behaviors

The competitive job market plays a significant role in shaping these trends. With increasing challenges in securing steady, full-time employment, many Gen Z workers feel pressured to accept the first job offer they receive. However, upon later realising that the role doesn’t align with their expectations or values, they may resort to skipping their first day as an exit strategy.

Implications of Career Catfishing

While career catfishing offers an immediate solution for avoiding undesired roles, it poses potential risks, including a damaged professional reputation. Employers may perceive such actions as unprofessional, potentially harming future job prospects. Additionally, building positive workplace relationships becomes challenging when such trends dominate.

For hiring managers, career catfishing adds to the burden of recruitment challenges, wasting resources invested in onboarding and training processes. This trend highlights the need for organizations to address underlying issues such as inflexible work cultures and cumbersome hiring procedures.

Career catfishing highlights a growing disconnect between younger employees and traditional workplace expectations. As Gen Z continues to prioritize flexibility and autonomy, employers must adapt by fostering open communication, offering transparent roles, and streamlining hiring processes. Bridging this gap is essential for creating a work environment that balances organizational needs with the aspirations of the emerging workforce.