Named by the ABA Journal as one of the “most compelling” and top blogs for legal professionals.
Career and life game changing information delivered personally to you.
Why are some jobs posted anonymously? How do I conduct my research if I don’t know who the employer is?
When searching the legal Want Ads, jobs are posted in a variety of ways by a variety of sources. Some are detailed and descript, some are short and sweet, some identify the employer…and some don’t. For the eager candidate, an employer’s omitted identity can be frustrating – as the research and legwork to learn more and determine interest and possible contacts is compromised.
So why are some legal jobs posted anonymously? And how can a candidate learn more about an employer if this key piece of information is omitted?
The primary sources of job postings are (1) The employer, and (2) A recruiter(s)/outside agency conducting/managing the search. Each has its different drivers and reasons for keeping the identity of the employer under wraps:
Employers post anonymous jobs online or in paper publications for the following reasons:
Is conducting a replacement search on the QT and does not want the current employee to find out.
Has relationships with a few recruiters and does not wish to advertise a partnership with one in particular in order to avoid confrontation with the other recruiters.
Does not want candidates to contact other people in the organization about the opportunity.
Does not want competitors to know the company is seeking to hire.
Desire to avoid unsolicited overtures from recruiters.
Recruiters also have their reasons as well for keeping job descriptions more mysterious:
The relationship between recruiter and employer is one of non-exclusivity.
They do not wish to advertise their clients to their competitors.
They do not want candidates to inconvenience their clients.
The brand of the company/law firm is weak or tainted.
Employer requests anonymity from the search firm (for one of the reasons in the employer section above).
There is no search, but recruiters want to create an appearance of search activity and “mine” candidates.
So as a candidate encountering an anonymous job description, what can you do to learn the employer’s identity and conduct the research you need before applying? When an employer is intentionally unidentified, there isn’t a whole lot a job seeker can do to uncover it. With this said, there are a few strategies that could result in success:
(1) Look to see if the employer is described in a unique way. For example: “An American multinational technology company that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, online services and personal computers” or “manufactures and provides wearable fitness-tracking devices worldwide.” If the description is unique enough, copy the descriptive language and paste it into a Google query and see what companies arise in the search results. You can double-check your results by going to the company websites to determine if the same job description is listed.
(2) Cross check the anonymous job description with other job boards to determine whether it’s posted in multiple locations. If it is, one may include the employer’s name.
(3) Check the name/email of the person or organization that is receiving applications. Many times, the resume recipient will include the employer’s identity (determined primarily through the email address).
(4) If a search firm is posting the description, contact the firm and inquire. The recruiters may not provide you with the information immediately, but it’s worth asking.
If all of these approaches fail, my advice is to apply for the position (if the opportunity sounds compelling) and if contacted by the employer begin your research at that time. If you subsequently determine that the position isn’t right for you, politely withdraw your candidacy.
In an ideal world, everything a job seeker would want…and need to know about a job opportunity would be provided in the published job description. But this is rarely the case. Many blanks remain as an application process begins. Sometimes an employer’s identity is one such blank. Regardless, if the position speaks to you, move forward and apply. You’ll discover the mystery soon enough and can then plot your course from there.
Post a job for free! Take advantage of this promotion and advertise your job for 30 days. Use promo code LWJOBS
Receive our newsletter for latest trends, compensation info and secrets to a winning career strategy.
No Comments have been posted.
No Comments