Hacker News Reader

Do not lie to applicants. Ever. Ads for jobs that don’t exist are false advertising (IANAL) that may cause legal issues.

If you’re always hunting for unicorns, say so, but IMO collecting resumes “just in case” is a waste of everyone’s time, and collecting them under false pretenses is way worse.

View on HN

Thing is, if that applicant comes in that we just can’t refuse then we might create an opening. Which kind of goes back to my original question.

Fake job ads undermine credibility. If you feel you must advertise, post a generic Are You Our Next Rockstar? ad that is up-front about resume fishing.

Gotta wonder though, what thing X would you do with such a 'hero' if they appeared, and why aren't you doing X already, upskilling the people you have in the process?

This feels like a magical-thinking policy not a strategic one? If there's no clear goal for the continuous search, don't do it; it wastes everyone's time. If there is, advertise that job instead.

Good luck!

Reply on news.ycombinator.com