How do you feel when a recruiter tells you a search is confidential?

[Anonymous]

I don't want to pursue the opportunity. If it is confidential, that means somebody is in the job and they want to boot them out of the company. Why not just be a grown up, put them on PIP, and let them figure out it's not working so they have time to look for another position? My concern is that they could do the same to me for whatever reason.

[Anonymous]

I feel the same way.

[Anonymous]

Not every company has a PIP system.

[Anonymous]

It could be confidential because they already have a candidate or they want to be selective. Lots I f reasons

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't want to pursue the opportunity. If it is confidential, that means somebody is in the job and they want to boot them out of the company. Why not just be a grown up, put them on PIP, and let them figure out it's not working so they have time to look for another position? My concern is that they could do the same to me for whatever reason.

It’s confidential because it hasn’t been announced to staff. For all you know the person is retiring and they are making them stay to train their successor.

My new role was confidential for two months before I started.

[Anonymous]

There are lots of reasons a role is confidential. Sometimes it's because they have no one internal to promote. Sometimes they dont want clients or competitors knowing there is a gap. I wouldn't assume its a bad thing.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes it is "confidential" because it is a fake recruiter with a fake job just trying to get information from you....

[Anonymous]

I have never heard about a search being confidential. If I'm contacted by a recruiter I always assume everything is discreet and only information flows between recruiter and hiring manager. How is it more confidential than that? Are people tweeting that they are interviewing for XYZ position at ACB company?

[Anonymous]

In addition to what everyone said, why do you assume the person isn’t already on a PIP?

[Anonymous]

We have had confidential searches for high level positions when people are leaving or retiring and we are not ready to share that news with staff or partners. I would not read too much into it. I cannot recall a situation where it was because someone is being forced out and doesn’t know it yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have had confidential searches for high level positions when people are leaving or retiring and we are not ready to share that news with staff or partners. I would not read too much into it. I cannot recall a situation where it was because someone is being forced out and doesn’t know it yet.

This. I am an SVP of Finance and my last two job changes started with a retained search firm reaching out to me about a confidential search. Both times the person in the position was being promoted and they just weren't ready to open the posting up until they were ready to start the transition period.

[Anonymous]

HR leader here..

I have two confidential searches open right now for our professional services consulting org.

1. We have a leader not cutting it and they will be removed by the end of the month. We want to get a jump on the search for a replacement.

2. We are hiring a senior level leader with a specific capability that is relevant for a new area of business for us. The search is confidential because we don't want our clients to know we think we need to "beef up" this team to better serve them. We want them to believe the strong team is already in place.

I echo the comments of others that the fact a search is confidential could mean many things. If you're concerned about it, then it's a fair question to ask during the interview process. If a candidate asks, I would answer the question honestly.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't believe anyone that claims something is "confidential".

[Anonymous]

"Confidential" in this case doesn't mean it's a secret, it means it's not posted publicly for everyone to know and the circle of people who do know, at least at the moment, is small.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Confidential" in this case doesn't mean it's a secret, it means it's not posted publicly for everyone to know and the circle of people who do know, at least at the moment, is small.

Yep. Nepotism.