In an earlier article, The Resume, we discussed scams where candidates misrepresent their qualifications or fabricate them of whole cloth. In this article, we expose a scam perpetrated by agents purporting to represent either hiring companies or candidates or both. We call this front running since it is analogous to front running in securities trading.¹
In this scheme, a “man-in-the-middle” represents themselves as different things to candidates and companies. The grift might begin with a company job posting. The front runner reviews the job description and then looks on job boards for resumes of job seekers who appear to meet the job criteria. The grifter might harvest bullet points and descriptions of experience to fabricate an ideal resume to present to the company.
Without a job seeker’s permission, the front runner approaches the company with the candidate’s resume or perhaps with the fabricated one.
Without necessarily knowing of the company’s interest, the front runner simultaneously contacts the candidate job seeker purporting to have an exclusive job opportunity. They will sometimes claim they are the only agency the company works with. The front runner attempts to get the candidate to agree to be represented by it.