We get asked a plethora of questions regarding job applications, resumes, and the job search process. Chances are, if one person is wondering about something, others are as well. This is why we wanted to discuss further about whether or not employers are required to advertise job vacancies in Canada.
According to the law firm, KCY at Law, they state that an employer does not have a legal obligation to post an open position. However, when hiring, the process must be fair and cannot be discriminatory: “Section 23(1) of the Code explains that advertisements which classify or provide qualifications related to race, gender, age, ethnicity, ancestry, place of origin, colour, citizenship, marital status, family status, disability, creed, sex, sexual orientation, or record of offences, whether directly or indirectly, can be deemed discriminatory.”
Depending on the organization, and the position, the job listing may only be offered internally. This has its advantages as it allows the hiring manager the opportunity to seek within the company where employees are well versed in company culture, understand the job, and have a history with the organization. This is often referred to as the “hidden job market.” This term refers to jobs that aren’t advertised or posted. The Balance explains that employers may choose to do this for several reasons: “for example, they might be trying to save money on advertising, or they might prefer getting candidates through employee referrals.”
Having an updated resume on file with your current organization is important, as you want to make sure that if an opportunity arises internally, they have your most recent skills and expertise at hand. Even if there isn’t a job posting currently open, having this on file will allow them to have all your current information. Often, HR will go through resumes kept on file when looking for an ideal candidate to promote. This means that these positions aren’t intended to be opened for general applications. For example, someone may be leaving the company due to retirement, and now their position has become available. If another employee has submitted an updated resume with the HR department, and they notice the updated skills developed since being hired, they might be recognized as the best fit for the job.
An end date simply means they have a time crunch to find the best candidate, whether from internal or external sources. In fact, it could mean possible, internal candidates are not fully qualified for the position. Therefore, the organization has decided to expand their search, and post the position online.
While it can be frustrating when hiring only occurs internally, there is no legal obligation to list a vacant job to the public. As we have mentioned in previous blog posts, this can often be where networking plays a significant role in your job search. Making genuine connections with people in, and out, of your industry may lead to a job you didn’t even realize was available.
If you have questions about navigating the job market, or your resume please contact us. We look forward to working with you.