zombie requisition

Definition

A job opening that remains perpetually posted but is never actually filled due to unrealistic requirements, budget freezes, or lack of genuine intent to hire. The corporate equivalent of Schrödinger's job—simultaneously open and closed.

Example Usage

That senior developer role has been a zombie requisition for eight months; they keep interviewing but reject everyone for not being 'unicorns.'

Origin

Emerged in recruiting circles during the 2010s to describe positions that refuse to die despite never being filled

Fun Fact

Some companies maintain zombie requisitions intentionally to create the appearance of growth or to collect resumes for future needs, frustrating both candidates and internal recruiters.

Source: Talent acquisition and recruiting industry terminology

Related Terms

Intermediate

exploitation

The corporate art of extracting maximum value from resources (read: humans) while providing minimum compensation or recognition. Often disguised with terms like 'opportunity' or 'exposure.' The uncomfortable truth behind many 'entry-level' positions and unpaid internships.

👥 Human Resources

Intermediate

retaliation

The legally prohibited but distressingly common practice of punishing employees who dare to complain about workplace issues, report violations, or otherwise make waves. What starts as someone raising a legitimate concern about safety or discrimination mysteriously transforms into performance reviews that suddenly go south, convenient budget cuts to their department, or being assigned to the office next to the server room. HR departments have entire training modules on how not to do this, which tells you everything about how often it happens.

👥 Human Resources

Beginner

Exit Interview

A conversation where a departing employee is asked to be brutally honest about the company, knowing full well the feedback will be filed somewhere between the recycling bin and oblivion. It's corporate theater at its finest.

👥 Human Resources

Intermediate

flight risk

An employee likely to quit soon, typically identified by updating their LinkedIn profile, taking lots of PTO, or suddenly dressing better for work. HR's version of reading tea leaves, but with resume updates.

👥 Human Resources

Advanced

worker misclassification

Illegally treating employees as independent contractors to avoid taxes, benefits, and labor protections. It's wage theft with extra steps and a business model for the gig economy.

👥 Human Resources

Beginner

organizational culture

The shared values, beliefs, and behaviors that characterize how work gets done in a company. It's supposedly defined by leadership's vision statements but actually determined by what behavior gets rewarded and what gets ignored.

👥 Human Resources

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