A majority of employees have experienced a 'bait-and-switch' during the recruitment process, according to new research: 'This is a major warning sign'

Alexis Byrd began a new job that she was thrilled about last year.

Though the job was remote, Byrd, who lives in Detroit, was asked to commute an hour into the office for her first week of onboarding in the logistics space.

She was welcomed at the office with flowers and friendly coworkers.

On her third day, her manager informed her that she would need to commute to the office three times a week and drive to the company's two other worksites twice a week, adding approximately two hours of driving to her daily commute.

"I was overwhelmed," Byrd, 29, tells CNBC Make It. "It was kind of crazy."

Byrd attempted to discuss her remote-work arrangement with her manager to obtain clarification. "She had stated, 'Sometimes circumstances alter, and you must be adaptable,'" Byrd remembers. "It was a dismissive response."

Despite the fact that Byrd had a great experience working there for two months, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had been deceived. She had been transparent about needing flexible work, but her responsibilities changed and she ended up taking on more work than expected.

"So I finally made the decision to leave," she says.

As competition, AI systems, and return-to-office battles intensify in a challenging job market, individuals are increasingly discovering that their new jobs do not align with their initial expectations.

A survey of 2,900 global workers from Greenhouse found that more than half, or 53%, of U.S. workers experienced "bait-and-switch" tactics when being hired for a new job, where the job responsibilities advertised during the interview process differed significantly once they started their role.

Despite efforts to increase pay transparency, 42% of U.S. job-seekers report that the originally advertised salary for a job opening changed after multiple rounds of interviews, according to a report.

Why companies bait-and-switch job candidates

Greenhouse president Jon Stross says that job interviews often involve a bait-and-switch, which is a frustrating experience for candidates and highlights a breakdown in the hiring process.

The hiring team's experiences say more about them than you as a candidate, and it's likely not done with bad intent.

According to Stross, companies often hastily hire by grabbing a job description from a previous position or copying one from a different company.

By the time teams interview candidates, they better understand the role they're hiring for and the skills they need, resulting in the job changing from what the initial job posting was.

Stross typically responds, "Yes, it's usually chaos on the inside," when his friends express frustration about companies acting irrationally while searching for jobs.

Employers can typically modify the job scope during the interview process or after hiring, according to Sahara Pynes, a labor and employment partner at Fox Rothschild LLP in Los Angeles. This issue has gained attention as large corporations such as Amazon, Dell, and Walmart have strengthened their RTO policies, sometimes necessitating remote employees to either relocate or be terminated.

DON'T MISS: The ultimate guide to negotiating a higher salary

"Most jobs are at-will, meaning the terms and conditions of your employment can change at any time, with or without notice, at the company's sole discretion. It's up to the employee to decide whether they want to continue working under those conditions."

If a job's parameters are changed a few days in, like in Byrd's case, Pynes believes it is a significant misrepresentation on the company's part. This would raise concerns about the company's credibility.

If a company changes your compensation, such as your commission and bonus amount, you may have some recourse, but it must be in writing. If it's an oral promise or entirely discretionary, you won't have much of a leg to stand on.

How to confront a bait-and-switch job interview

Stross advises that the best defense when confronting the experience as a job candidate is to ask numerous questions during the hiring process. He suggests asking for clarification about the job's requirements and what success looks like in the role. This question shows your interest and helps you gain clarity.

Earlier this year, Weston Davis, a 35-year-old SEO marketing professional in San Francisco, applied for a marketing and communications job. However, by the time he received a confirmation email for an interview, he noticed that the job description in the prep materials was different from the one he had applied for.

"The interview confirmed that the role I was being interviewed for was a customer service job in sales," Davis says, which caused some concern.

Davis declined to move forward after the interview.

"If the job description is altered, you can attend the interview for educational purposes, but ultimately, you should follow my advice and declare, 'I'm not interested,'" Davis advises. "This is not a typical warning sign — this is a blazing red flag."

Job-seekers should be cautious of job scams and other situations that exploit people in vulnerable financial positions, as advised by him.

Advocate for yourself in a conversation with the recruiter or hiring manager about what was discussed in early stages and get clarification about why things changed.

If a job changes after you're hired

If you can't walk away from a job that changes after you're hired, Byrd recommends having a conversation to re-align expectations and revisit your compensation. "It doesn't mean you have to demand a $10,000 raise," she says, "but perhaps there's something else you value that you could negotiate for, like additional vacation time or a more flexible schedule."

If you're performing work that is typically done by someone more senior, your salary may need to be adjusted, she suggests.

Byrd has accepted a new job as a talent acquisition specialist at a company that requires her to be in-office once a week, as they were transparent about this from the beginning.

During interviews, she paid particular attention to the candidates' communication skills and their treatment of her. "The candidates discussed their growth within the company," Byrd recalls. "They talked about the company culture. The interview panel was diverse, and I knew it would be a great opportunity."

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