So today I got a LinkedIn message from a recruiter.
Among other things, the message said I’d be attending interviews — not for myself, but on behalf of their engineers. It also included a link to a job description. I opened it out of curiosity, and here’s what I saw:
Job Title: AI/ML Engineer
Location: Remote
Compensation: 50% of the secured job’s salary (e.g., if a job is $10,000/month, you earn $5,000/month)
Overview: We’re hiring skilled AI/ML Engineers to represent an individual client in job interviews for US-based remote positions. You’ll attend technical interviews, help secure job offers, and work on the project post-hiring.
Role Includes: Representing the client in video interviews – Participating in technical/cultural interviews – Delivering actual project work once hired
Basically: pretend to be someone else, get them hired, maybe do the job for them.
And this wasn’t the first message like this. It’s happening more and more.
This is not the first time I’ve received this kind of message on LinkedIn and I doubt it’ll be the last.
It turns out there’s a whole underground industry built around this. If you’re a software engineer, especially working remotely, this wave is probably already brushing against your inbox too.
So today, let’s talk about what it is, how it works, and why it’s something you should think twice about no matter how tempting it looks.
What Are Proxy Interviews?
“Proxy interviews” refer to the practice of attending technical interviews on behalf of someone else. This is usually done using a fake name, profile, and sometimes even voice filters or virtual backgrounds.
Here’s how it typically plays out:
- A candidate (often overseas) wants a remote software job but struggles with interviews, maybe because of technical gaps, language barriers, or anxiety.
- They reach out to or are matched with a stronger developer (you).
- You use their resume and identity to pass the interviews.
- If they get hired, you might get a one-time payout, a monthly split, or even be expected to quietly do the job behind the scenes.
On paper, you’re helping someone get a job. In reality, you’re fronting a lie, often without clear legal protection.
How It Works (And Why It Feels So Slick)
The coordination behind some of these setups is surprisingly sophisticated. Recruiters or agencies might:
- Offer you pre-written resumes and coaching
- Set up mock interviews to help you mimic the target profile
- Coach you on how to answer “tell me about yourself” in someone else’s voice
- Use tools like camera filters, screen blurring, or pre-recorded segments
Once you land the job for the “real” candidate, the recruiter or agency mediates payments and sometimes routes work back to you under the table.
Why This Is Risky
1. It’s Ethically Dubious
You’re helping someone secure a job under false pretenses. The employer thinks they’re hiring John Doe from Austin, when it’s really you from Accra, Berlin, or Bangalore.
2. You’re Playing with Fire
If you’re caught, and more companies are tightening ID checks and recording interviews, the consequences can include:
- Being blacklisted from entire hiring networks
- Losing access to platforms like Upwork, Toptal, or GitHub sponsors
- Legal action (especially if you sign contracts or access sensitive data under a false identity)
3. You’re Invisible When It Counts
You’re doing the work. You’re solving the bugs. But you get no credit. No career growth. No referrals. No portfolio. Just quiet money and constant anxiety.
4. You Could Be the One Getting Burned
In some cases, these setups are reversed: you’re the one being misrepresented. You think you’re being hired directly, but someone else is pocketing most of the salary. It’s a shadow economy that doesn’t protect you.
Why Is This Even a Thing?
I am glad you asked, cos I am just the guy to tell you that. A few real reasons:
- Global salary gaps make US/EU roles extremely lucrative, even at 50% pay.
- Remote work lowered the friction: fewer in-person verifications, more trust-based hiring.
- The tech interview system is broken. Many engineers who are excellent at their jobs still struggle with live coding, whiteboard tests, or cultural fluency.
- Desperation meets opportunity. For some, this is the only way to break through glass walls. For others, it’s an easy way to earn passive income without committing full-time.
I get it. But it still doesn’t make it right or safe.
So What Can You Do Instead?
If you’re being approached with offers like this, here’s how to keep your compass straight:
Ask the tough questions:
- Will I be using my real name and resume?
- Is the contract legally binding with me?
- Who will be held accountable if anything goes wrong?
If the answers are murky, that’s your signal.
Seek legit remote work through:
- Toptal, Arc.dev, Turing, Lemon.io
- Freelance platforms with identity checks
- Open-source contribution + networking (which is slower, but so much cleaner)
Build your brand:
Your GitHub. Your blog. Your voice. That’s the safest way to be both visible and valuable.
I won’t lie
I won’t lie, I understand the appeal. Proxy interviews are slick, fast, and feel like they game a system that’s already stacked against a lot of talented people.
But this shortcut comes with long shadows.
At best, you’re invisible. At worst, you’re complicit in a lie that can follow you.
You’re better off betting on yourself.
