Ghost Job Posts

Ever send your resume in to a job that looks perfect for you and never hear back? Not a peep? I’m not talking about a job that looks perfect TO you – meaning one where you don’t meet qualifications, but you’d love to have, or you think you can do. I’m talking about a job post where you check ALL the boxes.

What many may not realize is that they could be applying for “ghost jobs” – positions that appear to be available but, in reality, are not.

According to a recent report by Marketplace, a staggering 30% of job postings might not actually represent real, available positions. These ghost jobs can contribute to a false sense of hope among job seekers, leading to frustration and disillusionment in their job search journey.

Forbes further sheds light on this phenomenon, emphasizing how ghost job postings are perpetuating a vicious cycle of disappointment and wasted effort. These listings often serve other purposes, such as collecting resumes for future openings, market testing for salary negotiations, or simply maintaining a facade of company growth.

So, what can candidates do about this?

💡 Research and Due Diligence: Before investing time and energy into an application, candidates should research the company or agency and cross-reference the job posting with other sources to confirm its legitimacy (wherever possible).

💡 Network and Referrals: Networking remains a powerful tool in the job search process. Leveraging professional connections and seeking referrals can help candidates bypass the uncertainty of ghost jobs and access hidden opportunities.

💡Focus on Quality over Quantity: Instead of spraying resumes indiscriminately, candidates should focus on crafting personalized applications for positions that genuinely align with their skills and career goals.

💡Stay Informed: Keeping abreast of industry trends and understanding the hiring landscape can help candidates make informed decisions and avoid falling into the trap of ghost job postings.

Having been in the recruiting business for 25+ years, I can tell you it’s a very common practice for agencies (of all stripes) to post jobs on a rotational basis to add to their resume pools. Not saying it’s bad practice, but candidates should have this in the back of their minds as they submit resumes. Especially if they have any concern for their search confidentiality.

So the takeaway for jobseekers is – work smarter not harder. If you’re adopting a “spray & pray” approach to finding your next job, don’t be surprised if the response rate is lower than you expect.

#JobSearch #GhostJobs #CareerAdvice #careercoach