Ghost Jobs: What They Are & Why They’re Hurting Job Seekers

Ghost Jobs: What They Are & Why They’re Hurting Job Seekers

An article recently came across my desk about a new phenomenon: "ghost jobs." In this article, The Wall Street Journal reports that there are actually thousands and thousands of ghost jobs currently posted on job board sites.


So, what is a "ghost job"?

A "ghost job" is a job that isn't real. It's a job for a company that isn't actually hiring, or at least hiring for the role advertised in the job posting. More than 1,000 hiring managers were surveyed, and 27% of them admitted that they've left these jobs up for over four months, never intending to fill them.

Why Hiring Managers Leave "Ghost Jobs" Up For Months

@j.t.odonnell I've been saying this for months! Now there is proof!!! #ghostjobs#jobsearch#jobsearchtips#careertok#jobtok#job#career#careertiktok#jobtiktok#jobs#careers♬ original sound - J.T. O'Donnell

Over half of the hiring managers surveyed said the reason that they left the jobs up for so long was to give the impression or illusion that the company was growing. The worst part? One-third of them said they left the jobs up because they wanted to give the appearance that they were actually trying to hire to help their overworked staff.

If you're looking for work right now, you probably realized it's harder than you thought to find a job. And applying online is getting you nowhere. These "ghost jobs" are impossible to spot among the real job postings on job board sites.

The solution? Learn how to conduct a proactive job search.

Once you learn the better way to look for a job, you won't have to worry about "ghost jobs" anymore. Good luck, and go get 'em!

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