Ghost jobs are job postings advertised by companies without the intent of hiring someone for the position. The reason for such practice varies depending on the recruiter’s objective. While not illegal, it is considered unethical. Unlike job fishing, wherein the job posting often tricks job hunters into shelling out money, most ghost jobs do not involve monetary scams. It may also be harder to spot.
Job hunters are not happy with the practice and would argue that using ghost jobs is fraudulent in nature. Not only do applicants waste their time polishing their CVs for a false job opportunity, but their effort in allotting time to research the company’s credibility goes down the drain. Some ghost job postings stay up for weeks or even months without anyone filling in the vacancy.
"The data, gathered on May 19, 2023, and re-evaluated on June 27, 2023, showed that over a third of job listings in the UK fell under the ‘ghost job’ category"https://t.co/YKRNpGQdKO
— Deb Waines (@DebWaines) June 15, 2024
How to spot ghost jobs
As mentioned, ghost jobs tend to be up on websites longer than usual. The hiring process usually takes a month or two before filling the vacancy. Nothing longer than three to six months for a sole position should be deemed unusual.
Checking the number of applicants could also help job seekers gauge the employer. On platforms like Upwork, where the number of applications can be viewed by anyone, the number of applicants being interviewed compared to the number hired can serve as a basis. For instance, a job posting with over 200 applications but zero invitations for an interview or no CV requests may raise a red flag.
Ghost jobs may also have multiple postings, whether on the same website or cross-posted to others. Those who post ghost job vacancies also post the same job posting multiple times throughout the week or month on the same platform. Always check the employer or company’s profile to make sure that the job offer is a legitimate one.
The "secret" to getting a job has always been networking — who you know and less so what you know. You have to figure out how to get around the black hole of applicant tracking systems.
These days there's the added challenge of ghost job postings, where the company pretends to… https://t.co/LKfKcjyNWx
— Comrade Common Sense™ (@komradeperogie) June 9, 2024
Other recruiters are using ghost job
While job seekers may rightfully see it as a waste of time, recruiters gain some benefit in posting ghost jobs. Some do it to acquire a pool of résumé from applicants that they can easily sort through if the need to fill a certain position urgently arises. In cases of sudden resignation or an AWOL situation, they would have many candidates from whom they can choose immediately.
Putting up job vacancies for a longer time could also mean more exposure to the public, turning it into a marketing strategy. If people often see a company name in job postings, they might assume it’s a growing and successful company, as there is always a vacancy to fill. It would give the illusion that the business is booming.
yup they’re called ghost job posting https://t.co/HL0EOwjE21
— Ciera 씨에라 ⭐ (@cierabyul) June 7, 2024
The alternative solution
However, there are other ways to maximize any recruiter’s reach without posting ghost jobs. Building social networks and connections can help recruiters find people who are fit for a certain job position. Platforms like LinkedIn are most helpful for HR if they want to skim through a potential candidate’s credentials quickly. Websites like these also offer the option to send a direct message to the applicant and network connections.
Providing contact details like an email address dedicated to receiving only applicants’ résumés could also be helpful. Company websites can allot a space where applicants can drop their résumé anytime and anywhere, no matter what position they are seeking. Compared to posting a ghost job, this practice will not be deceitful since it will be akin to a job seeker dropping a copy of their résumé in a box provided by the company.
Photo credit: The feature image is symbolic and has been done by Elnur Amikishiyev.
