“Ghost jobs” are job postings that are advertised but aren't actually available or intended to be filled. Companies might post these roles to create a facade of growth, to build a talent pool for potential future openings, to gauge the job market, or keep competitors from hiring too quickly. They can also arise from internal processes where a position is listed before it’s officially approved or budgeted for, or due to miscommunication within the company.
For job seekers, encountering ghost jobs can be frustrating. According to a recent study, approximately 36% of jobs posted online—more than a third—are actually not real vacancies. And it’s impossible to tell them apart from true job openings. You apply only to never hear back, or receive a templated “thank you for your submission” response that again leads nowhere.
The best way to avoid ghost jobs is by working with recruiters. Recruiters work for their clients to fill desperately needed, 100% real job openings. Most often, these jobs are unadvertised positions and only available through a recruiter, guaranteeing it’s not a ghost job. Recruiters have inside connections to hiring managers true needs and wants, information about the roles that would never be available to you directly, and can advocate on your behalf with prospective employers to get you noticed, interviewed and hopefully, hired.
In essence, working with a recruiter can streamline your job search, minimize the impact of ghost jobs, and provide you with more accurate and targeted job opportunities. When recruiters reach out to you, please respond to them and remember, they’re not hurting you, they’re helping you.
Good Luck, and Happy Hunting!
Comments