As if your job hunt weren’t difficult enough, some less-than-scrupulous companies are turning to “ghost jobs” to bolster their online reputations. They’re posting positions they never intend to fill in order to project growth. This is just one more complexity to deal with as you conduct your job search, but the good news is there are a few ways to spot ghost jobs in the wild.
Understanding why ghost jobs are a trend
The goal of a ghost job isn’t to fool the job-seeker—you’re just collateral damage. Companies know competitors, potential investors, and current employees peruse their job listings, and open positions are a sign of growth. They’re also a reminder that current employees are replaceable. Some recruiters also share ghost postings to build a database of potential candidates for a future position.
Six signs of a ghost job posting
So how do you know a job posting isn’t real? Some of the signs are similar to scam job postings, though ghost jobs can be harder to spot:
Has the job been posted for a really long time? As you visit job opening sites, you may notice perennial postings—those postings that seem to reappear or never disappear. It’s not that these positions aren’t hard to fill; it’s that no one is trying to fill them. Many career search websites list how long a job has been posted, which is a good clue. Consider it a red flag if a posting has been listed for more than a month.According to a June 2023 report by the Josh Bersin Company, a human capital advisory firm, the average time to hire is 43 days, with longer time spans for more highly skilled positions (think engineering). But think about your previous job hunts and how quickly they moved from application to offer—and remember that a hiring manager who needs to fill a position is likely in a hurry to do so. They’re probably ready to shed the extra work!
Is the job posting light on details? Vague job listings—either in terms of the position’s responsibilities or its requirements—are also an indicator of ghost jobs. An actual position will come with more information.
Is the career website posting inconsistent with the company’s own website? When you see a posting on a job-search site, it’s a good idea to cross-reference it with the company’s own career-opportunities page. If the position isn’t also listed there, you have reason to be suspicious.Has the company recently announced a round of layoffs? While it’s possible a company might implement a reduction in force in one area of the organization but need to hire in another, generally layoffs are a last resort after a hiring freeze. This could be the sign of a ghost job posted to make it seem like the company is on the rebound.Does the position seem too good to be true? While this has the potential to be the sign of an actual scam—too-high pay for too-little responsibility, for instance—an overly promising job listing should also cause you to be skeptical.Does there seem to be a strong internal candidate? As you research the position, look to see if there are any strong internal candidates, such as an assistant manager who has seemingly been waiting in the wings. Sometimes companies are required by law or their own policies to post positions publicly even if they’ve already decided on an internal candidate. In that case, the position may not stay up long, but it could still be a ghost job. It’s hard to beat out an internal candidate.Unfortunately, many companies do not reply to all candidates for a position—only those who’ve been interviewed, and sometimes not even then. You may never know for sure whether a posting is a ghost job, but if you have your suspicions, it’s probably time to cut your losses and move on.
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