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Ghosting in the professional world -

Most of us have probably felt the frustration of being ghosted during a job search. You put in the effort—submitting applications, acing interviews—and then... nothing.

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Dead on arrival -

The employer disappears without a word, leaving you in the dark and unsure of what happened.

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New trend -

Unfortunately, the job market has thrown us a new curveball: ghost jobs. These positions are posted by companies in job listing websites with no intention of actually hiring for them.

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Added stress -

This misleading trend draws in qualified candidates, wasting their time and adding even more frustration to an already challenging job search.

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Common practice -

A recent Resume Builder survey revealed that a staggering 40% of companies posted these "fake" job listings in 2024, and a concerning 30% are currently advertising for roles that don't actually exist.

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Ghost jobs vs. scams -

According to Geoffrey Scott, hiring manager at Resume Genius, they aren't necessarily scams. They originate from real companies, but they represent positions that have been falsely advertised and don't truly exist.

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Priority shift -

Essentially, the company isn't actively recruiting for that position right now. They might be considering it for future hiring needs, or perhaps they were previously hiring but have since paused or eliminated those roles due to budget constraints.

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You never know -

Unaware candidates continue applying to these jobs, but despite the high volume of applicants, a striking number of listings don't lead to hires.

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By the numbers -

In 2023, the ratio of hires per job posting plummeted below 0.5, indicating that over half of all advertised positions went unfilled, according to US workforce intelligence firm Revelio Labs.

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By the numbers -

A recent survey of 1,000 hiring managers conducted by Clarify Capital, a New York-based business loan provider, uncovered a concerning trend: nearly 70% of job openings stay unfilled for over a month, and an alarming 10% take more than six months to close.

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US stats -

In their research, Resume Genius uncovered a staggering 1.7 million potential ghost job openings on LinkedIn within the United States alone, revealed Scott.

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UK stats -

In the UK, London-based career resources company StandOut CV discovered that over a third of job postings in 2023 were likely ghost jobs, characterized by remaining unfilled for more than 30 days.

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Taking a toll -

In a June 2024 survey of 2,000 people by FlexJobs and MyPerfectResume, the widespread issue stood out as a major hurdle for US applicants, with 55% of respondents naming it as their top job search challenge.

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Why do companies do it? -

One common justification for posting ghost jobs is the persistent search for top talent. This is supported by the Revelio Labs survey, where half of hiring managers cited a continuous desire to identify and engage potential candidates.

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Online job fair? -

Some experts liken ghost jobs to the traditional in-person job fairs, suggesting they share a similar underlying strategy.

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Marketing stunt? -

Historically, job fairs have often been criticized for attracting businesses that prioritize self-promotion or resume collection over genuine hiring intent, effectively turning the event into a mass resume-gathering exercise.

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Looking ahead -

Over a third of hiring managers surveyed by Revelio Labs admitted to keeping job listings open to build a pool of applicants for future openings, particularly if a current employee decides to leave.

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Public perception -

While ghost jobs act as a "talent vacuum," absorbing resumes from applicants, they also function as a strategic tool to project an image of an organization's growth and vitality, both internally and externally.

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Public perception -

A surprising 40% of hiring managers admitted to posting jobs with no immediate hiring intent, primarily to convey a sense of company expansion.

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Call for backup -

A similar percentage of hiring managers admitted to posting ghost jobs to motivate existing employees, while 34% acknowledged using them to appease overworked staff who may be anticipating additional support.

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Ghost busting -

Regardless of the employer's intentions, job seekers can spot potential ghost jobs by watching for specific warning signs. To steer clear of ghost jobs, keep an eye out for the following red flags.

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How long ago was it posted? -

If a job posting has been up for 30 days or more, it might be a ghost job. While it could suggest the employer is having trouble filling the position, experts caution that it may also signal they don’t have real hiring intentions.

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Is it official? -

If you found the job posting on a platform like LinkedIn or Indeed, verify its authenticity by checking if it's still actively listed on the company's official careers page.

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Is it vague? -

When reviewing a job posting, it's crucial to look for specificity. If the job description lacks detail and fails to clearly define the role's responsibilities, it could be a red flag.

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Is it vague? -

If it seems like the company rushed to write and post the job description, "they might just be testing applicant interest and evaluating the talent pool," explains Jackie Cuevas, a human resources administrator and former recruiter. The more detailed and well-crafted the description, the more likely it is a legitimate hiring opportunity.

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Is there a timeline? -

If you secure an interview, proactively inquire about the anticipated hiring timeline, advises Charnay Horton, career coach and CEO of resume writing firm Resume Addict.

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Are they transparent? -

Horton recommends asking questions like "can you provide more details about the interview process, including the hiring manager's anticipated decision timeline?" or "could you shed some light on the circumstances that led to this position becoming available?"

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Are they stalling? -

Slow communication from your point of contact may suggest a lack of real interest in hiring. As Horton notes, "When employers are genuinely interested, they move quickly." Delays in communication could signal they’re not serious about filling the position.

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Are they consistent? -

Do your homework: visit the company website, explore their social media, read reviews on sites like Glassdoor, and run a thorough Google search. This investigative approach gives you valuable insights into the company’s intentions, culture, and hiring process, while helping you focus on the parts of the job search you can control, reducing the uncertainty that comes with it.

Sources: (Business Insider) (BBC) (CNBC)

See also: Tips for standing out in today’s ultra-competitive job market

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