With summer approaching and students and teachers enjoying a bit more free time, many may start looking for part-time work. That’s a great idea! But be careful; while there are jobs out there, a growing number of listings are fake. These are known as ghost jobs.
Here’s how it usually goes: you’re scrolling job boards or company career pages and find a role that feels perfect. You polish your resume, write a thoughtful cover letter, apply...and then hear nothing.
More job seekers are running into this frustrating trend, as companies post roles that aren’t actually open. In fact, a recent survey found that 3 in 10 companies have fake job listings, and 40% of hiring managers admitted to posting them in the past year, with 70% saying they see nothing wrong with it. These fake listings give a false sense of opportunity and stretch out the job search process.
But, why do companies do this? As Kara Dennison wrote in Forbes, “posting a job description without the intention to immediately start the hiring process inflates the true number of jobs in the market and elongates the job search, much to the frustration of many job seekers.”
So how can you avoid being ghosted? It’s not always obvious, but here are some red flags to watch for:
- Vague or generic job descriptions: If it reads like a template, it might be one. Real postings, especially for senior roles, are usually specific about responsibilities and qualifications.
- The listing never disappears: Ghost jobs tend to linger on job boards for weeks or months. A recently posted role is more likely to be legitimate.
- Lack of company details: If the email doesn’t match the company domain or there’s little online presence, it could be a scam. Some of these postings are actually phishing attempts designed to trick you into handing over personal information like your Social Security Number, resume data, or even bank details. Falling for these can lead to identity theft or compromise your digital security. Always verify the legitimacy of the recruiter and the job listing before sharing any sensitive information.
It’s not very clear where to draw the line… So it makes sense to put your energy into the aspects of your job search that you can control:
- Network smart, not hard: Reach out to current employees to learn about unadvertised roles and get referrals. Internal recommendations often open doors faster than applying cold.
- Become a storyteller: Learn to share your career journey clearly and concisely. Recruiters want candidates who can communicate their values with confidence!
- Commit to continuous learning: In fast-changing fields like software, upskilling is key. Join learning communities or online groups where you can build new skills and stay sharp.
- Stay open: You never know where your next opportunity might be. If you’ve always worked in enterprise environments, consider startups or nonprofits. If you’ve been in one role, consider adjacent positions that leverage your skills.
Don’t forget to protect your digital footprint during the job hunt. Job searching today means sharing your personal data online; sometimes a lot of it. That makes this process a perfect target for cybercriminals posing as employers. We recommend a few things:
- Limit sensitive details: Be wary of applications that ask for your Social Security Number, bank info, or personal ID too early in the process.
- Use a dedicated job-search email address: This helps separate job-related communication and reduces the risk of phishing in your main inbox.
- Avoid suspicious links or downloads: If you're asked to click a strange link or install software as part of the application, pause and verify, especially if the source seems off.
Job hunting should be exciting, not risky. Happy searching!