Job seekers are learning to recognise ‘ghost jobs’: advertised positions without an active vacancy behind them. ResumeBuilder.com surveyed 1,011 adults who had looked for work within the previous two years. Among them, 86% said they had encountered an advert for a job that was not actually open.
The problem can involve considerable time and effort. More than a third, or 36%, said they had spent at least four hours pursuing positions they now believed were not real. An interview did not necessarily mean a genuine opportunity: 58% said they had attended one for a job they later suspected was a ghost job.
Warning signs include adverts that look old, remain online for a long time or repeatedly disappear and return. Employers who do not reply or cannot give a clear hiring timetable can also raise doubts. Before applying, some candidates check the advert’s date and the employer’s own careers website. Others contact the company directly. Experts also advise avoiding adverts that demand payment in advance.
