Job ads do not always represent real opportunities. Some advertise positions that employers are not actively trying to fill. These are known as “ghost jobs.” In a ResumeBuilder.com survey of 1,011 adults who had looked for work during the past two years, 86% said they had encountered a listing without an active opening.
The survey also found that 36% had spent at least four hours pursuing jobs they now believed were not real. Even interviews offered no guarantee: 58% had interviewed for a position they later suspected was a ghost job. Warning signs included ads that stayed online for a long time or repeatedly disappeared and returned. Employers who did not respond or explain when they planned to hire also raised concerns.
Before applying, some job seekers check posting dates and look for the same opening on the company's website. Others contact employers directly. Experts advise avoiding listings that require upfront payment. Ghost jobs have weakened trust in the job market, and New York state lawmakers passed legislation in June to make them illegal.
