Nowadays, when technology has facilitated the connection between employers and job seekers, an unexpected problem has begun to alter this relationship: fake job offers or ghost jobs.
According to a recent analysis cited by The Wall Street Journal, conducted by the recruiting platform Greenhouse, Up to 22% of jobs posted online are not intended to be filled. This phenomenon is generating frustration among workers and distrust towards companies.
Ghost jobs are jobs that companies advertise without the real intention of hiring them. They can be published for various reasons: Ghost jobs are job positions that companies advertise publicly without the real intention of filling them.
These types of offers can have several purposes, including: to appear growth or stability, to attract exceptional candidates in case of future opportunities or to comply with certain legal regulations that require vacancies to be published, even if they are already assigned.
The existence of these fake offers is undermining the morale of workers. Serena Dao, recent graduate of the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellonexperienced this frustration firsthand. During ten months of searching, submitted more than 260 applications, faced 124 rejections and went without response from 116 companiessome of which took her to multiple rounds of interviews or gave her complex tasks.
“It’s demoralizing. One wonders if these offers really exist or if the system is designed to fail.he commented. These types of experiences generate a growing distrust of employers and a feeling of hopelessness among workers.
Greenhouse reports that the practice of posting ghost jobs is common in sectors such as construction, arts, food and legal sectors. In 2024, 70% of companies using this platform posted at least one ghost job, while 15% of these companies were habitual offenders, with half of their offers unfilled.
Despite the positive figures in job creation (256,000 new positions in December 2024), mid-level administrative and professional workers report greater difficulties in finding employment. Factors such as artificial intelligence and tighter budgets are mentioned as possible culprits.
Jon Stross, president of Greenhouse, described the current outlook as a “horror show” and noted that the job market is bleaker than ever.
Identifying ghost jobs can be a challenge, but there are strategies applicants can apply to avoid falling for misleading offers.
An important sign is the age of the advertisements: if a vacancy is undated or has been posted for months, it is likely not legitimate, since real positions tend to be filled quickly. Another recommendation is to check if the advertised job appears on the company’s official website. If it’s not there, it could be a fake offer.
Finally, an effective way to confirm the existence of the position is to contact the employer or human resources department directly, which allows you to avoid efforts in applications for non-existent vacancies.
Some job platforms are taking steps to reduce confusion. Greenhouse has implemented badges that identify companies that actively respond to candidates and fill the vacancies they publish. For its part, LinkedIn began labeling as “verified” those jobs whose existence has been confirmed. These measures seek to restore confidence in a process that many perceive as manipulated.
In this context, building authentic networks has become a crucial tool for finding employment. Glen Loveland, professional coach at Thunderbird School of Global Managementemphasizes that personal relationships are essential. “The days of sending out a resume and hoping for the best are coming to an end. “Human connection remains key”he points out.
Fake job offers represent a significant challenge to the modern labor market. Although some companies view this practice as an acceptable strategy, its impact on workers is discouraging. Restoring trust and ensuring a transparent process requires joint efforts from employers, employment platforms and regulators.
Ultimately, workers are not just looking for a job, but the certainty that their time and effort will be valued in a fair labor market.
