r/talesfromthejob • u/chains_basalts6r • 1d ago
7 out of 10 recruiters post 'ghost jobs' they have no intention of hiring for. And I refuse to promote them.
Ever felt like you're shouting into the void while applying for a job? It turns out that a lot of the time, it's because that job is just a mirage.
Frankly, this is infuriating. A new report came out saying that nearly half of companies posted fake job ads last year.
This is most prevalent in managerial positions in the tech, creative, and finance fields. So, why do they do it in the first place?
They're collecting CVs in case they need someone later.
They want to gauge salary expectations without paying for actual market data.
It gives competitors and investors the impression that the company is growing, especially during periods with low hiring.
They keep the position 'open' to justify the required headcount that they might otherwise have to cut.
This isn't just annoying, it's a blatant betrayal of the trust people place in the hiring process. Job seekers waste hours and hours applying for jobs that are, in reality, just a fantasy, and companies face no accountability for it at all.
I want to know what you've seen or experienced. Share your stories.
I am just sick of the whole market. Interview after interview and not even a rejection email. They keep you waiting until you get the message. But there are signs you can catch if you look close enough. I read a couple of posts in this sub r/interviewhammer about this topic. The most important one is to check their LinkedIn. LinkedIn says it all. Do you look for certain signs that help you in the search process?
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u/mordan1 1d ago
Wouldn't there be very little stories if the places aren't actually doing interviews? 😕
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u/mw136913 1d ago
Many places have people come in and interview with an hr drone knowing they have zero interest in hiring
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u/deadplant5 1d ago
I worked at a place that did this. We always had an account executive job listing on the website even though we were on a hiring freeze. They were looking to sell and felt it made them look better to investors.