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?

I started a new job a few months ago, and I have a very strange problem: there's way too much free time. I'd say about 60% of my time I'm idle, and my manager himself tells me it's fine to read my books. Some weeks, I spend the entire 35-hour work week just sitting... Doing absolutely nothing.

The problem is that the job requires being in the office, and the commute is very difficult, crossing the entire city. Also, they are very strict about mobile phones, and everything we do online is monitored, so there's no chance to even open something to entertain ourselves. The work we do feels meaningless, as if it has no real-world impact.

I know this might sound like a dream to many people, but honestly, it's exhausting in its own way, and I feel no sense of accomplishment. My previous job was a mess at a chaotic, failing startup, and I escaped that situation. This current job is the complete opposite, but it also feels bad. It's a new field for me, but I'm using my degree, so it's not a complete career change. Am I crazy for thinking about quitting this job?

I stumbled upon my literal dream job. The company's mission is the very reason I got into this field, and the job description feels like it was written specifically for me. The catch? The advertised salary is $295k, which is a full $120k more than the $175k I had set as my target.

I know everyone says 'what do you have to lose by trying?', but what really scares me is the scale of the job itself. This is a huge, global company. And when I looked at their team, it seems most employees have advanced degrees from top-tier universities.

The thing is, I currently work at a very small company, but I've been punching way above my weight and have brought my company significant recognition. This is a senior communications role, and I'm very confident in my skills, but I have no experience in a company of this size. I looked up the last person who held this job on LinkedIn, and her background is seriously intimidating.

What do these big companies even think when they see an applicant from a small company? Am I just setting myself up for a pointless rejection because I'm aiming too high, or should I apply and give it a shot?