Ghost Jobs Are a Scam and Companies Know It

Ghost jobs are the corporate world's version of catfishing. They're fake, elusive, and designed to make companies look good. It's time to call it what it is: complete and utter bullshit.

What's Actually Happening

Companies are posting job openings they have no intention of filling. Why? Because having a slew of "open positions" makes them look like they're on the rise. A bloated job board suggests growth, innovation, and success—a shiny façade for investors, clients, and competitors. Big names like Amazon and Facebook have been called out for posting hundreds of jobs only to "pause hiring," leaving applications in the void.

It’s not just the tech giants. Across industries, organizations inflate job listings to boost their perceived value. Small to mid-sized companies do it to appear more robust, while larger corporations use it as a tool to gauge the market or keep their competitors guessing. These ghost jobs waste time and resources, yet companies keep playing this charade.

Why This Matters For You

As a job seeker, ghost jobs are a minefield. You're pouring hours into preparing applications, tailoring resumes, and practicing interviews for positions that never existed. It's demoralizing and wastes precious time you could spend applying for real jobs. You’re sucked into a hamster wheel of hope and frustration, constantly questioning your qualifications and worth.

Worse, ghost jobs skew the labor market data. When companies claim they're hiring but aren’t, it makes the job market look more robust than it is. This false sense of security can lead job seekers to make poor decisions, like quitting current jobs or holding out for fictional opportunities. It's a dirty game, and you're the pawn.

What You Should Do About It

Here's how to navigate this treacherous landscape:

1. Verify Before You Apply: Do your research. Check if the company's hiring announcements match up on their official site and recent press releases. If a company claims to be in a hiring frenzy, but insiders say otherwise, smell a rat.

2. Use Your Network: Ghost jobs rarely fool insiders. Reach out to contacts within companies to get the real scoop on hiring plans. A quick message on LinkedIn can save you hours of wasted effort.

3. Mirror Their Game: Be strategic. Apply broadly but focus your energies on companies with a reputation for honest practices. Use job boards that provide transparency—Glassdoor ratings, employee reviews, and firsthand accounts are gold mines.

4. Ask the Tough Questions: If you land an interview, ask directly about the company’s hiring practices. Are they genuinely planning to fill this position, or “keeping resumes on file” for future use? Demand specifics, and don’t settle for vague answers.

The Bottom Line

Ghost jobs are a scam, plain and simple, and companies are in on it. Don’t let them waste your time. Know the tricks, play smart, and focus your job search on opportunities that are real—not the phantom promises of growth and prosperity. The job market might play its games, but you're smarter than that. Take control and call out the bullshit when you see it.

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Industry commentary from Hey, You're Hired.