Job hunting is a mentally and emotionally exhausting process.
What often aggravates the negative feelings is the rise of ghost jobs that can get your hopes up.
However, if you haven’t heard about this phenomenon in the job market, read on so you can avoid wasting time applying to ghost jobs.
What are “Ghost Jobs” and Why Do Companies Post Them?
First, let’s define the term.
Ghost jobs refer to positions a company is not trying to fill. These postings can stay up for weeks—even months—with no clear indication of whether someone was hired or not.
According to a survey by Clarify Capital, around 68% of hiring managers keep the job ads active for more than a month.
Now, why do companies do this?
There are several reasons.
One, businesses post these jobs to give off a sense of growth to attract more investors.
Second, in connection with the previous point, listing open positions is a way to motivate current employees. Again, it is to give the impression that the company is expanding.
Third, the position is considered evergreen, which simply means the company can hire should the right person come along. The business is just not in any hurry to fill in the role.
How to Avoid Applying for “Ghost Jobs”
So, what are some of the tell-tale signs of a ghost job?
Check the date
When did the company post the job opening? Was it a few days ago? Or have several weeks already passed by?
Chances are, a company that recently posted is actively hiring for that particular role.
If more than a month has passed, then it could be a ghost job.
Mind the Details
Another way to avoid ghost jobs is to read the job description.
Does it seem generic? Or does it contain very specific details about the job?
If it is the latter, it usually means it’s a legitimate job.
Be updated
As with anything, always do your due diligence.
Look into the current status of the organization you are eyeing. You can even reach out to your network (if any of them work at the company) and ask questions about any of the job openings available.
Pay attention to the patterns
How often is the position vacated?
If you notice that the company constantly puts up the ad for the job, it could signal some more serious issues (apart from being a ghost job)—like an inefficient recruitment process or high employee turnover.
Track the Response Time
As a job hunter, you usually don’t expect immediate feedback after an interview.
However, if a week or so has already passed and you’ve heard nothing from the employer, then they either hired someone else or it was a ghost job, after all.
Stay Vigilant
Job seekers have it tough. It can be discouraging if you never hear back from a recruiter.
Hopefully, these tips will help you avoid ghost jobs.
On that note, if you want a legit work-from-home (WFH) opportunity, check out Remote Staff’s job listings. These are regularly updated, so you know that we’re actively searching for qualified people.
Remote Staff has also been in business for 15 years (and counting!) and has produced a tried and tested recruitment process. We also offer constant after-hire support to our remote contractors, so you are never alone in your remote working journey.
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