Ghost posting and how it’s haunting the American job market

According to recent research, companies are increasingly using fake online job openings to create an illusion of growth, motivate existing employees, and build a future candidate pool without any real intention of hiring. It is dubbed as “ghost posting”.

This practice accounts for 43% of online job listings across various industries. A survey by Clarify Capital, involving over 1,000 hiring managers, revealed that beyond boosting artificial growth metrics and productivity, one-third of professionals admitted to using ghost posts to appease overworked employees.

The repercussions of ghost posting are widespread, causing frustration for job seekers and genuine hiring companies. On average, it takes job seekers up to eight weeks to receive an offer after applying online, as reported by Indeed.

This extensive process, involving resume tailoring, lengthy applications, and multiple interview rounds, often ends in disappointment when applicants realize the jobs were never real. It’s no wonder that 55% of Americans report being “completely burned out” from job hunting, according to staffing company Insight Global.

Ghost posting

“Ghost job postings are problematic for companies legitimately trying to hire people,” says Ben Lamarche, general manager at Lock Search Group. “Not only do these clutter job boards and make it more difficult for candidates to find and apply to genuine job openings, they also cause frustration and mistrust among candidates.”

Tech companies, recruiters, and staffing agencies are identified as major ghost posters. Stephen Greet, CEO of BeamJobs, explains, “Tech companies are often cited as major users of ghost postings. Maintaining a pool of potential candidates ready to go is key to how fast the industry moves. If a new project pops up or someone leaves, they’ve already got qualified people to consider.”

Some evidence suggests internal motivations behind ghost postings. A 2023 analysis by Visier of 1,000 full-time U.S. employees found nearly half spent over 10 hours weekly on performative tasks to appear busy rather than being productive. This phenomenon, termed “productivity theatre” by Visier, aims to create the illusion of generating products and value without contributing to meaningful business results.

Misleading picture of business activity

Consulting with various HR departments, HR consultant Conor Hughes heard first-hand accounts from hiring managers admitting to keeping posts active long after positions were filled to project continuous hiring and growth. Hughes notes, “It seems that for some, padding fake metrics and creating a misleading picture of business activity has become more important than supporting legitimate job seekers.”

Job seekers can avoid falling into the ghost posting trap by ensuring listings are recent. Joe Mercurio, project manager for Clarify Capital, advises, “A job that was posted 48 hours ago is more likely to be actively hiring than a job posted three months ago.”

Beware of job postings for contract gigs with vague descriptions, ones that use corporate buzzwords excessively, or focus more on selling the company than explaining the role. “If there’s three or four paragraphs about the company or slogans like ‘work hard, play hard,’ the answer is nope. Move on,” Lamarche warns.

In a job market increasingly haunted by ghost postings, awareness and discernment are key for job seekers to succeed in their quest and avoid wasting precious time on opportunities that don’t exist.