With layoffs still on the rise, many Americans are scrolling through the job boards for potential new gigs. 🕵️ While you're scanning through Indeed.com with your morning cup o' Joe, make sure you steer clear of ghost jobs! 👻
A ghost job is a job posting that's listed on a job board, but it's inactive. Kinda like the Wizard of Oz, there might not be anyone behind the curtain, which could be a huge time waster and a let down! 👎
Here’s Five Fast Facts on ghost jobs:
- 🚪 Door's Always Open - Recent data shows that 50% of managers keep job postings up because they're "always open to new people." Even though a job posting looks active, the company may have decided not to fill the position, or did fill it and wants to gather applicants for the future.
- 👻 Shady Business - Some companies make fake postings to make it seem like their company is growing. Others say they post jobs so their current overworked employees think they're actively helping them out (super lame move.) Applying to these kinds of jobs is a huge let down for applicants seeking real jobs.
- 🧐 False Advertising - So how do you know a posting is a ghost job? One clue is a vague job description. Real postings get pretty specific about the responsibilities, qualifications, and expectations for the role. If a job seems like it's missing some key information, keep scrolling. Another clue: if the job posting seems too good to be true, it probably is. Too many perks and not enough real info is a red flag.
- 🚮 Stale and Moldy - If you see the same job posting on multiple platforms and it's been open for a long time, it could be a ghost job. Most jobs, especially at the entry level, typically get filled within a month or two. Pro tip: jobs posted on LinkedIn will show you how long a job has been open.
- 🦗 Jiminy Cricket - If you've applied for a job you hear crickets afterwards, it's a good sign that the job posting is bogus. At the very least, the company isn't serious about hiring, or good at notifying applicants that the job has been filled. Two to three weeks is a reasonable timeframe for a recruiter or hiring manager to reach out. If it's been months, don't waste any more time waiting for an answer.
🔥Bottom line: Ghost jobs suck, but your job search doesn't have to. To increase your chances of landing a sweet new gig, flex your networking skills and make contacts with others in your industry. Stay fresh, learn some new skills, and include them on your resume. Oh, and make sure your social media profiles are professional-looking. Too proud of your keg stand pics? Flip your profile to private.
Have you ever applied to a ghost job?
Let us know by connecting with us on Facebook and Instagram! Also, remember to share this newsletter with your friends & coworkers!
Btw, If you’ve read this far and haven’t yet signed up for the weekly Paycheckology newsletter, CLICK HERE!
