“Hello to all you tech industry "corporate drones" and job-hunting warriors out there!Have you ever felt like this lately: You've sent out tons of resumes, and you're confident your qualifications aren't lacking, yet these job openings seem to vanish into thin air—not even a hint of an interview? If you think it's just bad luck, you might be dead wrong.According to a recent in-depth BBC report, the job market is now flooded with so-called "ghost jobs." Simply put, these are fake positions posted on job boards that companies never intended to fill.Doesn't this sound a bit like "bait-and-switch"? Today we'll dissect this workplace chaos and see what tricks these companies are really playing.
👻 What is a "ghost job"?
According to a British study, a staggering 34% of advertised job vacancies may not actually exist. These positions could be:* Already filled: The vacancy was filled long ago, but HR forgot (or couldn't be bothered) to take down the ad.* Purely testing the waters: The company wants to see what talent is available in the market or gauge whether their current salary offers are competitive.* Creating the illusion of a growing company: Posting numerous job advertisements to make investors or competitors believe the company is "thriving and expanding rapidly."
🏢 Why Do Companies Love Playing Pretend?
You might ask, isn't this a waste of everyone's time? But in the minds of some HR professionals, this is a strategy that kills two birds with one stone:
- Establish a "Talent Pool": It's like conditioning the water in an aquarium beforehand. When a core employee suddenly "jumps ship" or gets fired for "messing things up," they'll have ready-made resumes to reach out to.
- Reassuring internal staff: When existing employees are overwhelmed and on the verge of burnout, bosses posting job ads is like dangling a carrot, telling everyone, "It's coming soon—we're hiring to lighten your load." But in reality, it's just a delaying tactic.
- Performance Metrics: Some corporate recruitment departments operate on KPIs. To demonstrate daily productivity, posting job openings and collecting resumes has become the simplest way to inflate metrics.
💡 Author's Perspective: Integrity is the only sustainable path for businesses.
Frankly speaking, this practice is like rubbing salt in the wound for job seekers. The job market is already fiercely competitive, and people spend countless hours polishing their resumes and crafting cover letters only to find they're essentially sending applications to a ghost. This not only saps the enthusiasm of talented individuals but also damages the employer brand of the companies involved.In Taiwan, we often say that "one should be honest and upright." If a company starts "playing dumb" during the recruitment phase, it's hard to expect employees to be treated honestly once they join. This also deals a significant blow to labor market statistics. The data the government sees may be "all thunder and no rain," failing to accurately reflect the true state of unemployment and job vacancies.
🛡️ How to Develop an Eagle Eye for Spotting Fake Job Postings?
How can job seekers protect themselves and avoid becoming the next victims? Here are some suggestions for your reference:
- Note the posting date: If a job listing has been up for over three months, or even half a year, without any updates, it's highly likely to be a scam.
- Monitoring Update Frequency: Some companies routinely "refresh" job postings—reposting identical content daily with updated dates. This is typically automated system behavior or an attempt to boost visibility.
- Leverage professional networks and headhunters: Instead of blindly applying on job boards, reach out to current employees via LinkedIn or consult professional headhunters directly to determine whether the position is genuinely urgent.
- Cross-check: Visit the company's official website and check the "Careers" page. If third-party platforms are flooded with job postings while the official site is deserted, that should raise a red flag.
Conclusion
The workplace is like a battlefield, and now we must guard against "ghosts." We hope labor regulatory authorities everywhere will take this issue seriously and prevent these "ghosts" from continuing to run rampant in the market. Job seekers must also stay vigilant, investing their time in opportunities that are the real deal. May everyone successfully escape this sea of suffering and find a true patron who appreciates your worth!If you've also encountered these "ghost job postings" that seem real but are impossible to land, feel free to share your "ghost-hunting" experiences in the comments below!”
