Applying for endless jobs but getting no responses? 81% recruiters admit to posting 'ghost jobs,' as per new report

If you're in the midst of a job search, you might find yourself endlessly scrolling through LinkedIn and submitting countless applications, only to be met with silence. It's easy to feel disheartened and even embarrassed about your situation, as though it's a personal failure. But you're not alone¡ªmany others are facing the same struggles. It turns out that the problem may not be with you at all. A recent report from MyPerfectResume reveals that about 81% of recruiters admit their employers post "ghost jobs," which are either non-existent or already filled. So, the position you applied for might have never been real to begin with.

"We often hear job-seekers saying, 'I'm tired, I'm depressed, I'm desperate,' using these very harsh words when it comes to the job market," Fortune quotes Jasmine Escalera, a career expert for MyPerfectResume.

This sense of disillusionment is understandable when you learn about the scale of the issue.

According to the report, about 17% of job announcements are believed to be entirely fake, while 21.5% of postings are classified as ghost jobs.

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Additionally, 36% of recruiters admit that at least a quarter of their job postings are not genuine, and 18% acknowledge that less than one-tenth of their ads are real.

But, why do recruiters post jobs that don't actually exist?

The reasons are both varied and well, predictable.

Around 38% of recruiters use fake listings to maintain an active presence on job boards when they are not hiring.

Another 36% use these postings to evaluate their job descriptions' effectiveness, while 26% aim to build a future talent pool.

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Similarly, 26% seek to gain insights into the job market and their competitors, and 25% want to assess the difficulty of replacing current employees.

Escalera explains that companies use these tactics to project a positive image, conveying that they're still hiring and growing despite market conditions.

But what can job seekers do in response?

Credit: Pixabay | Representational image

Instead of waiting for companies to feel guilty and stop posting fake job listings, Escalera advises adapting to the reality of the job market.

She recommends that candidates learn to identify and avoid fake postings. Additionally, using platforms like Glassdoor, where employees can anonymously share reviews and alert others to ghost jobs, can be a valuable resource in navigating this challenging market.

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