Ghost Jobs
What are ghost jobs?
Ghost jobs, also known as fake jobs or phantom jobs, are job listings that seem legitimate but are actually for positions that are not open or don’t even exist.
Companies post such fake or outdated jobs for several reasons. For instance, some employers want to assess market interest and the availability of skills for specific positions, while others simply forget to remove old postings.
This practice of posting ghost jobs is not uncommon — in fact, three in 10 companies admit to advertising for roles that aren’t real.
Why do companies post ghost jobs?
Below are some common reasons companies post ghost jobs:
- Future needs: Some companies want to get ahead of a growth curve, like upcoming expansion plans. They may not be ready to hire, but collect applications in advance so they can hit the ground running when they’re indeed ready.
- Constant alertness: Some companies want to be on constant alert for talent even if they lack critical openings – especially for roles that need quick replacements amid vacancies (e.g., sales roles).
- Market insights: Some companies may use ghost job listings to collect direct market research data on the size of candidate pools, skills availability, and salary expectations for new roles.
- Human oversight: Ghost jobs are sometimes unintentional and happen when a company simply forgets to remove job postings even after the roles in question have been filled.
- Back-up plan: HR may purposefully keep a job listing active for a few weeks or months even after the company has employed someone, just in case the new hire doesn’t work out.
There are also more questionable reasons that companies post fake listings, including the following:
- Projecting success: Some companies post ghost jobs to appear as if they are constantly hiring and growing or to keep their employer brand top of mind for potential candidates.
- Employee manipulation: 63% of employers admit to posting ghost jobs to mislead employees into thinking new hires will lighten their workload despite having no intention of hiring new staff.
- Fearmongering among employees: Over 60% of employers claim they post ghost jobs as a form of power play to instill fear in current employees that they will be fired and replaced soon.
The impact of posting ghost jobs
While posting fake job ads may benefit employers in some aspects, there are several ways this tactic can backfire, resulting in the following negative consequences:
Candidate frustration
Candidates often spend a lot of time and effort applying for jobs. Not receiving a response or discovering that the jobs they’ve applied for are fake creates a bad will, as candidates waste valuable time, they could have used to apply for real jobs instead.
Fewer good applicants
When a company starts gaining a reputation for posting fake jobs, talented candidates are likely to think twice before applying or choose not to apply at all. This leads to a lack of qualified candidates, affecting business outcomes significantly.
Employee dissatisfaction
Current employees who find out their employer has been posting ghost jobs are bound to feel betrayed and distrustful. This tactic tells employees their employer has been dishonest with them or sees the need to manipulate them.
Reputational damage
When people realize a company has been misleading candidates with fake jobs, public trust in that company can be irrevocably broken. This can lead to fewer candidates applying and current employees seeking employment elsewhere.
Additional workload
Ghost jobs that attract numerous candidates will force the HR team in charge of hiring to spend additional time handling extra applications for non-existent jobs. This can frustrate HR as it gets in the way of their more pressing duties.
Legal issues
Ghost job ads might be considered false advertising or misrepresentation, which is illegal in some U.S. states. For instance, California’s False Advertising Law prohibits untrue or misleading ads, with a penalty of up to six months’ imprisonment, a $2,500 fine, or both.
HR tip
If you post ghost jobs for future roles or resourcing purposes, be upfront about your intentions. Clearly state in your ads that you want to build your talent pool, and your call for applications is not to fill immediate openings. This can help your company minimize candidate frustration, and protect its employer brand.
FAQ
A ghost job is a job listing a company posts even though it doesn’t plan to hire anyone for it. Companies sometimes do this to appear like they’re growing, collect résumés for future needs, or keep an open position just in case a suitable candidate comes along — even if there’s no actual role available.
Posting ghost jobs isn’t illegal in the U.S., but it can be considered unethical. If a company posts fake listings to collect applicant data or give investors or customers a false impression, it could raise legal or reputational concerns, especially if it leads to discrimination or violates fair hiring practices. In some states, this can result in a fine, imprisonment, or both.
