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The Risks of Ghost Jobs and How to Avoid Them

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Job hunting is challenging enough without falling for positions that don’t actually exist. Yet thousands of job seekers are facing this reality, as companies post fake job listings—often called ‘ghost jobs’—with no intention of hiring.

A recent study in 2024 found that 40% of companies posted fake job listings, and right now, 3 in 10 companies have active fake listings. Even worse, 7 in 10 hiring managers think this is completely fine.

So why do companies do this? And more importantly, how can you avoid wasting your time on fake listings?

Why Companies Post Fake Job Listings

The Risks of Ghost Jobs

There are a few reasons businesses might post job ads when they don’t actually need to hire:

  • Creating an Illusion of Growth. Some companies post fake jobs to give the impression that they’re expanding, which can make them look more attractive to investors or customers.
  • Collecting CVs for later. Instead of waiting until they actually need someone, companies sometimes gather applications in advance to build a talent pool.
  • Testing the Job Market. Fake listings help companies see what kind of applicants are out there and what salary expectations look like.
  • Manipulating Current Employees. Some businesses use job postings as a scare tactic to remind employees they can be replaced.

A study found that 34.4% of job listings in the UK are ghost jobs, with certain professions like veterinary nurses (59.1%) and software engineers (46.5%) being more susceptible.

How Fake Jobs Affect Job Seekers

The biggest problem with ghost jobs is that they waste people’s time. You could spend hours perfecting your CV, writing cover letters, and preparing for interviews only to realise there was never a real job in the first place.

This can be frustrating, exhausting, and even demoralising. When you keep getting ghosted by companies, it’s easy to start feeling like you’re doing something wrong, even though the problem isn’t you at all.

How to Identify and Avoid Ghost Jobs in Your Job Search

To protect yourself from falling victim to ghost jobs, consider the following strategies:

  1. Check Posting Dates: Be cautious of listings without clear timestamps or those posted several months ago. Most legitimate roles are filled promptly.
  2. Cross-Reference Listings: Verify the job’s existence on the company’s official website or careers page. Discrepancies can be a red flag.
  3. Scrutinise Job Descriptions: Vague or overly generic descriptions may indicate a lack of genuine intent to hire.
  4. Direct Communication: Reach out to the company’s HR department or hiring manager to confirm the position’s availability.
  5. Research Company Reputation: Look for reviews or news articles about the company’s hiring practices to identify any patterns of posting fake jobs.

What Needs to Change

The Risks of Ghost Jobs

Companies might think posting fake jobs is harmless, but it damages their reputation and makes the job search even harder for people who are already struggling. If businesses want good candidates, they need to be upfront about what’s real and what isn’t.

Until that happens, job seekers have to be cautious. Do your research, ask questions, and don’t waste your energy on jobs that don’t actually exist.

At Peridot Recruit, we keep things simple and honest. With our Fixed Fee Recruitment service (just for £1595.00 + VAT), you get a straightforward hiring process with no surprises. We’ll find great candidates that genuinely fit your team—no gimmicks, just real people for real jobs.

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