Person Shares HR Secrets And It's Really Bad: "Test How Desperate People Are"

Looking for a job is hardly fun, but most of us need work, so we’ll put up with the uncertainty, interviews, test-tasks and really whatever else the recruiters think is necessary. So it can be disheartening to learn that some of the vacancies you may have applied for aren’t exactly real.

A man shared the details of corporate HR recruiting that an acquaintance told him in confidence. From fake jobs to “test the waters,” to lowering offers over and over again, the practices were concerning. We reached out to the man via private message and will update the article when he gets back to us.

While it might not be as new as it seems, the idea of a “ghost job” has risen to prominence recently, as HR teams want as much data about the job pool as possible. Experts suggest that most companies prefer internal hires or referrals to “traditional” job applicants, as it’s quicker, cheaper and often more reliable. Remember, to HR, you are a resource and often nothing more.

Some suggest it’s not all about “cheaper” workers, as job listings are public and can serve a variety of purposes. It can create the illusion that the company is looking for any and all applicants, even when they have a specific candidate in mind. It might be a way to placate overworked employees with the hope that there will be new workers picking up the slack.

It can even be a way to develop a picture of what competitors are paying their employees. If a listing for a common job in the area gets substantially more applicants then, that is an indicator that the offer is above average for the area. Unfortunately, this means that many people will have to go through even more steps when looking for a job, as half of the places they’ve applied to are not even real.

Ultimately, companies are well aware that people need work. This is why, for example, many will list benefits that they have no intention of actually giving. Recruiters will falsely tag positions as fully remote, for example, to attract more applicants, but will ultimately tell the few who qualify that in reality, the job is not at all remote. Often the first day on the job is where one can see if the company is actually up to snuff or lied about everything.

In general, “ghost jobs” are so prevalent that some believe it’s inflating employment data in the US. After all, a quick and cursory glance at any job listing page would make it look like everyone is hiring for all sorts of positions, while in reality, many of these jobs are not real. It also can create a sense of low self-esteem in applicants who keep getting zero responses and thinking it’s their fault.

There are a few indicators that could suggest a job is a ghost listing. One is a lack of information about salary and benefits. This applies more to the US, as the EU passed legislation in 2022 that makes it mandatory for employers to list salary ranges publicly. The goal of employers who hide it is to generally see how low each applicant is willing to go and to just hire the cheapest one.

As some have already noted, it’s unfortunately not unusual to see job listings that seem like they are perpetually up or perhaps get reposted regularly. This is a telltale sign of a “ghost job” as the company is not taking any clear steps to fill it. After all, what company is perfectly happy to have multiple key roles remain unfilled?

Often these jobs will list unrealistic experience expectations or unclear responsibilities just to deter some applicants from. They might, of course, be vague to hide just how hard the job really is. If they get a person who happens to have a decade of experience and is still willing to apply, that’s a win-win for the company. Ultimately, anyone applying for a job out there needs to be very mindful of the application, not just the purported salary or fancy title.