Ghost finder: How to avoid fake job adverts

Avoiding 'ghost' adverts can help you to manage the job hunt

Ghost jobs exist for a variety of reasons and are very frustrating for the job hunter. Why waste your time applying for a role that does not exist? In media they are less of a problem, because job titles and specifications make it easy to spot the fake adverts. However, there are some things you can do to avoid falling for them.

Jobs That Stay Open for Months - No Closing Date

On my website I delete jobs that have been listed for more than six-eight weeks - but if you can tell an advert has been up for that long, be suspicious. Many jobs have closing dates but those that don't can be suspect. If a role has been advertised for too long, it may not exist. Some companies leave listings up to collect CVs or create the impression they’re growing.

If you can find the date it was first listed that will help you but that is not always obvious.

Regular Reposting

Some jobs appear regularly I have noticed, and I tend to ignore them if they repeat too frequently. It is very hard to spot this unless you are constantly checking like I do. It is why using my website is helpful (I hope) because I try and remove/ignore these roles.

Vague or Generic Job Descriptions

This is unlikely in media but many ghost jobs often have very broad responsibilities and few specifics. This allows companies to leave the advert open without committing to a defined role.

Look for “Always Hiring” Language

Some adverts are essentially pipeline roles, where the company is just looking to gather CVs. It is really hard to tell what these ones are - but there might be language on the recruitment page like “We’re always looking for talented people”.

Talent 'pools' tend to be open a long time and these are fine - because it's a way to add freelancers to the roster at the organisation.

Is the Job Listed on Multiple Sites

Legitimate roles often appear on multiple platforms. If it is only on Indeed or LinkedIn - it might not be genuine. Always apply, if you can, on the official page of the company.

If you have to apply through a site like Indeed or LinkedIn - try and find an email for recruitment to tell them you have applied.

Is the Company Actually Hiring?

For smaller companies new jobs are often announced on the news feed of the website or social media. That way you know it's a real opportunity. For larger organisations, look at the company’s recent announcements, hiring trends, or financial news, which can reveal whether recruitment is happening. If there have been recent cuts of staff, it might be surprising to see new job adverts but it might not mean they are 'ghost' roles.