Ghost jobs: The final insult
I missed this news when it first broke, but now that I know, I can’t stay quiet: as many as 4 in 10 companies posted fake 'ghost jobs' in 2024 (source: CNBC).
And it gets worse: 8 out of 10 recruiters admit to posting fake job listings.
These aren’t real opportunities. Companies use fake jobs to look like they’re growing, to boost employee morale, or even to drive revenue.
As a long-term job seeker, I’m disgusted.
I’ve spoken before about how the job search has become dehumanizing, disheartening, and downright disrespectful. Ghost jobs are just another insult. Another way the unemployed are disrespected. As if it’s not bad enough that many of us are desperate, scared, and wondering if we’ll keep a roof over our heads.
Now they want to use our time, our energy, and our optimism to serve their corporate goals. It’s gross. It’s immoral. And it’s a betrayal of our trust.
Let’s call this what it is: manipulation.
These companies are exploiting job seekers’ hope and hard work to meet their internal goals, and they do so without consequence. It’s a practice that goes beyond bad business—it’s unethical and needs to stop.
We’ve all seen them. We’ve all questioned our sanity when the same job posts show up over and over again.
The Bigger Problem: A Broken System
But this isn’t just about ghost jobs. It’s about a broken system. I’ve heard from thousands of job seekers who’ve shared similar frustrations:
Silence after applications.
Ghosting after interviews.
Confusing, misleading job descriptions.
This is what we’re up against.
But here’s the truth: we don’t have to be victims of this system.
We should have rights, and companies should have standards. So I’m going to write them.
What’s Next?
Over the next few days, I’ll be introducing two key pieces to help reshape the hiring process:
A Job Seeker’s Bill of Rights
An HR Pledge of Honesty and Accountability
Together, we can demand better. We deserve better. Let’s make our voices heard.