Ghost-Job fraud surge +22%, and with thousands of seemingly active job postings are fake, with no intention of hiring; 60% of jobs remain open for over a month.
You’re not the problem; it’s the jobs you’re applying for! Job seekers are pursuing non-existent positions! The Clarify Capital Survey Results have caused a stir in the recruiting and jobseeker community.
Employer Ghost Postings occur when companies post jobs solely to collect resumes, with no immediate intention of interviewing or hiring. This new tactic in the Ghost Jobs Market has gained momentum in the battle to identify talent amid the recession-driven turnover tsunami.
Job Listings Abound, but Many, Are Fake!
~ By Te-Ping Chen – Managing Your Career: Job Listings Abound, but Many Are Fake – WSJ
Experts warn that the fraudulent posting practice will persist due to the Federal Reserve-triggered recession, cooling the job market. 1 Thousands of fraudulent ghost postings significantly impact job-seekers who often mistake the lack of employer communication for personal inadequacies in a competitive marketplace economy.
Ghost-Job fraud surge +22%: Why post fake Jobs?
Not all “ghost postings” are nefarious; rather, some companies employ them for various strategic reasons:
Firstly, to maintain the illusion of growth and a thriving jobs market.
Secondly, to create a pipeline of potential candidates for future activities.
Moreover, to gain competitive intelligence and identify market or sales trends.
Additionally, some companies post job listings as a means of providing hope to overworked teams with budget constraints.
Furthermore, certain jobs may be projected to be in high demand, prompting employers to plan ahead.
Lastly, employers may always theoretically need certain positions filled.
Career professionals may also encounter ghosting after an active interview, with roles pending budget approval, which may never materialize within the expected 45-day timeframe.
The Darker Side: Cybercrime Scams from Ghost Jobs
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has recently alerted that cyber criminals are masquerading as legitimate employers, using spoofed company websites and posting fake job openings on popular online job boards123.
Unsuspecting jobseekers become unknowing victims of employment scams when they participate in false interviews, providing their Personally Identifiable Information to companies posing as employers against non-existent jobs. The supplied information fuels an underground fraud scam1234.
Common fake jobs and cybercriminal scams that are being used to take advantage of jobseekers = provided by career expert, Alison Doyle at TheBalanceCareers.com 1
A few known fraud methods include:
- Background check scams: Cybercriminals ask applicants for their personally identifying information (PII) under the pretense of running a mandatory credit check for a high-profile job or request personal details like their social security number.
- Fake interview/hiring reimbursement scams: Scammers try to collect bank account information, claiming it’s for reimbursing interview travel expenses or setting up work-from-home arrangements.
- Bait-and-switch scams: Job seekers are deceived into receiving a different job offer than the one originally advertised.
- Job training payment scams: Job seekers are coerced into paying for training materials or equipment before being hired.
When companies hire new employees, they typically require tax documents, background checks, and bank information for direct deposit, involving confidential and personal details. If such information is requested before signing an employment offer or agreement, it should be viewed as a red flag.
Looking for a job? Here are some tips to spot ghost postings and avoid time wasted applying for a non-existent job1.
Identify or Manage Ghost Job fraud surge +22% posts
Here are some tips jobseekers can use to identify and avoid ghost job openings:
- Assess the company’s stability before applying for a job1
- Look for specific details in the job description1,
- Pay attention to company trends1.
- Analyze the initial job posting date. Jobs posted longer have the highest potential to be ghost jobs. For instance, a “fresh” job posted within 24 hours is less likely to be a ghost job compared to one posted a few months ago2.
What is your Job search Story? Were you expecting an offer but received no response? Here’s some great Job Offer advise from TheBalanceMoney: Career and Job Search Expert Alison Doyle.
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