'Ghost jobs' becoming a large problem in the employment world

You ever apply for a job on a hiring website and the job looks great, but then months go by, it is still posted, and you never hear a word? Well, you are not alone. Welcome to the newest phenomenon of the hiring world: Ghost Jobs. That is job postings you see that sit there for multiple weeks or months, disappear, then magically reappear two weeks later.

In a world where job openings are slim pickings as it is, this creates a new realm of dishonesty, and mistrust among potential employees. You work to build a resume, you update it, you go through the 15 required application boxes, then find out it is all for nothing. That is frustrating, especially for people with college degrees who need a job.

Betsy Allen Manning of Destination Workplace says she estimates around 30 to 40 percent of postings are fake positions.

"Ghost jobs are like the dating app profiles of the employment world...plenty of flash, but when you swipe right, no one is actually there," she says.

There can be plenty of logical reasons behind these postings. Maybe a job forgot to take it down, maybe they hired someone. But more than likely, it is to build a false illusion of growth to investors. That, in turn, helps both job numbers, and the higher ups of companies make more money because they can tell shareholders 'look, we are growing, so business is great.'

It makes the companies that do it look shady and dishonest, for one. But as mentioned, it is just a slap in the face to hardworking people who are looking for a job.

"And it is harming companies, too. One in three workers would not recommend their current workplace...ghost jobs are amplifying that mistrust," says Manning.

It is hard to avoid these things as well. Especially if you are desperately needing a job, sometimes you go with the 'cast a wide net' approach, and hope. Then you find out about three of the ten jobs you applied for do not exist. It is an insane practice that is only getting worse over time.

But there are some things you can do to avoid being spooked. One of the biggest, according to Manning, is to do your research.

"Maybe go on LinkedIn and see if the company has had any recent hiring activity...check for the date to make sure it is active...if it is more than a few weeks old, it is probably a ghost job," she says. "You can even reach out to the company and see if it is real."

There is no real easy way to avoid ghost job postings. But if you pay attention, you can avoid chasing Casper.