Avoid Ghost Jobs! Find Legit Online Jobs Using Best Job Search Sites

Do you ever wonder if you are using the right job boards? You're not alone. Many contain ghost job postings, outdated listings, and shady job descriptions that can waste valuable job search time. What if you could confidently navigate your job search with confidence and find the real opportunities worthy of your time?

This blog shares how employers and job search sites can post inauthentic positions that frustrate job seekers and waste their time. It analyzes, educates, and shares best practices to avoid these time-wasting jobs and how to identify the best job boards to use to source reputable jobs worth your time and effort.

WHAT IS A GHOST JOB POSTING?

Imagine spending hours crafting the perfect resume and cover letter, only to discover you applied for a ghost - a phantom vacancy that never truly existed! Or, getting your hopes up for an ideal opportunity to later learn that the position was filled months ago.

Employers may sometimes post jobs for purposes other than employment. They may promise remote work, have catchy job titles, and vague descriptions, or appear as reposted positions.

Job boards can become graveyards of forgotten postings, cluttering your search results with irrelevant information. Applying to unavailable positions is frustrating, discouraging, and wastes valuable time and effort.

WHY DO COMPANIES POST GHOST JOBS?

Filling Human Resource Requirements: Many HR Departments have internal policies of posting open jobs EXTERNALLY for a set period to ensure fair chances for all candidates. These jobs will show up on job boards as open. The reality is that many posted jobs have pre-identified internal candidates ready to be promoted, making the reality of interviews for outside candidates non-existent.

1. Filling the Pipeline: Even if a specific position is currently filled or on hold, keeping the job description visible allows companies to gauge ongoing interest in particular skill sets and can ensure a pool of readily available potential candidates or conduct exploratory job interviews to gain competitive salary information.

2. Cost and Time Savings: Managing job listings on various platforms incurs additional recruitment costs. Companies may opt to keep listings active or automatically reposted to maximize their investment, even if the role has been filled.
Maintaining Visibility: Active job postings can positively impact a company's online visibility and search engine ranking. By leaving listings live, companies can attract more traffic to their websites or job board profiles or appear to show employees that the company is hiring help for overworked staff.

3. Unintentional Outdated Listings: While some companies strategically keep listings active, others inadvertently end up with outdated postings due to slow updating of fill status or failure to close old, open job requisitions.

WHAT IS AN EVERGREEN JOB POSTING?

An online job opportunity that remains persistently open due to ongoing headcount needs within a company. These roles can be reflective of excessive turnover or company growth. They often have old posted dates, vague generic catch-all requisitions, and list multiple work locations across different regions. They can offer flexibility and broader opportunities for job seekers willing to relocate or work in various settings. Examples of evergreen jobs include sales associates and IT Support Specialists.

Evergreen Job Challenges

1. Posted Job May Not Have Openings: The Company may screen or interview many applicants even though the work area is fully staffed.

2. Ghosting Can Occur: Since a position may not be formally open, communication from HR can be irregular or the applicant may be ghosted.

3. Job Board Algorithms: Evergreen jobs are not always prioritized in search results on job boards. Job seekers may need to adjust their search strategies or use filters effectively to locate these ongoing opportunities among newer listings.
Uncertainty in Application Status: Job seekers may not receive immediate feedback or updates, which can create anxiety and affect their job search momentum.

Key Takeaways: How to Save Time and Find Legit Jobs Online

1. Research the company: Check Reddit or other sites to determine if the company is growing or has a continuous need to fill a position due to turnover.

2. Use advanced search options: Leverage job boards like LinkedIn that allow filtering by date posted to give clues for continuously posted jobs.

3. Know What You're Getting Into - Don't expect quick responses when applying to these jobs. If you hear from HR, you can be pleasantly surprised!

4. Apply Directly or Through Reputable Job Boards: Be wary of postings that require applying through unfamiliar websites or have uncommon application methods.

5. Watch for Red Flags: Be wary of jobs with catchy titles, vague descriptions, promises of remote work with no location details, frequent reposting, no contact person or next steps.

6. Focus on Best Job Boards: Utilize multiple boards with varying strengths. Include job boards like LinkedIn (direct employer submissions) and Google Jobs (company-sanctioned listings) that emphasize verification.

7. Company Career Pages: Companies advertise their legitimate open positions exclusively on their web pages. If a job seems too good to be true, verify its existence on the company website. A quick search can save you time and effort.

8. Ask A Recruiter: It's a long shot, but recruiters may respond to politely worded requests about a job that advertises their company name but not on their website. Reaching out can also help your networking efforts!

Remember:

Time is Valuable: Prioritize job boards and strategies focusing on verified and current opportunities.
Quality Over Quantity: Applying to fewer relevant jobs is more efficient than a mass application approach with potentially misleading opportunities.

A JOB SEARCH EXPERIMENT:

I assessed how effective the ten most popular job boards are at surfacing positions posted on company websites. The target job was "Senior Analyst, Change Enablement & Adoption" at Salesforce in Indianapolis, IN, posted six days prior. I performed a Google search on the job title and work location.

What I discovered:

1. LinkedIn, Google Jobs, The Muse, and Indeed successfully displayed the job listing in question through a Google search, indicating strong integration with search engines and effective keyword matching.

2. Zip Recruiter and CareerBuilder required visiting their websites directly to find the job listing, highlighting a less than-effective Google Search integration.

3. Glassdoor, Dice, Monster, and The Ladders did not display the targeted job in the Google search results or on their websites. This could be due to the frequency of posting updates, or a job board's focus on a specific industry.

Key Takeaways: Choose Your Job Boards Wisely

1. Utilize a Mix of Job Boards: Evaluate how the platform sources job postings, and ensure it can surface posted positions.

2. Prioritize Search Engine Integration: Look for job boards that effectively display listings through search engines like Google, increasing your chances of finding opportunities you might miss otherwise.

3. Complement with Direct Website Searches: While many jobs are advertised on multiple platforms, other companies might prefer posting exclusively on their career page.

EVALUATE THE BEST JOB BOARDS FOR YOU

We've explored misleading job postings and learned how to navigate different job boards for better results. But with so many platforms vying for your attention, how do you identify the ones that will provide accurate and current job listings and not waste your time?

How do Job Boards and Job Search Engines Work?

Job boards don't all operate the same way. Here's a breakdown of the various methods they use to populate their listings:

1. Sanctioned by Company: These boards ensure listings are approved by the company with the open position, minimizing the risk of ghost/inaccurate jobs. Look for direct connections between the job board and company career pages. Example: Google Jobs pulls listings directly from company career pages, ensuring they are approved and up-to-date.

2. Direct Employer Submissions: Companies directly post jobs on these platforms, guaranteeing authorized and up-to-date listings. Example: LinkedIn allows companies to post job listings directly, ensuring the job information is accurate and current.

3. Paid Listings: Companies pay to have their jobs featured prominently, indicating a strong interest in qualified candidates and a commitment to accurate information. Example: Indeed offers sponsored job listings at the top of search results, showing a commitment to attracting qualified candidates.

4. Partnerships and Alliances: Formal agreements between companies and job boards can lead to exclusive or prioritized listings, often ensuring a higher level of vetting. Example: The Muse partners with companies to showcase curated job listings and employer branding content.

5. API Integrations: Automated posting and updating of job listings directly from the company applicant tracking system (ATS) minimizes errors and ensures real-time updates. Example: Glassdoor uses API integrations with various ATS systems to automatically update job listings, ensuring they are accurate and current.

6. Aggregators: Aggregators collect job postings from various sources, including scraping from company websites. Job aggregation can be company-sanctioned (Google Jobs) or unsanctioned. This can lead to viewing outdated or irrelevant listings. The best rule of thumb is to be wary of smaller, boutique job boards and verify the existence of the job through the sourcing company website.

7. User-Generated Content: Platforms allowing user-submitted job postings might not have verification procedures. Treat these listings with skepticism and prioritize postings with company affiliations.

Key Takeaways: Not All Job Search Sites are Created Equal!

1. Focus on Direct Connections: Company-sanctioned listings, direct employer submissions, paid listings, partnerships, and API integrations with applicant tracking systems ensure verified and up-to-date information. Try LinkedIn.

2. Use Caution: Aggregators that may use outdated information and platforms with user-generated content that may be inauthentic. Try Google Jobs.

3. Consider Paid Listings: While not foolproof, companies paying to feature jobs often demonstrate a commitment to accurate information. Try FlexJobs.

4. Look for Signs of Verification: Direct connections to company career pages, company-posted listings, and sponsored listings all indicate a higher chance of accurate information. Try Indeed.

5. Be wary of smaller or boutique job boards: They might rely on unauthorized job scraping, resulting in outdated listings. Verify the existence of the job on the company website.

6. Focus on job boards with established methods: Look for platforms utilizing sanctioned listings, direct submissions, or partnerships for a higher chance of trustworthy postings. Try The Muse.

SUMMARY

1. Don't limit yourself to a single job search platform. Utilize a mix of job boards with varying strengths, prioritizing those emphasizing direct connections and verified listings.

2. Double-check job postings with the company website to ensure job legitimacy and access to the most up-to-date information.

3. Try a Google or Gemini search to understand how the job search site gets its posted jobs. Avoid those sites that scrape jobs without authorization or rely on manual postings.

By understanding misleading posting tactics and how job search platforms source their information, you can choose a job board that prioritizes reputable sources, validate posted jobs on employer career sites, and find authentic jobs to save time and confidently navigate your job search.

Learn more: https://www.elev8youcoaching.com/post/avoid-ghost-jobs-find-legit-online-jobs-using-best-job-search-sites
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Elev8 Coaching & Resumes
PO Box 515
Lanoka Harbor, NJ 08734
Press Contact: Lisa Dupras/lisa@elev8youcoaching.com

Lisa is a certified career coach, LinkedIn expert, and the owner of Elev8 Coaching & Resumes. With over 20 years of experience in Human Resources and IT, she is passionate about speaking, teaching, and blogging on topics that explore the intersection of job searching and technology. Lisa empowers her clients by helping them connect their technical achievements to business impact. Her real-life experiences provide clients with valuable insights to navigate and achieve their career goals.

More about Lisa: https://www.elev8youcoaching.com/about

This release was published on openPR.