GHOST JOBS are the reason you can't find a job in 2024

Job hunting in 2024 has become increasingly frustrating, especially with ghost jobs and being ghosted by companies. In this video, I break down why your applications might be ignored, how to spot ghost jobs that don't actually exist, and what you can do to avoid wasting your time. I also share strategies for improving your job search by identifying red flags in job postings and reaching out to hiring managers for more insight. If you're tired of the endless job search, this video is for you.

#2024layoffs #laidoff #techlayoffs
#jobhuntingtips, #ghostjobs, #ghostingemployers, #jobsearch2024, #avoidghostjobs, #jobmarketstrategies, #jobapplicationtips, #linkedinjobs, #avoidjobscams, #howtospotfakejobpostings

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I've been a software engineer since 2008 and with over a decade of experience, the industry is as crazy and as varied as ever.

I continually get asked for career advice and how to navigate writing code for a living and I wanted to share everything I've learned in hopes that I can help someone who is just starting in software engineering, who has been in it for a while and is too afraid to ask, or the seasoned vet to either agree or argue with me.

The intent of this channel is to have multiple series that include the following topics:
💰 Compensation
📈 Negotiations
📚 Career advice and guidance
📈 Stocks, RSUs, Stock options, and ESPP plans
👨‍🏫 Engineering interviews

I've done just about everything in software from working for 3 person start ups, 300 person start ups, silicon valley companies, Fortune 500 companies, small teams, big teams, W2 employment and 1099 contracting, full time contracting and moonlight part time work, independent development, launching my own web apps and iphone app.

[JoseJimenez-ilvs]

I regularly see a dozen companies repost the same jobs over and over. Canonical is notorious for doing this to the point that there's hardly any applicant at ths point. If I applied to one of these and later realised the games they are playing there would be zero chance of me ever wanting to work there.

[ricnyc]

Let's start naming the companies that are doing this. Make it public.

[THEROOT]

At this point, it's easier to make your own company than get hired in one, so be it.

[taiilormn]

Job hunting is a depressing game. Over the few months I've been looking for work and these videos have been a great perspective. I found that the more I keep looking, the more desperate I become to get out of that loop of looking because it is so utterly exhausting applying through job after job.

[connyengstrom]

I got a mail with the standard "Thank you for applying, but we have chosen a different candidate for this role..." from a company yesterday, I also saw them repost the exact same job a few hours later. I guess noone is good enough to work there...

[bigfgd]

I've been ghosted so much that it's very hard to remember the job description when I get contacted 1-2 months later for a technical interview, they even removed the job posting from their own website not just other job websites.
At that point I am just soul crushed, I did like 10 interviews with a company for 5 different roles in the last month, and they didn't even notice this, I got the same people interviewing me and they either pretend they don't remember me or just simply don't.

[TheOtomo]

Networking is the only way to get a job these days. I talked to a lot of hiring managers and executives who simply said they go with current employee referrals and people they personally know. The external job postings are only for legal liability to show that there was no discrimination. Its a game, so know how to play the game.

[starwolf]

Definitely a lot of ghost jobs out there. I got so desperate to just get ANY software engineering interview that I catered my resume and cover letter to make myself sound like a unicorn candidate even if I didn't have the skills that matched the position. I did it just to see if I would get an interview. Over more than 50 different positions spanned across different companies and not a single application was proceeded to the next step or a follow up of any sort.

[JefteYaacobMartinezChavez]

I remember I landed a good job after graduating in 2020, I ascended the ladder very fast, until the 2022 crisis. Then I realized that companies usually try to look someone to blame out for the bad situations. I passed a really bad time in the second half of 2022 until they decided to lay off half of the team.

I have been unemployed since 2023, and yeah, I have passed through a lot, ghost jobs and job ghosting after many interviews. I used to feel frustrated but now that I see that this is happening in general, it makes me feel better. Still hoping for things to solve and stabilize.

[jadeglaze]

Great video. Took me a while to realize all the LinkedIn posts were ghosting me and give up. I’m just past the 1 year mark unemployed (software engineer/manager) and trying to accept that I can’t beat my head against the wall forever (lots of interviews but no offers). Seems like after 25 years doing this, the industry is just done with me. But I don’t know what to do instead. Like I seriously think I have to just give up and go apply at just some retail store or Starbucks or something.

[mattcutts]

I came back from seven years working a good job in the Netherlands to find myself completely unwanted by any employer, ever. Ten months of hard searching, applying, revising, etc. Two master's degrees, good universities, sixteen years overall trade experience, . Doesn't mean shit. Thought i was crazy. Good to see other people are having this suicidal experience of utter hopelesness with me. Thank you for reminding me I'm not alone.

[elmiguel]

How quickly times change: five years ago, if you did not offer an applicant the job within two weeks they may have signed somewhere else.

[codefallacy]

The sad reality is that for every job listing there are thousands of applications. By the time companies start sorting through apps they are likely to hire somebody before they get to you. sometimes things arent what they seem. A previous company i worked for would make public job listings to comply with state mandates but would never review the applications they received through job portals, the would only talk to stablished 3rd party recruiters or recommendations made by employees to fill the roles. Every person in that company either came in through the same 3rd party recruiter or had some sort of relationship to someone who worked there. They would even joke that the biggest challenge to getting in the company was figuring out how to apply.

[taiilormn]

Job ghosting is rough. I've done several interviews over the weeks and employers just don't care enough to let you know if a position is filled or you didn't make the cut. It's like maybe a minute of time.

[twodyport]

A HR recruiter told me in an interview that they advertise for jobs they might or might not get the hiring budget for in the next financial year.

In that case only one out of the four advertised roles was actually real. So I was interviewing for a job that did not exist but might open up in the future.

[plyric]

Excellent video! You listed all the reasons I also know for ghost job postings. Unfortunately, unless the government makes it illegal for companies to post ghost jobs specifically, I see zero methods of getting companies to stop this vile practice. My prediction is that most companies will freeze hiring until January 2025. After not working for so many months, all we can do is just hang on for dear life.

[Mitchthesoul]

Ghost jobs should seriously be illegal because it’s like you’re making a mockery and a joke out of people who are actually looking for a job. And for that matter these companies are also making a joke out of themselves because it’s gonna make people not trust them and wanna work for them because it’s a scam and is dishonest and disrespectful.

[josephs]

I don't think you mentioned what I call "the McKinsey Special", in which companies keep posting-closing-reposting the same job but keep dropping the salary and benefits just to see how low they can go.

[juanmacias]

Personally I'm not going to use job boards anymore, I just started subscribing to companies' job newsletter. Edit: I have no idea why my replies are not showing up, but what I usually do is go to the company site, go to their career page, search for my desired position, and it usually asks me if I'd like to subscribe to this job position. Would be great if all companies had a feature to subscribe to a specific position.

[Onyxthecat__]

Got let go in May and had a junior designer take my position. 6 years of work for nothing. No one will hire me even with a good portfolio and 15 years experience. Maybe if I work for $25K a year with no benefits I'll get somewhere but NYC is brutal.