Fake job ads aren’t rare, they’re everywhere 👀
How to avoid wasting your time and energy
Ever applied for a job, nailed the interview prep, and felt like you were on the brink of something big — only to have it all fall apart at the last minute?
You’re not alone. A shocking 40% of job listings are ghost jobs — positions that don’t even exist. Even worse, 85% of companies posting these ads go as far as conducting fake interviews.
Why? The reasons are as cynical as they are frustrating:
Fishing for talent: Collecting CVs to keep on file for future needs, even when no role exists.
Boosting their image: Pretending to hire to seem like they’re thriving and expanding.
Manipulating employees: Flooding job boards with fake listings to make current staff feel replaceable and work harder for less.
It’s disheartening: people invest their time, energy, and hope into roles that were never real. For many, the emotional toll is overwhelming.
Becca Brittain, 38, a writer and editor, knows this all too well. After months of searching, she thought she’d found the perfect role — until the rug was pulled out from under her.
After I posted about fake jobs on my LinkedIn, Becca got in touch to share her story. It’s one many can relate to.
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Becca’s story: The truth about ghost jobs
6 months ago, I had a baby, and the worrying began. Will my maternity allowance cover my outgoings? Why did I buy a dress for £100 which doesn’t fit? Why don’t I just get up and find the tape measure?
Mainly my worries have been around income security. The last two winters saw me casually chasing the sun around Europe. Summers were spent camping in various fields around England.
I’ve funded this nomadic-lifestyle by writing memoirs. One time I swapped my memoir-writing services for three months in a Spanish villa on top of a mountain.
Now my eldest is five, we’ve moved near an ‘outstanding’ school so my little darling can learn her ABCs.
All is good. Apart from the bills that arrive like ‘rent’ and ‘council tax’.
“Who wants a memoir written!?” I shout into the void, aka my LinkedIn profile. Nothing.
“Mum, can you come over to babysit while I go out networking?” I try via WhatsApp.
‘I have choir practice and I live 300 miles away.’ ‘Ok, no worries!’
Something interrupts my social media doom-scroll-stalk of ‘successful business owners on LinkedIn’: ‘Project Editor Role’.‘
OMG! This is exactly what I do for my own business — and it comes with a £36k salary!
Despite having over 100 applicants, I got a 45-minute interview via Zoom. It goes very well, and I’m put forward for the second interview.
I secure full-time childcare for both my children (stressful and time consuming) and peruse Mumsnet articles about what it’s like to work full-time when you have a baby. (You will need a cleaner.)
Last night, while ironing my shirt, my partner asked me mock interview questions to help me prepare.
We sat down to watch The Great British Bake Off as a reward for all my ‘climbing the career ladder efforts’.
I immediately received an email cancelling the interview. My heart shrank into a cloak of anxiety, as if to hide from the news.
“…the role requirements have changed. We no longer need that role…”
This seems strange as my ‘second interview’ is in 13 hours.
I now feel embarrassed to face the mums at the baby group when they ask about my ‘flexible and remote’ job I was certain I’d get. “I could still do the school-run!” I hear myself gloat.
Before applying for this role, I’d noticed some other ‘jobs’ were offering zero salary. Er no thanks!?
Another company had me fill out loads of information for an AI Writing Evaluator position paying up to $35 an hour. Their Trustpilot score was low, with reviews revealing unpaid contributors.
I scroll past job adverts clearly recruiting me to pay them to train how to become a Virtual Assistant.
I woke up on the day of my ‘interview’ grateful for the ‘role that never was’.
The process of preparing a CV and planning to be grilled on my experience in book writing and publishing clarified to me that I am valuable.
At least now I can care for my own children full-time… actually, memoir anyone?!
Becca is open for work. Check out her writing and editing services on LinkedIn and her website.
How to spot fake job ads 👀
Don’t let ghost jobs waste your time. Here are some red flags to look out for when evaluating job listings:
Vague or generic descriptions: Legitimate job postings are detailed and specific. If the ad feels like it could apply to any role, it’s a warning sign.
No posting date: If there’s no indication of when the job was listed, it might have been recycled or left up indefinitely.
Unrealistic perks or salaries: Jobs that seem too good to be true — like excessive pay for little experience — often are.
Outdated or non-existent contact details: If you can’t find a real point of contact for the hiring manager or HR, proceed with caution.
Sketchy company reputation: Check reviews on Glassdoor, Indeed, or Trustpilot. Poor reviews or consistent complaints about unpaid work are red flags.
Lack of an application timeline: If the hiring process feels vague, with no mention of deadlines or next steps, the job may not be real.
Requests for personal information upfront: Be wary of requests for sensitive data, like your National Insurance number or banking details, before receiving a formal offer.
Unresponsive recruiters: If you reach out with questions and get no reply, it could indicate a lack of serious hiring intent.
Pro tip: If you’re unsure, contact the company directly. Ask about the role, the timeline, and their hiring process. Legitimate companies won’t shy away from answering.
Stay sharp — your time and energy are too valuable to waste on ghost jobs.
 | A guest post by
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