Buckle up buttercup this is going to be a long one, but I’ve got a lot to say. You know you’re mad when you type paragraphs upon paragraphs about your ire. Job hunting in today’s world is a tough and exhausting endeavor. Despite the growing number of open positions across various industries, many unemployed job seekers are facing an uphill battle just to secure even an interview, let alone an offer. With the pressure of needing to earn a living mounting, it’s easy to feel disheartened when recruiters and companies often seem indifferent to the effort and energy that goes into job searching.
The Struggles Job Seekers Face
For many, the search for the right job is a daily grind, fraught with rejection emails that sting more than they should. What makes it even more frustrating is that job seekers are often applying for roles that match their skills and experience to a tee. They meet every qualification outlined in the job description and are convinced that they have the perfect fit for the position—only to be met with silence, or worse, an automated rejection. This leaves candidates wondering: “If I’m perfectly qualified, why am I being passed over?”
The truth is, many job descriptions are written in such a way that they promise a perfect fit but, in reality, only serve to lure in a flood of applicants. The hiring process itself is often a game of chance, with applicants having little insight into what truly happens behind the scenes. This leads to a never-ending cycle of submitting resumes, waiting, and hoping for a chance to prove oneself.
Ghosting: The Modern-Day Job-Seeker Horror
One of the most demoralizing aspects of job searching is the ghost job—positions that are listed publicly, but the employers have no real intention of filling them. These “ghost jobs” are a growing issue, and they may seem harmless on the surface, but they represent a fundamental flaw in how job markets are functioning.
Imagine going through the effort of tailoring your resume and cover letter, preparing for the interview, and then hearing that they’ll get back to you soon… but you never hear from them again. It’s a form of emotional exhaustion that job seekers experience far too often. Being left hanging after an interview is not only disrespectful but damaging to one’s mental health. It’s frustrating and demoralizing, leaving many questioning their worth and abilities.
Even worse is when recruiters fail to communicate throughout the process. You spend days, weeks, sometimes months waiting for responses, only to be met with nothing. The absence of feedback means you never know where you went wrong, making it even harder to improve your chances in the future.
Girl What Happened?
In late October 2024, I applied for a job, and within a few days, the company’s internal recruiter reached out to me. She wanted to schedule an interview but first asked if I was okay with the job being in New York. I remember thinking, “Oh s***… did I apply to the wrong place?” I live nowhere near NY, after all. Naturally, I double-checked my application and, sure enough, I had applied for the correct location. So, I sent the recruiter a PDF of the job listing I had applied to, eyebrow raised as I typed out the email.
The recruiter interviewed me and I got the distinct feeling she had a bit too much going on. She asked me questions I can only describe as, well, personality questions. “What was the last book you read?” she asked. I was relieved to be a reader (you know, an actual book person) so I didn’t have to think too hard about that one.
She then passed me on to the hiring manager, and let me tell you, that second interview was something. For about an hour, the hiring manager explained the job in detail, as if I hadn’t read the job description myself. In the final 30 minutes, she asked me about a specific job function that wasn’t listed as a requirement, but hey, I have some experience in that area, so I answered. But no, that wasn’t enough for her. She kept pushing, asking me what I know, and I told her—what I know is what I’ve already told you. She looked annoyed, and just like that, the interview ended. I asked about next steps, and she dodged the question and ushered me out while looking… odd.
Fast forward to December 2024, and I checked in with the recruiter. She told me I was still “in the running” (that magical recruiter term) and that the holidays had slowed everything down. She promised to follow up.
January 2025 rolls around… and the exact same job gets reposted. *squints suspiciously* So, I reached out to the recruiter again, casually mentioning, “Hi (Recruiter’s Name), I’m not sure if you remember me, but I reached out in December about this role and was ‘kept warm.’ I noticed the job has been reposted, so I’m guessing I didn’t get it. Any feedback on my candidacy? I’m looking to improve my on interview skills…” Her response? “As far as I know, you’re still in the running, and I’ll reach out by the end of the week.”
That was two weeks ago. And here I am, still waiting.
It’s become clear to me that some of these ghost jobs aren’t just fake jobs they may also be “information finding” jobs. What I mean is, what better way to gain information on how to do a particular task in the job then to pose it as an interview. The hiring manager (or the person you would be working closely with if this was a real job… *eye roll*) interview’s the knowledgeable candidate, drills them about a particular task or function of the job, the candidate answers thinking this can really help them get the job by showing they are knowledgeable… they leave the interview and never hear from the company again. If I’m honest, I believe this may have been what happened with the job above. She wanted encyclopedia details on how I perform this particular job function but I was only giving her surface answers. It would explain why the interview abruptly ended and why she appeared annoyed or angry. (Seriously this broad looked angry as she showed me out)
The Disrespectful Nature of Modern Recruiting
There’s another, equally discouraging issue that has become all too common: the disrespectful attitude of recruiters. Many recruiters seem to view job seekers as a mere number in a queue, dismissing their applications without a second thought. They waste applicants’ time by asking them to apply for roles that are already filled, or they demand that candidates jump through hoops without any intention of following through. This leads to feelings of being disrespected and undervalued—especially when a candidate is well-qualified for the job but is dismissed without reason or explanation.
Even if an applicant finally does get the chance to interview, there’s often no closure. Recruiters and hiring managers tell candidates that they’ll hear back, but the silence speaks volumes. The lack of transparency in the process is not only disheartening but also damaging to those already struggling in a competitive job market.
Girl What Happened? Now?!
In same interview that I mentioned in a previous post with the same hiring manager, I began listing my other skills that were outside of the scope of the job. I explained that I have a very heavy background two other things. I informed the recruiter that despite my current unemployment status that I am a hard worker and I learn quickly as is reflected by my dual roles at two of my previous employers. This woman had the audacity…. To ask me why the employers didn’t promote me. I told her that I didn’t know why. Perhaps I’m being a little sensitive here but I found her question VERY disrespectful. What I didn’t tell her was I often wondered the same thing. Is it because I’m black? Is it because I’m a bit no nonsense? It’s not because they don’t think I can do the job right? It’s the budget? Who knows. It didn’t make me feel any less annoyed about the question. I also didn’t tell her that the last job had counteroffered me to stay paying $8,000 more than what I would be making at the new place and offered me a NEW title. I chose to leave on principle which was a mistake.
Ghost Jobs: A Scam in Disguise
Perhaps the most insidious part of this broken system is the concept of ghost jobs—open positions that are either never filled or used solely to gather resumes for the purpose of market research. These positions exist to make companies look like they are actively hiring when, in reality, they’re not. There are countless examples of companies advertising for roles that they have no intention of actually filling. These job postings serve no purpose other than to create an illusion of activity while collecting personal information from applicants.
The problem with ghost jobs is that they are, by definition, a scam. When a company posts a job listing with no intent to hire, they are wasting people’s time and resources. In the best case, these jobs mislead candidates into wasting their energy. In the worst case, they gather personal information under false pretenses, exposing individuals to potential identity theft, phishing, and other forms of fraud.
What’s even worse is the lack of legal repercussions. There should be laws in place to protect job seekers from these deceptive practices. Companies should be held accountable for misleading job descriptions and ghost postings that never go anywhere. It’s time to put an end to these fraudulent tactics and ensure that the job market is a space where people’s time and efforts are respected.
The Call for Change
The current state of the job market is in dire need of reform. Job seekers, who are already facing financial and emotional strain, shouldn’t have to endure the additional burden of being lied to, ghosted, or dismissed without reason. The process needs to become more transparent, respectful, and, most importantly, honest. Companies need to take responsibility for the impact they have on the individuals they are hiring—even the ones they are pretending to hire.
It’s time to hold recruiters and employers accountable for the way they treat candidates. Ghost jobs should be illegal (anyone with a brain can see how one could equate this to the Nigerian Prince scam from the 90s), as they contribute to the exploitation of vulnerable job seekers who deserve better. The job market should be a place where talent is recognized, where effort is valued, and where individuals are treated with the respect they deserve. Until that happens, job seekers will continue to face the same frustrating, demoralizing, and exhausting experience, over and over again.
It’s time for change. The only way that will happen is if you, reach out to your state’s Congressman or Congresswoman and your Senator(s) and let them know this should not be tolerated. It is misleading you don’t know what those companies are actually doing with your information because contrary to popular beliefs some companies can and will sell your data to data brokers. Nor do you know if they’re doing what they claim they’re doing with your information.
The job market needs to become a fair and transparent system for everyone.
