Internationally, the phenomenon is often referred to as "ghost jobs". When you have submitted your application and CV to the employer, weeks go by – but nothing happens and no one gets back to you.
The explanations can be several; either the position has already been filled before the ad was posted, the job does not exist, or the ad is simply fake.
The phenomenon also exists in Sweden, says Jenny Söderholm, product manager for Platsbanken at the Employment Service:
There have been several situations where we have seen deviant advertising behavior and where there is no ambition to point to a specific job, but rather to collect names for their candidate database or invite people to a job fair. With us, it is a prerequisite that there is a specific job, she says to TT.
Several reasons
There are several reasons why employers post such ads, ranging from already having internal candidates to wanting to market the workplace and get extra advertising, says Jenny Söderholm.
Platsbanken continuously reviews ads and can issue warnings or even block employers.
Torsten Jönsson, labor market expert at Karriärkonsulten, who helps match job seekers with available positions, shares similar experiences.
We have encountered this phenomenon from time to time. You get the feeling that it's already clear beforehand, or that the job seeker is lured to some kind of gathering and it's just nonsense. There's another purpose behind the ad.
It has, among other things, concerned warehouse jobs where there have been certain counter-requirements to even get access to applying for the positions.
It's an extremely unpleasant situation because it's people who are often in a vulnerable position and who are dependent on trust, that you can rely on the person who is supposed to guide them to an employment.
Creates frustration
For the individual, this can naturally create frustration. But it's also a problem for the labor market as a whole, notes Jenny Söderholm:
Ads that don't contain "real jobs" also affect our labor market statistics. It's also the basis for the labor market decisions that are made.
Check when the job was posted. If the job has been up for an extremely long time, it may be a fake job ad.
How detailed is the ad? If there are no descriptions of what the job entails, but only various benefits of working for the employer, the ad may be about marketing the company.
If you're unsure about an ad, contact the company directly and ask questions.
Torsten Jönsson, labor market expert at Karriärkonsulten, advises asking the following questions:
Is it a serious company that really has this volume? Do they fill positions continuously? When things are too easy and sound too good, you should be cautious, it also applies to job ads, says Torsten Jönsson.
