SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Almost every job seeker has had it happen to them. You come across a job posting for a role you'd be perfect for. You submit your resume along with a carefully crafted cover letter, explaining your suitability for the role, only to hear nothing in response. While it's possible you never heard back simply because the job market is reportedly congested with laid off tech workers and AI applications spamming recruiters with mass job submissions, there's also another possibility. What if the job never really existed at all? It could be you're one of the increasing number of job seekers who have reportedly fallen victim to a "ghost job." Bloomingdale’s closing San Francisco City Centre location What are ghost jobs? Ghost jobs, according to a recent report from Greenhouse, are "positions advertised with no intent to hire." According to the Greenhouse 2024 State of Job Hunting report, ghost jobs are haunting an increasing number of job-hunting websites. Three in five candidates say they suspect they've encountered a ghost job while job hunting. According to Greenhouse, this phenomenon isn't just in candidates' heads. Greenhouse says that in any given quarter, 18-22% of the jobs posted on its platform could be classified as ghost jobs. The Wall Street Journal says ghost jobs may account for as many as one in five of jobs advertised online. In the U.S., about 29% of candidates who suspect a listing might be a ghost job have applied anyway, while 31% decided not to apply. In the UK, 27% have applied anyway with 33% deciding not to apply. In Germany, only 21% of those who suspected a listing might be a ghost job have applied, with 38% not applying. “The data highlights a troubling reality – the job market has become more soul-crushing than ever,” says Jon Stross, president and co-founder of Greenhouse. Why do employers post ghost jobs? According to Business Insider, about half of hiring managers surveyed thought it was OK to keep job postings live when they weren't actively recruiting because they were "always open to new people." Other reasons BI said employers might post fake job listings were to give the impression of company growth, placate frustrated staff, and holding out hope for a perfect "unicorn" candidate. Ghost jobs could also be posted to comply with federal laws that require roles to be posted publicly, even after being filled by an internal hire. Staffing agencies, according to the WSJ, also may sometimes post ghost jobs to pitch their services to companies by showing a portfolio of talented potential hires. How can you spot a ghost job? While experts say there is no clear way to determine whether or not a job listing is for real, there are clues to look out for. Job postings that have been active for months or that don't have a clear timestamp could potentially be ghost jobs. Ads that appear on job boards but not on an employer's website could also be suspect, the WSJ said. Job boards like LinkedIn and Greenhouse have also rolled out verifications and badges, confirming posted roles are real and recruiters are responsive to applicants, the WSJ said. The bottom line? Job hunting can be scary as it is. While fake job listings can be dispiriting, don't get spooked by ghost jobs.