5 common job search challenges and how to overcome them

New job search challenges seem to be popping up all across today's talent landscape. Fortunately, while it may seem otherwise, there are solutions available. Today, we'll discuss some of the ones we've seen work well, so hopefully one can help you.

1. Ghost jobs / fake job listings and spammy "recruiters"

"Ghosting is nearly universal: 94.3% [of people surveyed by United Way NCA] said they applied to jobs and never heard back during their search, and on average, they said 67% of their applications got no response at all — about two out of every three."⁵

If you haven't encountered one, you're probably wondering ... so what are ghost job posts? "Ghost jobs are postings for positions that don’t actually exist for various reasons."² Some of the reasons are intentional, while others are simply oversights or the result of scams or technological mismatches.

Why ghost jobs exist

Proactive talent evaluation: Sometimes companies are trying to front-load their pipeline or see what matches might exist for roles they know are coming up. To do that, they post roles that aren't technically open yet to see what's out there in the candidate pool. This type of posting might also signal their intent to grow, which can be attractive to investors, helping them get there faster.¹

Scams: Unfortunately, there are individuals who target vulnerable job seekers. They do this by copy-pasting existing roles and collecting candidate information, or by sending malicious emails, to name a few methods. When they copy-paste, sometimes a ghost job is generated.

Mistakes, changes or scraping: While an employer may have every intention of hiring new talent, budgets change, positions are eliminated, and restructuring is a real thing. When this happens, postings do get forgotten. In addition, some roles might be scraped onto other platforms well past when they are live on the original website.¹

How to recognize a ghost job

If you're wondering how to tell if you're looking at a ghost or fake job posting, you're not alone. Here are some key tips.

Evidence of life: Consider whether there is a human involved.² If it sounds robotic and there isn't engagement at any stage, the posting may be a ghost.

Timing: Think about the length of time a position has been posted and cross-check if it's still on the real website as opposed to just being on a job board.

Check in with a real person: If you're still suspicious after using the two methods above, see if you can contact someone in your network. If no one in your network is connected with the company, seek out other signals. If existing employees are sharing or promoting the opening, it's probably real!²

Look for specifics: "Vague job descriptions paired with little or no movement in the hiring process are another red flag. If a posting lists generic responsibilities, lacks clear success metrics, and there’s no defined next step or timeline, it’s often a sign that the company isn’t truly ready to hire."²

Vet the "recruiter": Run very quickly from @gmail and other unofficial email domains claiming to be recruiters. These sorts of spammers frequently attempt to target job seekers and shouldn't be trusted. By the way, no recruiter should ever ask for sensitive information. If anyone asks you for yours, quickly report the individual and move on to your next search.

Being able to identify this kind of job-seeking spam activity can save valuable time.

2. Remaining solvent and standing out

What to do to stay stable while job searching

"Nearly half of job seekers(45%) said their savings would run out in under a month if their income stopped, and 68.3% said they would not make it past two months. Only 16% said they could cover six months or more of basic expenses."⁵

The economy is fluctuating, and many job seekers are dealing with a lack of funds while they struggle to stay afloat. Mortgages, gas, utilities and other obligations are still there, even when a job isn't.

To stay ahead, you can:

• Freelance
• Do odd jobs or join the gig economy.
• Take a part-time gap job, leaving room to search during off hours.
• Opt to engage in seasonal work, if it's available.

How to stand out in a crowded market

A lot of talented people are unemployed right now, but there are still things you can do to put your best foot forward.

Show off a little: Create an online portfolio with success metrics. Think: I increased X by X% by using method. This kind of evidence is very impressive!

Seek expert help: Talk to a recruiting professional about how you can improve your resume. There's plenty of advice online, but at the end of the day, you're still an individual and there are always ways to get better with trained assistance.

Share your plan: If you earn an interview and it goes well, provide your potential future employer with a taste of what they can expect from you. For example, you can discuss what you plan to achieve by intervals like 30, 60 and 90 days.

Be the brand: Treat yourself like a brand. Determine exactly what you can offer that few others can and come back to that point in different ways frequently. The right solution (you) will resonate with the ideal person eventually.

3. AI in the ATS

There's no denying that robot gatekeepers are now alive and well in many ATSs. To optimize your resume so that they promote you to human hiring managers:

See if you can get a referral: This can often be included in the ATS itself, or you can be given a link that sends you into the ATS, but is linked to an individual.

Shine a light on your relevant skills: Isolate the exact skills in the job description and tailor your resume, cover letter and ATS-specific candidate profile to include them. Applications that include an ATS-friendly resume and other materials are more likely to get seen.

Pro-tip: If you are having a hard time with this, prompt an AI like ChatGPT, Claude or Copilot to pull them out for you.

Have conversations: Meet people in person and bring up what you do whenever it makes conversational sense. You never know who might know about an opening. That knowledge could make you one of the first to apply when a new role is posted! Timing can make a huge difference.

Be timely: Speaking of timing. Apply when the job listing is fresh. As everyone has access to AI tools for job description assessment, it is a bit of a race to grab attention before the requisition is taken down or the recruiting team is overwhelmed.

4. Long interview cycles

"Candidates typically go through three to five interviews on average before they receive an offer for a job."³

Across these three to five interviews, you may encounter initial screenings, technical assessments, behavioral interviews and ones specific to workplace culture.³ With that in mind, you'll want to mentally prepare to wait for at least a month for an offer.⁶

To make the most of these long interview cycles, keep actively applying to other companies. You can't afford to put your eggs in one basket. Others are also looking hungrily at that basket too.

5. A lack of knowledge around networking

"Gen Z understands just how important relationships are in today’s tough job market, but 53% aren’t sure how to get started with building one, and 52% struggle with turning their contacts into real connections."⁸

Candidates of all ages and stages struggle to network, but some, like Gen Z, are having an even harder time. This is likely because many weren't taught how to do it. Whether it's due to the pandemic, remote/hybrid work environments or other factors, it's hurting them. But there are plenty of ways to start networking. Here are some top ones:

Go places: It sounds obvious, but you've got to get out and do things. These can be fun things, like going to concerts, or more practical things like industry events or even your college reunion. Strike up random conversations; you never know where they'll lead.

Join up: Find groups and associations to join and start talking to the members. They are interesting. YOU are interesting. Introduce yourself and make connections.

Be brave: No matter what networking situation you're in, there are going to be nerves involved. Push past them. It's essential to forging a new path.

Reach out digitally: If you have something to offer to a conversation, as a comment or via direct message, do it! People like to talk about what they're interested in and may be willing to accept you after you prove that you're engaged. This is entirely different from spamming someone with the sole goal of earning a specific role.

Find out unexpected things: You already have a network of colleagues, friends and people you've grown up with. Talk to them on a deeper level. Invite them to get coffee. Do this without expectation and watch them surprise you.

Above all, remember this: the word "network" sounds off-putting, but the act of networking is simply learning about others without requiring something in return. You're playing the long game by investing time in others. That person may net you zero job offers, or could be your next boss. It's a toss-up. Either way, it's an opportunity to find out something exciting about someone else, and why would you ever pass that up?

We hope these solutions help you be more effective, but if you're still having trouble, try applying for an open position promoted by Beacon Hill. If a match exists, a recruiter will contact you, and we can start moving toward your next role together.

Sources and inspiration

1. “Ghost” Job Postings
2. How to spot a ‘ghost job’ before you waste time applying
3. How Many Interviews Does It Take to Get a Job?
4. Want a Job? Cool, There Are 17 Interviews.
5. How Long Does It Take to Find a Job in 2026? [Survey]
6. Q&A: How Long Does the Hiring Process Take? (With Steps)
7. It's not just you: Many jobs are requiring more interviews. Here's how to stand out
8. Gen Z Is Struggling To Network. 4 Tips To Build Connections That Get You Hired

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