Why LinkedIn job listings might not be what they seem

Product management Product management careers and networking
1

I’ve been noticing something weird about job postings on LinkedIn lately. After talking to some recruiters and people who work at different companies, I found out there’s a lot of sketchy stuff happening with these job posts.

Here’s what I discovered:

Companies trying to get more followers - Some smaller businesses post job openings just to get people to follow their company page. When you apply and check that follow box, boom, they got what they wanted.

Traffic tricks - There are job platforms that post positions to drive people to their own websites. You think you’re applying to Company X, but when you click apply, it takes you to some other company’s site instead.

Completely fake posts - This is the worst one. Fake companies post fake jobs, usually under categories like staffing or HR. They’re either trying to scam people or get them to sell stuff like phone plans.

Better places to look for jobs:

  • Indeed works well for smaller companies
  • Handshake has internships and entry level stuff
  • AMA Career sorts jobs by type and experience level
  • Hiring Cafe was made by Reddit users and has quality posts
  • Monster is good for talking directly to recruiters

Don’t get me wrong, LinkedIn is still useful for networking and showing off your professional side. Just be careful when applying to jobs there.

2

You’re absolutely right - I’ve seen this same trend throughout my recruiting career. Job platforms are making money off misleading posts, and it’s gotten way worse. The most concerning part? “Ghost jobs” where real companies post positions they’ll never fill. They’re just testing the market or meeting internal requirements before promoting someone they already picked. I’ve also seen recruitment agencies spam the same job across multiple companies. They’re not hiring for that role - they just want your info for their database, then pitch you different jobs later. Your alternative platforms are solid, but I’d focus on company websites first. Most organizations post there before anywhere else. Also, skip the job boards and hit up industry events or professional groups. Real connections beat online applications every time. Bottom line: stay skeptical. If a posting looks too good or lacks details, research the company before wasting time applying.

3

Two big red flags I’ve seen: salary fishing where companies post fake pay ranges just to see what people will accept, and timing games where they repost the same job every few weeks to look busy. They’re basically getting free market research while wasting your time. The algorithm thing is real too - new posts get more visibility, so they keep refreshing to stay on top. Here’s what actually works: check their LinkedIn employee count over time. If they’re posting tons of jobs but their headcount isn’t growing, something’s off. I also cross-check with Glassdoor reviews to figure out who’s actually hiring vs. just hoarding resumes.

4

that’s exactly why half my LinkedIn applications go into the void lol. I’ve also seen companies use bots that repost the same job 5 times under different “offices” - but it’s just one position. red flag: vague or generic job descriptions. they’re usually just harvesting resumes to sell elsewhere. pro tip: screenshot job posts before applying. they love to disappear or change details when you try following up.

5

Ugh, this hits home. I wasted months on LinkedIn before realizing I was just feeding data to marketing machines. The worst part? Those “urgent hiring” posts that sit there for months. How urgent can it really be? A recruiter accidentally sent me an email meant for her colleague about collecting LinkedIn profiles for their “pipeline.” Wasn’t even a real job. Now I go straight to company sites or use my network. It’s slower, but I’m not getting ghosted by fake positions anymore.