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Ask HN: Do early-stage startups post ghost job openings?

3 points by floridageorgia ↗ HN
I recently came across an "open" job application at a startup, which was a form to submit your resume so the startup can build a pipeline of candidates for later, when they're ready to hire.

This led me to wonder, are some of the posted job opportunities at startups ghost openings just for pipeline building i.e. no intention to immediately hire but for later, provided a funding round materializes?

Please share if you know something about this, either as a job hunter or startup hiring manager.

7 comments

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grepLeigh
Yeah, I've seen startups do this. I wouldn't attribute it to malice, just inexperience. Keep applying and remember finding a good job is a numbers game!

A startup I worked for wanted to collect applications for all jobs it might post in the next 12 months. I explained that high quality candidates are only on the market for a few weeks (sometimes less than a week), so they were going to end up with a pool of low quality candidates.

grepLeigh
Oh, one more thing to keep in mind: job applications via careers page or online application are the lowest in priority/prestige for most companies.

Get a referral/introduction from a current employee. Look through their roster, find a blog post that resonates with you, and reach out to the author and ask what it's like to work there. =)

Recruiters are also an asset during job search. Treat recruiters like your agent - you're the talent, and recruiters are helping you broker a deal.

floridageorgia
> job applications via careers page or online application are the lowest in priority/prestige for most companies.

I've been getting crickets since I started applying, this explains why.

> Get a referral/introduction from a current employee. Look through their roster, find a blog post that resonates with you, and reach out to the author and ask what it's like to work there. =)

Will try this approach.

> Recruiters are also an asset during job search. Treat recruiters like your agent - you're the talent, and recruiters are helping you broker a deal.

Any recommendations for good recruiters or how I can go about finding one?

Thank you so much for your advice and insights.

grepLeigh
Just saw this, sorry! Hope your job search is going well though.

I'd try chatting with recruiters on LinkedIn until you find one that clicks, so you'll be motivated to work with them. Even if a recruiter doesn't have an opportunity that's a match for you, mention something you genuinely appreciated about their style of working and ask if they know any other recruiters you should talk to.

Set a goal like "I'll do 5x 20 minute calls with new recruiters this week, then ask my favorite to introduce me to someone at <insert 2-3 companies you love>."

Avoid Cybercoders and similar high-volume agencies.

version_five
If it's a small startup and you're experienced (or even not) contact the founding team directly and ask for a 30 minute chat with them. There's a good chance you'll be ignored but it tells you what you need to know about the company. If it's a three person company and an interesting person reaches out (and the need someone), guaranteed they'll talk to you unless they're some bureaucracy obsessed weirdos you don't want to get stuck with anyway.