The Job Search Breakdown: Silence, Ghost Jobs & Smart Strategy
AUTHOR
It's Your Outcome
June 10, 2025
The Job Search Breakdown: Silence, Ghost Jobs & Smart Strategy
Author: April Ogden, Founder and CEO, It’s Your Outcome
You’re applying. Following the advice. Doing everything “right.”
Still — no response. No feedback. No movement.
This blog first appeared in my Career360 Brief on LinkedIn — but I’m bringing it here because more mid-career professionals need to stop guessing, and start aligning.
If you’ve been sending résumés into the void, this is for you.
Ghost Jobs, Résumé Silence, Federal Hiring, and the Mid-Career Moves That Actually Work
What if I told you the job you applied to was never actually open — and the company knew no interviews would be held for it?
In this week’s Career360 Brief, I break down ghost jobs, why companies post them, how to beat the silence, and what’s actually working in federal hiring, mid-career pivots, and résumé strategy.
🧭 Career360 Weekly Brief
What happened in the job market — and what it means for you (Week of April 7, 2025)
If you’ve been applying and hearing silence — the problem may not be you.
A client of mine applied to 47 jobs in two months. Not one callback.
She thought her résumé needed work.
The truth? She was applying to jobs that were never real.
This week, I’m breaking down what’s really going on in the job market — and how to shift your approach before burnout sets in.
📊 The Job Market Is Growing — But Only in Certain Corners
In March, the U.S. added 228,000 jobs, outpacing the 12-month average.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
That sounds encouraging — and it is, but most of the growth came from just a few sectors:
- Healthcare
- Social services
- Transportation
- Retail
If you’re in tech, comms, nonprofit, or mid-level leadership roles, you may feel like the job boards are quiet. That’s because many of those sectors are quietly freezing or slowing hiring.
🔍 One of my clients in HR said, “I apply and get silence. But I have 15 years of experience.”
Her mistake? Applying in a sector that’s currently shrinking.
Career360 Insight:
You’re not invisible — you may just be applying where momentum is fading. Pivot where there’s activity, not just familiarity.
📈 Degrees Are No Longer the Dealbreaker
More employers are hiring based on what you can do — not just what degree you hold.
They want to see:
- Problem-solvers
- Adaptability
- Value creation
🧠 Only 12% of applicants ever make it to the interview stage.
🔍 A restaurant manager I worked with had no degree, but led teams, improved processes, and created systems.
Once we reframed her résumé around outcomes, she transitioned into a logistics role at a tech company — without starting over.
Career360 Insight:
Your résumé isn’t about where you’ve worked. It’s about what you’ve improved, solved, and delivered.
⚠️ Ghost Jobs Are Costing You Time and Confidence
About 22% of job listings in 2024 may have been fake.
They’re called ghost jobs — and they’re everywhere.
🎥 Not sure if the jobs you’re applying to are even real? I made a video to walk you through it.
▶️ Watch: Ghost Jobs Are Real — Here’s How to Spot Them
Some were already filled. Others were never real openings.
Still others were posted to give the appearance of growth — or to collect résumés for future use.
🔍 One client applied to 30+ roles at one company — only to learn they hadn’t hired externally in nearly a year.
Career360 Insight:
You’re not being ignored — you’re being misled by the listings. Applying smarter starts with knowing which jobs are real.
🛡️ Federal Jobs Are Quietly Hiring — But They Require a Different Strategy
Despite private sector uncertainty, federal agencies continue hiring in:
- Healthcare
- Cybersecurity
- Program leadership
- Logistics
🖥️ Browse real-time openings at USAJobs.gov
But here’s the catch: your corporate résumé won’t get you through the door.
Federal applications require detailed alignment to KSAs (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities), vacancy language, and page-by-page formatting.
🔍 One client applied for 11 federal jobs using a résumé that had worked in the private sector. Not one callback. After we restructured it for federal review, she landed 2 interviews within a month.
Career360 Insight:
If you’re using one résumé for every job type, you’re unintentionally removing yourself from consideration.
💭 Final Thoughts from April
What’s the silence you’re hearing?
It’s not because you’re not good enough.
It’s because you’re using a playbook that doesn’t match the current market.
You’re not behind — but you do need to move forward with intention.
This isn’t about applying more.
It’s about applying better — with strategy, clarity, and alignment.
✨ #AskAprilO
Q: “April, I’m applying to jobs every day and still not hearing back. How do I know if it’s my résumé or the jobs themselves?”
A: You’re applying. You’re checking all the boxes. But still — silence.
It’s frustrating. And it makes you wonder, “Is something wrong with me?”
Let me be clear: it might not be your résumé. It might be the job listing.
🕵🏽♀️ Let’s talk about ghost jobs — and why they’re still showing up.
Ghost jobs are job listings that:
- Were already filled
- Were never truly open (posted to build a résumé pipeline)
- Are on hold or frozen due to budget
- Are set to auto-renew on job boards whether they’re active or not
Here’s what most job seekers don’t know:
💡 Companies often pay to post jobs — or to advertise them across multiple boards.
These ads can stay live even after the role is no longer available, because:
- It keeps the company visible and “appearing” active
- The listing was set to run for a certain number of days or weeks
- HR hasn’t manually removed it yet (especially in large organizations)
- Some companies collect résumés just in case funding reopens
So if you’re applying to 30 roles and hearing nothing?
There’s a real chance some of those roles were never meant to be filled.
✅ What to do next (your smart job search filter):
- Visit the company’s official careers page.
If the role isn’t listed there — or it’s missing key details or has no posting date — it’s likely not active. - Check how old the posting is.
If it’s been up for 30+ days without updates, there’s a chance it’s just an ad placement. - Reach out, if possible.
Use LinkedIn, a recruiter’s email, or the company’s general HR inbox.
It’s true — getting a response can be tough. But the act of trying shows initiative and gives you intel others won’t get. - Still want to apply? Go for it — but now you’re informed.
- Customize your résumé, but don’t burn out tailoring for roles that may not be real.
📎 Learn more about ghost jobs — IAPP
📎 AP News on verifying listings
🧭 #AskAprilO Insight:
A job board listing is just an ad. A careers page is confirmation.
Ghost jobs are part of the landscape now — but you don’t have to get lost in it.
🔁 This week’s challenge:
Pick one job you’d say yes to tomorrow.
- Confirm it’s posted on the employer’s actual website
- Check the post date and recency
- If you can, reach out to someone inside
- Then apply with confidence — and lead with results, not just responsibilities
You’re not behind. You’re just one smart shift away from real traction.
👩🏽💼 About the Author
April Ogden is an executive career and Leadership consultant and the founder of
She helps mid-career professionals aged 40 and over find confidence, clarity, and career success — on their own terms.
Whether you’re stuck, undervalued, or simply ready for more, April’s practical, strategic guidance is designed to help you rewrite your career story with purpose and power.
📅 Ready to take the guesswork out of your next step?
