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Show HN: I built didtheyghost.me, open-source tool for your next job search

didtheyghost.me

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Re: Show HN: I built didtheyghost.me, open-source tool for your next job search

#11

Post by pogue »

dtgmzac wrote: post #3
codingdave wrote: post #2

It feels unfocused. Application tracking makes sense, but that isn't the same problem as understanding a company's interview process or talking to other applicants about their experience. And frankly, unless you get the entire industry using this for every job application, the community-based features are not going to have meaningful info. Also, the actual problem implied by the title - have I been ghosted - can be a…

Really appreciate the honest and straightforward feedback. You're right that the community-based features are definitely hard to be useful without a community. It's actually one of my main problems right now, exploring who my target audience is and what the main goal should be before the next iteration. I actually started this because I wanted to track my own applications but also wanted to solve the problem of makin…

I wonder if you could implement some features used by the advertising industry and when you submit an application, include a tracking pixel/web beacon that would trigger when your application was viewed and returned some analytics like if it was viewed in an email client or web browser. You would then be able to see what's going on with the other end of your job application.

Re: Show HN: I built didtheyghost.me, open-source tool for your next job search

#13

Post by demarq »

trod1234 wrote: post #7
codingdave wrote: post #2

It feels unfocused. Application tracking makes sense, but that isn't the same problem as understanding a company's interview process or talking to other applicants about their experience. And frankly, unless you get the entire industry using this for every job application, the community-based features are not going to have meaningful info. Also, the actual problem implied by the title - have I been ghosted - can be a…

I disagree, in the past I've seen positions where they may sit on applications for a month or more. One of my last jobs actually ended up being one of these, and we went through 9 different interviews (over 2 1/2 months after that) before I was hired at the time. Its not so cut and dry.

This has to be Microsoft!

Re: Show HN: I built didtheyghost.me, open-source tool for your next job search

#14

Post by toomuchtodo »

Schiendelman wrote: post #9
toomuchtodo wrote: post #4

I love the direction and attempt. What I think is needed to encourage good behavior is a system that scans company job postings, archives them (Internet Archive), performs analytics as to whether these jobs are being filled (compare to LinkedIn data as best as you can, there will always be leakage), and potentially report non compliance around salary transparency to whomever in each state regulates that. LinkedIn doe…

I could be mistaken, but doesn't Indeed do this already?

Indeed is an interested party, and their incentives do not align with the general public and jobseekers.

Re: Show HN: I built didtheyghost.me, open-source tool for your next job search

#15

Post by 6stringmerc »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #4

I love the direction and attempt. What I think is needed to encourage good behavior is a system that scans company job postings, archives them (Internet Archive), performs analytics as to whether these jobs are being filled (compare to LinkedIn data as best as you can, there will always be leakage), and potentially report non compliance around salary transparency to whomever in each state regulates that. LinkedIn doe…

I’m doing a long term (read: takes months to collect data) investigative journalism piece regarding hiring practices in the United States that tracks with your musing. As in, I’m using tools to actually document who obtained positions and comparing those visible profiles and credentials with the actual listing put out by companies. The motivation has been through personal experience and seeing…patterns…that I wish to document to the best of my ability in a professional writing project.

I’d be willing to expand my scope if there is interest by any group or entity to support such a project - as in, expand my pool of people actively seeking and applying for jobs (in my case about 10 per week, all within reasonable % of qualification) to explore if data reveals any patterns. It’s a nuanced thing. Basically poking a hole in the “meritocracy” narrative is potentially able to expose other bias at play (age, gender, ethnicity) with a willingness to put such findings into a well researched article / study.

Re: Show HN: I built didtheyghost.me, open-source tool for your next job search

#16

Post by trod1234 »

demarq wrote: post #13
trod1234 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree, in the past I've seen positions where they may sit on applications for a month or more. One of my last jobs actually ended up being one of these, and we went through 9 different interviews (over 2 1/2 months after that) before I was hired at the time. Its not so cut and dry.

This has to be Microsoft!

A lot of large companies do this, especially in the biopharma sector.

Re: Show HN: I built didtheyghost.me, open-source tool for your next job search

#17

Post by trod1234 »

pogue wrote: post #10
trod1234 wrote: post #6

Interesting, I was thinking about doing something similar just the other day given all the shennanigans going on with ghost jobs. There's a lot of time wasted individually by candidates vetting companies. For instance I've had to resort to using OSINT techniques and public records to weed out fake jobs because my cold interview->conversion rate is abyssal (1:1000+). I've seen companies and positions being advertised…

Can you share some of the techniques you used? It might be helpful to get some simple scripts up to check if the address listed is a UPS store or registered agent or something and create a browser extension for job search sites that would automatically hide listings on job search sites that meet those criteria.

I use a wide range of techniques, quite a few are covered in Michael Bazzel's book on OSINT and its a large amount of material. The book is well worth getting if you haven't had exposure to these things.

I'm basically looking for red flags, so inconsistency in website information vs. business and government records. This includes Secretary of State information which may need fuzzy matching, but includes Agent of Service, Address, and Company Leadership, as well as renewal dates, business status, renewal status. Legitimate businesses are not inconsistent here.

I look at the website for how they get customers, and I verify their contact information is functional (usually through a VOIP number). A business without a phone line is usually not a business. Having a listed phone in the reassigned numbers database is a pretty big red flag as well.

I'll look for social media business accounts, county court records, coroner reports, etc. blackbookonline.info and judyrecords.com have been my goto for awhile. The latter search engine was broken for awhile though because they provided too much info and were sued. Aside from that sometimes I get hits on OpenPayrolls.

Companies that hide salary/company name, and postings that were posted without disclosure by recruiters are pretty big red flags as well. I'm sure there's plenty else but that's what I've been doing.

Re: Show HN: I built didtheyghost.me, open-source tool for your next job search

#18

Post by kylecazar »

I was ghosted by a company after going through multiple hours-long interviews. It's the first time it's happened this egregiously.

No communication after 3 rounds, including with very senior people. Last interview was a month ago. Sent two requests for updates. Nothing.

If this helps eradicate the issue I'm for it.

Re: Show HN: I built didtheyghost.me, open-source tool for your next job search

#19

Post by pogue »

trod1234 wrote: post #17
pogue wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you share some of the techniques you used? It might be helpful to get some simple scripts up to check if the address listed is a UPS store or registered agent or something and create a browser extension for job search sites that would automatically hide listings on job search sites that meet those criteria.

I use a wide range of techniques, quite a few are covered in Michael Bazzel's book on OSINT and its a large amount of material. The book is well worth getting if you haven't had exposure to these things. I'm basically looking for red flags, so inconsistency in website information vs. business and government records. This includes Secretary of State information which may need fuzzy matching, but includes Agent of Serv…

Very helpful, thanks. I came across this site from the FCC for reassigned numbers, but I'm not quite sure how to use it. Is this the right site? www.reassigned.us

Was the Michael Bazzell book you're referring to "Open Source Intelligence Techniques: Resources for Searching and Analyzing Online Information" or the "OSINT Techniques: Resources for Uncovering Online Information" (both around $44 on Amazon)?

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