There are a few main reasons why you might see the same jobs reposted multiple times on LinkedIn and other job sites:
1. The employer hasn’t found the right candidate yet
The most obvious reason a job keeps getting reposted is that the employer hasn’t found someone they want to hire for the role yet. They may have interviewed some candidates but haven’t found the perfect fit, so they repost in hopes of getting a better pool of applicants. Especially for more specialized roles, it can take awhile to find the right person with the exact skills and experience needed.
2. They want a wider reach to find more candidates
Often times companies will repost job listings on multiple platforms or cycle through posting them every couple weeks to expand the reach and get the posting in front of more potential candidates. Even if they have received some decent applications, they want to make sure they are getting the maximum amount of qualified candidates possible to increase their chances of hiring the very best person for the job.
3. The role needs to be filled urgently
For roles that need to be filled immediately, like to replace someone who left unexpectedly, companies can repost frequently to try to fill the position as quickly as possible. By reposting more often, it signals to candidates that they are urgently looking to hire for the role. Especially if it is a crucial position that needs filled for business operations, they may need to cast a very wide net by reposting extensively.
4. They are expanding their team and need more candidates
Companies that are growing quickly and adding to their teams in waves may need to repost openings even for the same roles. If they are hiring multiple people for the same position, they will want to continuously repost the listing and replenish the pool of candidates at each stage of the hiring process. Reposting keeps feeding the top of their hiring funnel as candidates get further along in the process.
5. The job description gets updated or refined
As hiring managers get a better sense of the exact skills and requirements they want for a position, they may tweak or update the job description repeatedly. By reposting the revised job listing, it effectively relaunches the search process with the new criteria. This lets them hone in on more suitable candidates based on what they’ve learned.
Why Employers Don’t Just Leave Listings Open
If these jobs are open and need to be filled, why don’t companies just leave the same listing posted until they hire someone? There are a few reasons:
1. Listings get buried over time
Especially on high volume sites like LinkedIn and Indeed, old postings gradually sink down in the search results and rankings as new jobs get posted each day. Reposting the job brings it back to the top of the listings where candidates are more likely to see it.
2. They want the posting to look fresh and urgent
A job that’s been listed for weeks or months starts to look stale and unattractive to candidates. However, a freshly posted job gives the impression that the company is actively hiring. Even if it’s the same position, reposting makes it look like a new opportunity.
3. The candidate pool needs refreshing
Beyond just bringing in more candidates, reposting can help bring in different candidates. People looking at different times may see the listing. The skills in demand for the role may evolve over time as well.
Why Constant Job Repostings Can Frustrate Candidates
While companies often have reasonable motivations for reposting the same jobs, it can be frustrating from a candidate’s perspective for a few reasons:
1. It creates a perception that jobs aren’t actually available or attainable
When candidates see the same job posted over and over, they may get the sense that the job isn’t actually open or that the company has unrealistic expectations. It starts to seem like more of a placeholder listing than an achievable job opportunity. This can discourage qualified candidates from applying.
2. Candidates have to constantly reapply to the same jobs
Some job seekers may have applied to a particular opening already, only to see it reposted yet again. This creates extra work for candidates who have to constantly submit applications and resumes to the same companies. The repetitive nature of job searching gets amplified.
3. Lack of feedback or updates creates uncertainty
One of the most frustrating parts of reposted listings is that typically candidates don’t know why it keeps getting reposted. They may have interviewed and be waiting for updates or feel they are a good fit. The uncertainty of knowing whether they are still being considered or should apply again is confusing.
4. It may indicate choosiness or indecisiveness from the company
When a job gets reposted frequently, candidates may feel the company is being overly picky and impossible to please. They may assume tons of candidates have already interviewed and been rejected. This can make the role seem undesirable or unattainable.
5. Candidates have no leverage to negotiate
In most cases, candidates have very little negotiating power or leverage when they apply to job postings. But reposted listings offer even less, since companies know they have an endless supply of resumes flowing in. Candidates feel powerless to influence the process.
Best Practices for Companies Reposting Jobs
To avoid discouraging and frustrating candidates, companies who need to repost job openings should consider the following tips:
Be transparent in the listing
Acknowledge if it’s the same role previously posted and provide context, like that you’re expanding your team or want to cast a wider net. This helps candidates understand it’s a valid opening.
Notify previous applicants
Email previous applicants to let them know the job is being reposted and encourage them to apply again if interested or share updated resume. This avoids confusion.
Give feedback to interviewed candidates
If you’ve already interviewed people for this role, notify them of the reposting and provide constructive feedback so they know where they stand.
Revise and update the job description
Tailor the job posting each time you relist the role, highlighting evolving needs or skills that are now being prioritized. This gives purpose to reposting.
Highlight opportunities to grow and advance
Emphasize opportunities for career development, learning, and advancement in the role to make it appealing, not just vacant. Sell the potential even if it’s a reposted job.
Shorten the listing timeframes
Repost more frequently for shorter durations, like 1-2 weeks maximum. This makes the role look urgently in-demand but minimizes frustration.
List an “accepting applications through” date
Share specific timeframes or deadlines for applying to indicate when the current listing period will close and be reposted.
Key Takeaways
- Companies repost jobs to expand their reach, refresh their pipeline, and find the best candidates.
- Reposting the same roles frequently can create a poor candidate experience.
- Transparency, communication, and revised descriptions help ease frustrations.
- Shorter listing durations and applicant deadlines keep postings looking fresh.
While job repostings may be annoying for active job seekers, understanding why companies do it and the best practices around communication and timeframes helps improve the process for both employers and applicants.
Conclusion
In summary, the main reasons companies repost job listings include needing more or better candidates, wanting to refresh the pool, urgently needing to fill roles, expanding teams, and tweaking requirements. Though logical from the employer perspective, constant relistings frustrate candidates who feel uncertain, have to reapply, and perceive pickiness or unattainability.
Best practices involve being transparent on listings, notifying previous applicants, limiting how long listings stay up, and highlighting growth opportunities.
Job searching works much better when both employers and applicants understand each other’s realities and needs. More visibility and communication around reposted roles helps bridge that gap so candidates don’t get discouraged and employers get the applicants they need to build strong teams.