What is a ghost job?
A ghost job is a listing that won't lead to a hire any time soon. Some are kept up to collect CVs for later, some signal growth to investors, and many are simply forgotten after the role was filled. In a 2026 survey of 1,000 US job seekers, 67% said they'd seen fake or misleading postings (Resume Genius).
How common are ghost jobs?
Nobody knows precisely. There are no official statistics on ghost jobs, and the surveys that get quoted come from companies that sell hiring services and say little about their methods (Congressional Research Service). What's clear is that job seekers run into them often, which is reason enough to check before you invest an evening.
Five signs a posting may be a ghost job
None of the signs below proves anything on its own. Together, they tell you whether to spend an hour on a tailored application or move on.
1. The listing is old, or keeps coming back
Real openings take about two months to fill on average (HR Dive), so age alone isn't proof. A role that's been up for well over three months, or that disappears and reappears with a fresh date, is worth questioning. Job boards often show "reposted"; the employer's own careers page usually shows the original date. More in how long job postings stay up.
2. It isn't on the company's own careers page
This is the strongest single check. Aggregators keep copies of postings long after the employer has closed them. If the role isn't on the company's own site or hiring system (often a Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby or Workday page), it's probably closed.
3. The wording is about a pool, not a position
- "We're always looking for talented people"
- "Join our talent community" or "future opportunities"
- No team, no manager and no concrete first-90-days work
- Requirements no real person meets, like ten years in a tool that's existed for four
4. There's no pay range where the law requires one
In places like California, New York, Colorado, Washington and Ontario, ads must include a pay range (see our pay transparency guide). A missing range there doesn't prove a ghost job, but it often comes with other shortcuts.
5. The company is cutting while posting
Recent layoffs alongside a burst of postings can mean pipeline-building rather than hiring. Check the news before you invest the evening.
What to do when you're unsure
- Apply through the company's own site, not an aggregator.
- Ask a current employee whether the team is actually hiring. A short, specific message works; see how to ask for a referral.
- Send one polite question to the recruiter: "Is this role actively being interviewed for?" A real opening gets a real answer.
- Cap your time: a quick application if the signals are mixed, a fully tailored one only when they're clean.