Ghost Jobs: What They Are and How to Avoid Them

To collect resumes: They want to build a list of possible candidates for later. 

To test the market: They want to test a job at different salaries, or see the kinds of applicants they receive. 

Because of company rules: Some companies must post jobs publicly even if they already know they’ll hire an internal candidate. 

To look good: A company might post jobs to look like it’s growing to other companies or potential investors. 

By mistake: Sometimes someone may honestly forget to remove a job posting after hiring is done. 

A posting that has been up for weeks or even months. 

A very vague job description. 

You see the same job posted again and again. 

There’s no clear contact person. 

The pay range is very broad. 

You never hear back after applying or interviewing. 

Research the company. Check its website and LinkedIn page. 

Look at the posting date. If it’s old, it might not be active. 

Ask questions. In an interview, ask when they hope to hire and how many openings there are. 

Use trusted job boards. Some platforms screen for fake or expired listings. 

Talk to your network. Ask people you know if the company is really hiring. 

Focus on quality over quantity. Apply to fewer jobs, but make each one count. 

Tell candidates whether or not they got the job after the interview stage. 

Clearly state if a job posting is actively being filled.