A ghost job is a job posting from a legitimate company that has no genuine intent to hire. Companies may post these to build talent pools, gather market data, or appear active. Research suggests 18-22% of jobs on major platforms may be ghost jobs, and 60% of candidates suspect they've encountered one.

How do I know if a job posting is real?

Look for red flags: vague job details, posting dates older than 1-2 months, duplicate listings for the same role. Use resume tracking—if your resume gets zero views (no ATS, no human) after 1-2 weeks, the job may be a ghost position. Real employers typically have systems that access applicant materials.

How to Identify Ghost Job Postings Before You Waste Time Applying (2026)

What Is a Ghost Job?

A ghost job is a job posting from a legitimate company that has no genuine intent to hire. Unlike scam listings (which try to steal money or personal info), ghost jobs come from real employers—but the role either doesn't exist, was already filled, or is posted only to collect resumes for future talent pools.

A 2024 survey found that 40% of companies had posted fake job listings. Reasons include building applicant databases, appearing "actively hiring," satisfying investors, or gathering market intelligence on salaries and availability.

The cost to you: wasted applications, false hope, and time you could spend on real opportunities. That's why identifying ghost jobs early matters.

Red Flags: How to Spot Ghost Job Postings

1. Vague or Generic Job Details

Ghost postings often lack specific qualifications, responsibilities, or salary ranges. If the description could apply to 10 different roles, be skeptical.

What to do: Contact HR to ask for specifics. A real hiring manager can usually provide details. Generic brush-offs may indicate a ghost job.

2. Posting Dates Older Than 1-2 Months

The average time to fill a role is about 44 days. If a posting has been live for 60+ days with no updates, the position may already be filled or never existed.

What to do: Apply within the first week of posting when possible. For old posts, check if the company has reposted the same role—that can mean your application went nowhere.

3. Duplicate or Nearly Identical Listings

Some companies post multiple slightly different versions of the same role to attract broader talent pools. One real role, several postings—often a sign of resume collection rather than active hiring.

4. Zero Response From Anyone

If you apply and hear nothing—no confirmation, no ATS processing, no recruiter contact—after 2+ weeks, something may be off. Real employers typically have systems that at least process applications.

Caveat: High volume can delay responses. Use resume tracking to know if your application was ever accessed.

The ResuTrack Method: Use Resume Tracking to Verify

The most reliable way to identify ghost jobs is to see whether anyone—ATS or human—ever views your resume. With ResuTrack, you create a unique tracking link for each application. When someone clicks that link, you get notified and can see whether it was an ATS or a human.

Zero views after 1-2 weeks? That's a strong signal the job may be a ghost. Real employers almost always have systems that access applicant materials. If your resume was never viewed at all, the posting may have no active hiring behind it.

This doesn't mean every no-view application is a ghost job—sometimes ATS rejection happens before any link is followed. But combined with other red flags (old posting, vague details), zero views is powerful evidence. For more on diagnosing application silence, see why employers don't respond.

Before applying to real roles, optimize your resume with our free ATS Checker and Job Analyzer so you can focus your efforts on positions that are actually hiring.

Ghost Jobs vs Scam Job Postings

Don't confuse ghost jobs with employment scams. Ghost jobs waste your time; scams can steal money or personal information.

Ghost jobs: From real companies, no hiring intent. No upfront fees, no requests for sensitive data.
Scams: Too-good-to-be-true offers, requests for deposits or "starter kits," fake company profiles. Job scams increased 118% from 2022 to 2023.

If a "employer" asks for money, bank details, or personal documents before an offer, it's a scam—not a ghost job.

What to Do When You Suspect a Ghost Job

Don't over-invest: One tailored application is fine; don't send multiple follow-ups if there are zero views.
Use tracking: Create a ResuTrack link for the application. If you get no views, treat it as low-priority and move on.
Focus on fresh postings: Apply within the first week when employers are most active.
Report when appropriate: Some platforms allow reporting of suspicious postings.

Verify Before You Invest More Time

Don't guess whether a job posting is real. With ResuTrack, you can see if employers are actually viewing your applications. Zero views after 1-2 weeks? Likely a ghost job—move on and focus on roles where you get real engagement.

Start free—track up to 10 applications. Combine with our free tools to optimize your resume for the jobs that matter.

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Conclusion

Ghost jobs are common—18-22% of postings may qualify. Red flags include vague details, old posting dates, and duplicate listings. The most reliable verification is resume tracking: if no one views your application, the job may not be real.

Use ResuTrack to create unique links for each application. When you see zero views, you can confidently deprioritize that opportunity and focus on roles where employers are actively engaging.