A ghost job is a listing that's open but not being actively hired for — because the role is already filled, was cancelled, or was posted just to build a pipeline. Applying to them isn't just fruitless, it's demoralising.
Check the post date
Anything older than 45 days without updates is suspicious. Legitimate roles either get filled or refreshed.
Search the exact job title on other sites
If the same listing appears verbatim on 8 boards, it's often an aggregator scraping — or a company keeping a "just in case" ad live.
Look at the company's hiring pattern
One role open on and off for 6 months is a red flag. A dozen roles opening and closing in bursts usually means real growth.
Trust employer response time
Apply. If you get automated silence for 3 weeks with no acknowledgement, move on.