Is That Job Posting Real? Check These Signals

A ghost job is a position posted on job boards that is not actively being filled. Companies post ghost jobs to build talent pipelines, appear like they are growing, satisfy internal compliance requirements, or simply because the listing was never removed after the role was filled. Ghost jobs waste applicants' time and emotional energy.

Key indicators include: no salary range disclosed, posting age over 60 days, vague description with no specific requirements, no hiring manager or team listed, seniority requirements that do not match the title, and the same position reposted multiple times. Our checklist above scores these signals to give you a quick assessment.

First, research the company on LinkedIn and Glassdoor to check for recent hiring activity. Look for the specific recruiter or hiring manager. If you cannot find evidence of active hiring, consider prioritizing other applications. You can also install the SoviaJobs Chrome extension to get automated Ghost Score analysis on every listing.

Studies and our own analysis suggest that 20% to 40% of online job listings may be ghost jobs. The rate varies by industry, company size, and time of year. Technology and finance sectors tend to have higher rates of ghost postings.

Yes. The free SoviaJobs Chrome extension analyzes 19 algorithmic signals on every job listing you browse. It works on LinkedIn, Indeed, Greenhouse, Ashby, Workday, and most major job boards, giving you an instant Ghost Score without any manual checking.