3 Ways to spot a ghost job listing

Over 80% of recruiters admit that they post ads for jobs that either don’t exist or are already filled. Here’s why it happens and how to sniff them out.

Applying for jobs online can often feel like sending a résumé into a black hole. In fact, some job applicants report they’re sending out hundreds of résumés a month but yielding few results. Part of the problem may be the proliferation of ghost job listings on recruiting sites like LinkedIn and Indeed. According to a 2024 Recruiting Trends survey, 81% of recruiters admitted that their employer posts ads for jobs that either don’t exist or are already filled.