layiq
/la·yiq/adjective
worthy; deserving; fitting; suitable.
A role, opportunity, or path that merits attention, time, and pursuit.
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How to spot a ghost job
Before you spend time on an application, check the employer's listing, posting date, job details and application link. Explore the example below, then use the five checks to decide whether to apply or ask the employer first.
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Interactive example
Select a number to see what to check.
Northstar Analytics
Software Development · 501–1,000 employees
Senior Product Manager
Dallas, TX · Hybrid
Reposted 2 days ago · Over 100 applicants
$145,000–$175,000 / yearFull-time
Product · Senior level · Job ID: PM-4821
About the job
Northstar Analytics helps business teams turn complex data into clear decisions. We’re looking for a Senior Product Manager to lead our core analytics experience, from customer discovery through launch. You’ll partner with engineering and design and report to the Director of Product.
What you’ll do
- Own the product roadmap for dashboards, reporting, and data exploration.
- Work with customers to identify problems and define practical solutions.
- Partner with engineering and design to ship and improve product features.
- Define success metrics and use customer feedback to prioritize the next release.
What you’ll bring
- 5+ years of product management experience, including B2B software.
- Experience taking a product from discovery to launch.
- Strong analytical skills and clear written communication.
Compensation & benefits
The base salary range for this role is $145,000–$175,000, depending on experience. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) match, paid time off, and a professional development allowance. This role works from our Dallas office three days a week.
Northstar Analytics is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and provide reasonable accommodations throughout the interview process.
Fictional posting. No applications are sent.
What a ghost job is
Greenhouse, which makes hiring software, defines ghost jobs as “positions advertised with no intent to hire.”1 The label covers several situations: a role that was filled or put on hold but never taken down, a listing kept up to collect résumés for later, or a posting meant to make a company look like it's growing. What they share is a gap between the listing you can see and an opening someone is actually trying to fill.
A posting and an opening are not the same thing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics counts a job opening in its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) only when all three of these are true2:
- “A specific position exists and there is work available for that position.”
- “The job could start within 30 days, whether or not the employer can find a suitable candidate during that time.”
- “The employer is actively recruiting workers from outside the establishment to fill the position.”
A page on a job board doesn't prove any of those on its own. The checks in this guide help you close that gap before you invest your time.
18–22%
This figure covers Greenhouse's platform, rather than the whole job market. It cannot tell you whether a particular listing is a ghost job. In the same report, three in five candidates said they suspect they've encountered one1.
What the numbers tell you
Greenhouse's 2025 survey found that 69% of U.S. job seekers had encountered fake job postings3. That describes the people surveyed, not the share of jobs that are fake. Fake postings can also include scams and impersonation, which are different from an employer leaving a role posted without plans to fill it.
Why employers leave ghost jobs up
Some employers keep listings open to collect résumés, attract future candidates or signal growth. Hiring-manager surveys describe several reasons:
- Clarify Capital, a small-business lender, surveyed 1,045 managers involved in hiring between August 31 and September 1, 2022. 68% had job postings active for more than 30 days, and 50% said they keep postings open because they're “always open to new people.”4 In the same write-up, Joe Mercurio, a project manager at Clarify Capital, said 43% “aren't actively trying to fill positions because they want to keep employees motivated or they want to give off the impression that the company is growing.”4
- Resume Builder, a résumé-building website, surveyed hiring managers in May 2024. 40% said their company had posted fake job listings in the past year. The reasons they gave included making the company appear open to external talent (67%), acting like the company is growing (66%), and collecting résumés to keep on file for later (59%)5.
These surveys were published by commercial companies in 2022 and 2024. They describe possible reasons for leaving listings up; they cannot tell you what a particular employer intends. Look for patterns such as repeated reposting, always-open listings or invitations to join a future candidate pool.
Five checks before you apply
Use these checks together. One unusual detail may have an ordinary explanation; several warnings are a reason to contact the employer before investing more time.
1. Find the job at the source
Go to the employer's own careers page, not the board where you found the listing, and search for the title. Use the job or requisition ID if the listing shows one.
2. Find its real age
Look past “posted 2 days ago.” Find the employer's own posting date if there is one, and notice whether the same role keeps reappearing as new.
3. Match the details
Compare the title, location, remote status, pay range, job ID and description between the copy you found and the employer's version.
4. See where Apply goes
Click Apply without submitting anything and look at the address bar. Note who would receive your application.
5. Ask whether they're hiring now
Read the wording. Does it describe a specific job someone is filling, or invite you into a general pool for future openings?
1. Find the job at the source
An employer's official listing may open on a hiring service such as Greenhouse, Lever or Ashby instead of the company's own domain678. Follow the link from the company's careers page to confirm you are looking at its listing.
Job boards can keep showing a role after the employer closes it. Finding the role on the employer's site confirms it is still published, but it does not confirm that interviews are underway.
2. Find its real age
A “posted” or “reposted” date may show when a listing was last refreshed, rather than when the role first opened. Some hiring services distinguish between the original posting date and a later update or republication68. Compare the employer's date with the copy you found before assuming the opening is new.
Recent listings attract attention. In a study of 125 million applications to jobs on Dice.com, a site for technical roles, almost half went to openings posted in the past 48 hours9. The study covers one site. To check whether a listing is new, search the job title and company name for older copies.
Old doesn't mean fake
Hiring can take months. Employ reported a time to fill of 63.5 days in 2025 across 6,640 customers using its Jobvite, Lever and JazzHR hiring services10. A two-month-old posting may still be open. For much older listings, ask whether the employer is still recruiting, especially if the role keeps reappearing as new.
Open jobs on LAYIQ span a wide range of posting dates, so one listing's age tells you little on its own.
How old are today's open jobs?
Of the 410,919 open jobs LAYIQ lists from about 10,000 employers, this is how long ago each was posted.
| Posted | Share | Open jobs |
|---|---|---|
| In the last 7 days | 13% | 55,279 |
| 8 to 30 days ago | 35% | 142,428 |
| 31 to 90 days ago | 36% | 148,978 |
| 91 days to six months ago | 16% | 64,234 |
- The median open job was posted about 34 days ago.
- 46% of these jobs list a pay range.
- LAYIQ lists only postings from the last six calendar months, so older listings are not in these numbers.
- Reposting can reset a job's date, so a role may be older than the date shown.
- Jobs that stay posted for months are more likely to appear here than jobs filled within days. These numbers do not show how long hiring takes.
As of . Posting dates come from the employers' own postings.
3. Match the details
Put the copy you found next to the employer's version. Some differences are ordinary: an aggregator may shorten the description, and one role may be posted separately for several cities. Bigger conflicts deserve a pause. If the employer says hybrid in Chicago while a board copy says fully remote, the pay differs sharply, and the job IDs don't match, you may be looking at an outdated or unrelated copy.
4. See where Apply goes
An application that ends up on the employer's site or a recognizable hiring system is the normal path, even when the address isn't the company's own domain. Stop and verify if Apply sends you to an unrelated site, if a form asks for your Social Security or bank account number before any interview, or if a “recruiter” writes from a personal email account; the FTC calls that last one “a red flag.”11 The section on scams below covers what to do.
5. Ask whether they're hiring now
Watch for wording such as “talent community,” “future opportunities,” “always looking for,” “pipeline” or “expression of interest.” These listings aren't necessarily deceptive; some employers hire continuously for certain roles. But they may not be a position anyone is trying to fill today. Google's rules for job listings in its search results say publishers “may solicit resume collections for open positions only,” and that Google may remove “solicitations that collect candidate data, but are not currently hiring.”12
| Check | Good sign | Worth a closer look | Strong warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source | Listed on the employer's careers page, details match, Apply works | Found only on third-party job boards | The employer's site says the job is closed, or doesn't list it, while a board copy is still active |
| Real age | Recent, or older but continuously listed with the same job ID | Open for several months with no visible changes | The same role keeps reappearing as new with an unchanged description |
| Details | Title, location, pay and job ID agree | Minor differences, such as a shortened description | Location, remote status, pay or job ID conflict with the employer's version |
| Apply path | Leads to the employer or a recognizable hiring system | Leads through a staffing agency you can verify | Leads to an unrelated site, or asks for payment, bank details or ID numbers |
| Hiring now | Describes a specific role, team and start | Talks about future openings or a talent pool | Presents a general pool as a specific, immediate opening |
One signal vs several signals
A single odd detail usually has an ordinary explanation. Several independent warnings pointing the same way is the pattern worth acting on.
| What you see | Likely explanation | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A 70-day-old listing that's still on the employer's site with the same job ID | Slow hiring, which is common10 | Apply if it fits, and ask about the timeline |
| A listing you can find only on a job board | A board running behind the employer, or a closed role | Check the employer's site again in a day or two |
| The same role reposted as new several times, unchanged | A pipeline listing or a stalled role | Keep your effort light and ask whether the role is open now |
| Not on the employer's site, reposted repeatedly, and the details conflict | Several independent warnings | Confirm with the employer before you invest real time |
| An unrelated site that asks for payment, bank details or ID numbers | Scam warning signs, not just a ghost job1311 | Stop, share nothing, and report it |
Ghost jobs and scams are different problems
A ghost job wastes your time. A scam is after your money or your identity. A real employer can leave up a listing it isn't filling, and a scammer can pose as a real employer to advertise a job that never existed, so keep the two questions separate. FTC guidance names these warning signs:
- Being asked to pay. “Honest employers, including the federal government, will never ask you to pay to get a job.”13
- Being sent a check. “No honest potential employer will ever send you a check to deposit and then tell you to send on part of the money, or buy gift cards with it.”13
- Requests for your driver's license, Social Security or bank account number to fill out “employment paperwork” before anyone will answer your questions about the job11.
- A recruiter writing from a personal email account rather than a company one11.
If something feels off, the FTC's advice is to “contact the company directly using a phone number you know to be legitimate — not one you got from the ‘recruiter.’ Or go to the company's website.”11 You can report a job scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (opens in a new tab)13.
Are ghost jobs illegal? Where the bills stand
Lawmakers in several states have proposed rules for job ads. As of October 6, 2026, none of the three bills below had become law.
- New York (S8877) passed the Senate on April 28, 2026 and the Assembly on June 2, 2026. As of October 6, 2026, the official records show no signature or veto1415. As passed, it would cover employers with at least 100 employees and third-party job posting sites. Each ad would have to state, in capital letters and bold type, either that it is for a current vacancy and when the employer intends to fill it, or that it is not for a current vacancy and the employer is collecting résumés for future openings. A filled position's posting would have to come down within two weeks, and fines would start at $2,500 for each publication or platform where the ad appears15.
- New Jersey (S2136) was reported out of the Senate Labor Committee with amendments on May 11, 2026, and referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee16.
- Pennsylvania (HB 2321) was referred to the House Labor and Industry Committee on March 26, 202617.
Pending bills can change or stall, so check the official bill pages for the current status. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
What LAYIQ shows you
LAYIQ helps you check a listing before you apply. You can see the employer's posting and the information available about the role, then decide where to spend your time.
- Current openings from employer career sites. Listings come from employers' own career sites, and there are no sponsored listings.
- Closed roles stop appearing as open. When LAYIQ identifies that a job has closed at the source, it is removed from open listings or shown as closed.
- The employer's date. Each job page shows the date the employer posted it, when the employer provides one.
- Apply goes to the employer. Every Apply button sends you to the employer's own posting.
- No account needed to search. Anyone can search jobs and browse companies without signing up, and LAYIQ doesn't sell user data.
Paste the employer's Apply link into the free Ghost Job Checker. See whether the posting is still listed, its posting date when available, and details worth checking before you apply. A live posting does not confirm active hiring. No sign-up needed.
Check a job linkIf you think a posting is a ghost job
- Check again later. Look at the employer's careers page in a few days. A board running behind is common.
- Ask. Contact the employer through its official website and ask whether the role is being actively filled and what the timeline is.
- Adjust your effort. If several warnings line up, send a lighter application or skip it, and save your best work for listings that check out.
- Apply at the source. If you do apply, use the employer's own posting rather than a copy.
- Keep a record. Save the link, the dates you saw it and a screenshot, in case the role resurfaces or you want to follow up.
- Report scams, not just ghosts. If you see the scam warning signs above, stop, don't share personal or financial information, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (opens in a new tab)13.
Frequently asked questions
Are ghost jobs illegal?
As of October 6, 2026, none of the ghost-job bills covered in this guide had become law. New York's S8877 has passed both houses but has not been signed; New Jersey's S2136 and Pennsylvania's HB 2321 are still in committee151617. Other laws can still apply to specific conduct, and scams are a separate matter: report them to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (opens in a new tab)13. This is general information, not legal advice.
Is a 60-day-old job a ghost job?
Not by itself. Employ reported a time to fill of 63.5 days in 2025 across its Jobvite, Lever and JazzHR customers10, so two months is ordinary. Look for age combined with other warnings: the same role reposted as new again and again, a job the employer no longer lists, or details that conflict.
Can a job on the company's own site be a ghost job?
Yes. Greenhouse's 18–22% figure counts jobs posted on its own platform1, which many employers use to publish their job listings6. Finding a job on the employer's site confirms it's published. It doesn't prove someone is hiring for it, which is why the other four checks matter.
How do I check a job I found on LinkedIn or Indeed?
Run the same five checks. Open the employer's careers page and search for the title, compare the details, and see where Apply takes you. If a recruiter contacts you, verify them through the company's official website rather than a number or link they send, and be wary of messages from personal email accounts11. You can also open the job, choose Apply on company site, and paste that link into LAYIQ's Ghost Job Checker.
Are ghost jobs the same as scams?
No. A ghost job is a listing an employer isn't actively filling; it costs you time. A scam tries to take your money or personal information, sometimes by impersonating a real company. Being asked to pay for a job, to deposit a check and send money back, or to hand over ID or bank numbers early are scam warning signs1311.
How common are ghost jobs?
The figures in this guide cover particular platforms or surveys. Greenhouse reports that 18–22% of jobs posted on its platform in a given quarter are classified as ghost jobs1. That is not a rate for the whole job market, and it cannot tell you whether a specific listing is a ghost job.
Why do companies post jobs they don't plan to fill?
In employer surveys, managers cite reasons such as appearing open to outside talent, signaling growth, keeping résumés on file for later, and being “always open to new people”54. These are commercial surveys from 2022 and 2024, so they describe common reasons, not any particular employer's.
Should I still apply if I suspect a ghost job?
It depends on how many warnings line up and how much effort the application takes. One warning is rarely a reason to skip a role you want. If several line up, contact the employer first or send a lighter application, and put your best effort into listings that pass the checks.
Sources
- Greenhouse. Ghosting, ghost jobs and bots: Candidates reveal their top challenges in the Greenhouse 2024 State of Job Hunting report (opens in a new tab). Published December 10, 2024. Accessed October 6, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey: Concepts (Handbook of Methods) (opens in a new tab). Accessed October 6, 2026.
- Greenhouse. An AI Trust Crisis: 70% of Hiring Managers Trust AI to Make Faster and Better Hiring Decisions, Only 8% of Job Seekers Call it Fair (opens in a new tab). Published November 19, 2025. Accessed October 6, 2026.
- Clarify Capital. Survey: Job Seekers Beware of Ghost Jobs (opens in a new tab). Accessed October 6, 2026.
- ResumeBuilder.com. 3 in 10 Companies Currently Have Fake Job Postings Listed (opens in a new tab). Published June 18, 2024. Accessed October 6, 2026.
- Greenhouse. Job Board API (opens in a new tab). Accessed October 6, 2026.
- Lever. Lever Postings API (opens in a new tab). Accessed October 6, 2026.
- Ashby. Ashby Job Postings API (opens in a new tab). Accessed October 6, 2026.
- Becker Friedman Institute, University of Chicago. Application Flows (Steven J. Davis and Brenda Samaniego de la Parra) (opens in a new tab). Published June 21, 2024. Accessed October 6, 2026.
- Employ Inc. via GlobeNewswire. What Will Good Hiring Look Like in 2026? New Employ Inc. Report Reveals Key Recruiting Benchmarks (opens in a new tab). Published January 7, 2026. Accessed October 6, 2026.
- Federal Trade Commission. Scammers impersonate well-known companies, recruit for fake jobs on LinkedIn and other job platforms (opens in a new tab). Published August 8, 2023. Accessed October 6, 2026.
- Google Search Central. Job posting (JobPosting) structured data for Job Search (opens in a new tab). Accessed October 6, 2026.
- Federal Trade Commission. Job Scams (opens in a new tab). Accessed October 6, 2026.
- New York State Senate. Senate Bill S8877 (2025-2026 session) (opens in a new tab). Accessed October 6, 2026.
- New York State Assembly. S08877: summary, actions and text (opens in a new tab). Accessed October 6, 2026.
- New Jersey Legislature. S2136 (2026-2027 session) (opens in a new tab). Accessed October 6, 2026.
- Pennsylvania General Assembly. House Bill 2321; 2025-2026 Regular Session (opens in a new tab). Accessed October 6, 2026.