Guides2 min read
How to Research a Company's Hiring Reputation Before You Apply
September 2, 2026Read →
Some job postings are never intended to result in a hire. Here is how to recognize the warning signs before you invest your time.
Not every job posting represents a real, actively filled position. A "ghost job" is a listing that stays live long after any real hiring activity has stopped, or one that was never connected to a genuine, immediate opening in the first place. Estimates of how common this is vary by survey methodology, but multiple studies put the share of listings that fit this pattern well into double digits.
Companies leave postings up for several reasons that have nothing to do with an active search. Some keep evergreen listings open to build a pipeline of resumes for future openings. Some leave a filled role posted for weeks out of simple neglect. In a smaller number of cases, a posting signals growth to investors, employees, or the market without reflecting a real, immediate hire.
Whatever the reason, the effect on a candidate is the same: hours spent tailoring an application to a role that was never genuinely available.
A few patterns are worth watching for:
None of these signs is proof on its own. Together, they are a reasonable basis for caution.
Checking a posting's actual activity history before investing time in an application is one of the simplest ways to protect your own hours. The Hiring Index's Ghost Job Detective does exactly this, giving an instant read on whether a specific listing shows signs of genuine, active hiring or has been sitting stale.
How common are ghost job postings? Estimates vary, but multiple industry surveys suggest a meaningful share of active listings, often cited in the range of one in five to over one in three, show little evidence of genuine, active hiring.
Is it illegal for a company to post a fake job? Regulation is emerging but still limited. A small number of jurisdictions have begun requiring employers to disclose whether a posting reflects a genuinely open role, with more expected to follow.
Does a long-open listing always mean it is fake? No. Some roles, particularly high-volume or evergreen positions, are genuinely kept open on an ongoing basis. Duration alone is a signal worth weighing, not a guarantee either way.
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Submit a Hiring Report →The Hiring Index editorial team analyzes hiring and separation data submitted by verified candidates across the US. Our research draws on 14,000+ firsthand reports to surface patterns in ghost posting behavior, hiring process quality, and separation practices. We publish data as we see it — without editorial bias toward any company.
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