5 Signs a Job Ad Might Be a Ghost Job

You find a role that looks perfect, tailor your resume, and then hear nothing. It is frustrating, especially when you are trying to get your first few years of experience. Sometimes the listing may be a ghost job: a real ad from a real employer that does not represent an active, immediately available vacancy.

That does not mean the employer is running a scam. They may be building a talent pool, testing the market, or have simply left a filled role online. No single sign can prove a job is a ghost job, so use these clues to decide where your application time is best spent.

1. It has been open a long time

A genuine role can take weeks to fill, particularly in a specialist field. But a listing that has been live for months, especially for an entry-level or high-turnover role, is worth a closer look. Check the posting date and whether the employer has shared a clear closing date. When we checked the dates on 2,920 Australian job ads in one day, 12.0% of the LinkedIn results were dated more than 30 days earlier, against 0.1% on Seek.

2. The job description is vague

A live vacancy should give you enough information to decide whether you can do the job. Watch for generic responsibilities, no named team or hiring manager, and no explanation of what success would look like. Thin detail can mean the ad was not written for a specific, current role.

3. It asks you to apply for a future opportunity

Phrases such as “always looking for talented people”, “join our talent community”, or “register your interest” can be useful, but they often signal future hiring rather than an open seat. If you need a job soon, prioritise ads with a defined position and a clear application timeline.

4. There is no salary range or pay clarity

A missing salary range does not make a job a ghost job, but it can make it harder to tell whether a role is worth your time. Before you apply, look for clues about the level, responsibilities, and market pay. Our Job Ad Analyser can help surface the salary range behind a SEEK listing.

5. It reappears on a loop

An ad that is taken down and reposted every few weeks may reflect genuine ongoing recruitment. It could also be a placeholder that never closes. Search the role title and company name to see how often it has appeared, then compare the wording and dates.

What to do if a job ad raises a few flags

Do a quick check before investing serious time: visit the employer’s careers page, look for a closing date, and see whether the same role is listed there. If a contact is provided, a short question about whether the position is actively hiring can save you a lot of effort.

A few flags do not mean you should automatically walk away. They simply help you apply with your eyes open and focus your energy on opportunities that are ready to move.