Looking for a job today can be frustrating and uncertain. Many job seekers put in hours applying, hearing nothing back. It’s easy to suspect that the job ads aren’t even real. “Ghost jobs” are a legitimate concern in the industry that we take seriously. 

We do not allow ghost jobs on our platform. We require that all job postings on Indeed are connected to a real employer actively hiring for a specific role. If we learn that a posted job doesn’t represent a legitimate intent to hire, we take it off the site.

There are a lot of ways that we check our work. Our Trust and Safety team is constantly monitoring for unexpected situations, like jobs that never get responses. Job seekers can click “Report Job” to let us know of a concern. In the US, we watch how the number of jobs we list lines up with the monthly jobs estimate from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Silence Doesn’t Always Mean Ghosts

When you’re applying to job after job and hearing nothing back, it’s easy to get suspicious.

That doesn’t necessarily mean the jobs aren’t real. In a competitive market, employers are overwhelmed by unprecedented application volumes. Hiring timelines slip. Budgets get delayed. Plans get adjusted. 

Some employers keep “evergreen” positions open if they are hiring continuously, like staff at large restaurants or retail stores. Some roles stay open for quite a while because the employer has strict requirements, like a specific degree, license, or skill-set.

Knowing all that doesn’t make the experience of job hunting any easier, of course. If you are having difficulty getting responses and starting to suspect that you’re falling into a ghost job trap, there are a few things you can try:

  • Focus your efforts. The temptation to submit applications to as many openings as possible is understandable, but it’s not the most effective. Use tools like Indeed’s Career Scout to narrow down your search (and take out some of the busywork).
  • Understand the job requirements. When there are fewer job openings, employers are more strict about the certifications and experience they want to see for a particular job. If you don’t yet have the experience employers are asking for, focus on roles where you have most of the required experience, but there’s still room to learn new skills and stretch into your next career phase. 
  • Use your resources. Indeed’s Job Seeker Help Center has a lot of advice on how to search for a job safely and successfully.

And maybe most importantly: keep at it. It is hard looking for a new job, especially today. 

Every minute, 31 people get hired on Indeed. Behind each of those hires are real employers and real opportunities. That’s why we remain committed to our mission to help people get jobs, working tirelessly to preserve the trust in the hiring process.

Frequently Asked Questions: Ghost Jobs

What is a ghost job?

Ghost jobs is a term used to refer to online job postings for positions that do not exist, or that employers have no immediate plans to fill.

Are ghost jobs widespread?

Ghost jobs are a legitimate concern in the industry that we take seriously. However, a large majority of job postings on Indeed show ongoing employer engagement which indicates they are active job openings – meaning an employer is looking to make a hire. Indeed’s job posting index closely follows US federal job openings as reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, as well as similar data from other international statistical agencies.

What does Indeed do to prevent ghost jobs?

Indeed takes extensive efforts to help ensure the quality and authenticity of job postings on Indeed. Our dedicated Trust & Safety team uses human oversight, AI-powered, and machine learning methods to help ensure job postings meet our strict quality standards. We take action against misuse of our platform, which can include disabling the accounts of employers who violate our policies. 

How can a job seeker know if a job posting represents a real employer who wants to hire right now?

Job seekers can look for signals such as verifiable employer information such as a company website, a recent posting date, a detailed and role-specific description, and defined qualifications – all of which often indicate an active hiring need.

Where can job seekers find more resources on safe job searching?

Visit the Indeed Job Seeker Help Center for guidance on how to conduct a safe job search, including what to do and what to avoid.