ghost job

plural ghost jobs

1. A listing for a job that has already been filled or that does not exist.

   Seven in 10 of the hiring managers responsible for posting a ghost job this year “believe posting fake jobs is morally acceptable.” […] As we mentioned above, half of hiring managers are posting ghost jobs to keep a talent pool at the ready in case of future hiring needs.

   2024 December 26, Eira May, “The ghost jobs haunting your career search”, in Stack Overflow, archived from the original on 28 Dec 2024

   1 more example

   To add to the frustration, 85 percent of the hiring managers that posted a ghost job went so far as to interview candidates, even though they had no intention of hiring them. […] One of the more cynical explanations behind ghost jobs is that companies are trying to give others the impression that the company is growing, even though it may not be.

   2024 September 17, Jeff Rumage, “Ghost Jobs: What Are They and How to Spot Them”, in Built In, archived from the original on 19 Apr 2025