By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
Ghost jobs are wasting job hunters’ time, energy, and hope.
Companies leave these postings open with zero intention to hire. Why? To build candidate pipelines, signal fake growth to investors, or convince overworked teams that “help is on the way.”
If you want to stop sending applications into the void, watch out for these 5 red flags on LinkedIn:
The “Posted 30+ Days Ago” Trap: If a role sits open for over a month with no updates, it’s rarely an active priority.
The Constant Repost: It says “Reposted 1 week ago,” but you’ve seen the exact same opening active for six months straight.
Vague “Kitchen-Sink” Descriptions: The requirements read like three distinct jobs smashed together, lacking clear daily deliverables.
Missing from the Company Portal: The post is live on LinkedIn, but when you check the company’s official /careers page directly, the role doesn’t exist.
200+ Applicants, Zero Movement: Hundreds of people have applied, yet the posting stays active for weeks without closing or updating.
Don’t spend hours tailoring resumes for roles that don’t exist. Check the company site first, network with actual employees, and focus your energy where hiring is actually happening.
The 1 Question Every C-Level Candidate Should Be Asked
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
People hire Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter to provide No BS Career Advice globally because he makes many things in peoples’ career easier. Those things
can involve job search, hiring more effectively, managing and leading better, career transition, as well as advice about resolving workplace issues.
Schedule a discovery call at my website, www.TheBigGameHunter.us
He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with over 2600 episodes.
Website: https://www.TheBigGameHunter.us (schedule a paid coaching session, a free discovery call or ask questions using my Trusted Adviser Services)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/TheBigGameHunter
Courses: https://www.TheBigGameHunter.us/courses
Main YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jobsearchtv
No BS Job Search Advice Radio Podcast: https://anchor.fm/nobsjobsearchadviceradio
Video Podcast of No BS Job Search Advice Radio: Spotify
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffaltmancoach
Medium: jeffaltmancoach.medium.com
Resume & LinkedIn Profile critiques www.TheBigGameHunter.us/critiques
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