Worried you're applying to a 'ghost job'? Here are some ways to tell.

• "Ghost jobs" are roles that employers list as open but that they're not actively trying to fill.
• Employers may post them for various reasons, but they can waste applicants' time and sour them on the company.
• Here are some tips on how to sniff out these job listings.

We've all heard of being ghosted in the hiring process: You apply for a job and go through a few rounds of interviews, only for the employer to disappear in the end.

But what about jobs that weren't actually there to begin with? So-called "ghost jobs" refer to roles that employers say they're actively hiring for, when they're really not.

There are some signs candidates can look for that suggest a position is likely just a ghost job. One big indicator is if a job post has been up for a while.

"Job postings that have been posted for several months are a clear sign that the company still hasn't filled it; they already filled it but chose to keep it open to still receive resumes; or maybe they forgot to close it," says human resources administrator and former recruiter Jackie Cuevas.

If you saw the role advertised on a site like LinkedIn or Indeed, double-check it's still posted on the company's site, as roles may sometimes remain on job board sites past when they were filled.

When reading the job post, you want to see as much specificity as possible.

"Sometimes if job descriptions are vague and don't provide a lot of detail to explain what the role actually is, then it's possible that someone from the company may have quickly typed something up and posted it to see if candidates will apply and to see the quality of those candidates," Cuevas said.

Cuevas continued: "So pay close attention to the actual quality of the job description — the more information, the better."

If you make it to an interview, ask about the timeline for filling the position, says Charnay Horton, a career coach and CEO of resume writing firm Resume Addict. 

You can say, "Can you tell me more about the interview process, and when the hiring manager is looking to make a decision?" or "Can you provide additional insight regarding why this opportunity is available?"

You could also consider asking, "How does this position contribute to departmental success?" to gauge how important the role is and how urgently it might need to be filled.

If your point of contact is dragging their feet throughout the process, it might be a sign they're not actively trying to fill the position, according to Horton. 

"When employers are actively hiring, they move quickly, especially if you are qualified for the role," Horton said. "They want to get you in front of the hiring manager quickly so that they do not lose you mid-process. If you get a sense that the company is lagging with responses, they may not be serious about filling the role."