Ghost job checker
Three quick steps, then a ghost score from 0 to 100. We look the job up in our history of company careers pages: when it first appeared, how often it was re-posted, and whether it is still live.
Step 1 of 3: Job link
What the checker looks at
A ghost job is a listing for a role nobody is actively hiring for. It may already be filled, on hold, or kept online to collect CVs. You can't tell from the listing itself, but its history often gives it away.
We follow jobs on employers' own careers pages, so we know when a job first appeared and what happened to it since. The checker flags four warning signs: the employer took the job down, it has been open for more than 60 days, it was re-posted two or more times, or its posting date was refreshed after we first saw it.
We also compare the job with others: how long similar roles usually stay online before they come down, and how the employer handles its own listings. If we track the company but the job isn't on its careers page, we tell you that too.
The ghost score adds these signals up, and the page shows how many points each one contributed. A job taken down from the employer's own site scores highest; a recent, live job that was never re-posted scores lowest.
Warning signs are not proof. A role can stay open for months and still be real, and a new listing can still go nowhere. Use them to decide where your time is best spent.
Frequently asked questions
What is a ghost job?
A job listing that is still visible even though the company isn't actively hiring for it. The role may already be filled, frozen, or advertised to build a pool of candidates. Ghost jobs cost applicants time because the application is unlikely to be read.
Does it work with LinkedIn links?
Yes, when the link contains the job title and company, as most public LinkedIn job links do. Short share links only contain a number; enter the company and job title instead. We never open the link itself: we only read the words in the URL and search our own records.
Where does the data come from?
From the careers pages of the employers themselves. We record when each job first appears, when its posting date changes, how often it is re-posted and when it disappears. The checker shows that history.
What if my job isn't found?
If we follow the company's careers page and the job isn't on it, we say so: the role may be filled, closed, or only advertised on job boards. If we don't follow the company yet, we show how long similar roles usually stay online and what you can check yourself.
How is the ghost score calculated?
It starts from the job's status on the employer's careers page: live, taken down, or not there at all. Points are added when the job has been online much longer than similar roles usually are, was re-posted, or had its posting date refreshed. Every factor and its points are listed under the score. It is a risk score, not a probability.
Is a job with warning signs definitely fake?
No. Warning signs mean the listing deserves a closer look, not that it is fake. Check whether the job is still on the company's careers page and, if you can, ask a recruiter or employee whether the role is actively being filled.
Is the checker free?
Yes. It is free and needs no account.
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