Is this job real?
Paste a job link or the posting. See every warning sign before you spend an evening on it.
Company careers pages work best: we also check the role is still live on the employer's own hiring system.
What we check
How old the listing is
Most real openings are filled or closed within weeks. We read the posted date from the page or the employer's system.
Still live at the source
For Greenhouse, Lever, Ashby and SmartRecruiters links we ask the employer's own hiring system whether the role is still open.
Expired or reposted
Closing dates that have passed, and roles that keep being taken down and posted again.
Pay range where the law requires one
In places like California, New York, Colorado and Ontario, ads must show pay. A missing range there is a signal.
Talent-pool language
"Always hiring", "future opportunities" and CV collection for later, rather than a specific opening.
Vague or impossible roles
No concrete duties, no team, or requirements no real person could meet.
Hidden text
Invisible text and instructions aimed at AI screeners are stripped and counted before anything is read.
Every signal and the points it adds are on our ghost-job score methodology page.
Why it matters
In a 2026 survey of 1,000 US job seekers, 67% said they'd come across fake or misleading postings, and 55% named being ghosted after applying as their top frustration (Resume Genius).
A tailored application takes an hour or more. Spending that hour on a role that was never going to be filled is the most expensive mistake in a job search, and the easiest to avoid.
Guides
How to spot a ghost job before you apply
The signs that a job posting isn't tied to a real, open role, how to check in two minutes, and what to do when you're not sure.
How long do job postings stay up?
Real roles take about two months to fill, so an old posting isn't proof of a ghost job. How to read a listing's age, and when to move on.
How to tell if a LinkedIn job is still open
LinkedIn listings can stay up after a role is filled. Five quick checks, from the Reposted label to the employer's own careers page.
Are ghost jobs illegal? What the law says in 2026
Mostly not yet. Ontario now makes employers say whether a vacancy is real, and several US states have bills. What applies where, in plain English.
Questions
What is a ghost job?+
A listing that isn't tied to a real, open role you can be hired into soon: kept up to collect CVs, to look like the company is growing, or simply forgotten after the role was filled.
Does a high score mean the company is lying?+
No. These are signals, not accusations. A listing can look stale and still be real, so when in doubt, ask the recruiter or check the company's own careers page.
Can you check LinkedIn or Indeed links?+
LinkedIn job links work as they are. Indeed and Glassdoor only show postings to signed-in members, so for those paste the posting text instead, or use the company's own careers link, which also lets us check it's live.
Do you save the jobs I check?+
No. The free checker reads the posting, shows the result and keeps nothing except an anonymous count of checks.
How is the score worked out?+
Each warning sign adds points and each sign the role is live takes some away. Our methodology page lists every signal and its points.
Is it really free?+
Yes, with a fair-use limit per day. Jobworthy, the full app, adds a verdict on whether the job is worth applying for you, then a tailored CV and cover letter.