Ghost job checker
Is this job real, or a “talent pool” ad that will never hire? Paste the posting and see its risk signals in seconds. Free, no sign-up, and the text never leaves your browser.
This is a risk signal, not proof. Real jobs can trip it and ghost jobs can pass it. Use it to decide where to spend your time, not to accuse an employer.
What it checks
The checker uses the same text rules as the ghost-job risk in the HireWire app. Each warning sign adds points. 0–2 points is Low, 3–4 is Medium, 5 or more is High.
| Signal | Points | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Talent-pool or evergreen wording | +4 | Phrases such as “talent community”, “always looking”, “future opportunities”, “general application” or “keep your CV on file” usually mean there is no specific opening right now. |
| Very short or short description | +2 / +1 | Under about 250 or 500 characters. Real roles usually describe the work. |
| No responsibilities or requirements | +2 / +1 | Neither section found (+2), or only one of them (+1). |
| Buzzword-heavy | +1 | Four or more phrases like “rockstar”, “fast-paced”, “self-starter” with little else around them. |
| No salary in the text | +1 | Not a red flag on its own, but it adds up with other signs. |
| Old posting | +1 / +2 / +3 | Over 30, 45 or 60 days, taken from “posted N days ago” in the text or the box above. |
| Says “reposted” | +2 | The same ad put up again is a common ghost-job pattern. |
What pasted text can’t show
Some of the strongest signs need history: the same title at the same company reappearing under new listing IDs, a refreshed posting date, the same role posted in many cities at once, or the employer’s applicant-tracking system saying the job no longer exists. The HireWire app tracks these for every posting in its feeds, using a compact history kept only in your browser (at most 2,000 postings, each dropped after 180 days unseen).
How to read the result
- Low: nothing unusual in the text. Apply as normal.
- Medium: a few soft signs. Worth a quick check: is the role on the company’s own careers page, and was it posted recently?
- High: several signs together, often talent-pool wording. Spend less time on a tailored application, or message the recruiter first to ask whether the role is actively hiring.
Share a result
Copy result gives you a plain-text summary. Share image makes a 1200×630 PNG of the risk level and its reasons, with “Checked with HireWire · hirewire.fyi” at the bottom. Neither includes the posting text, so you can share a result without sharing the ad.
FAQ
What is a ghost job?
A ghost job is a posting for a role that isn’t really being filled: it stays up after the position is taken, collects CVs for a “talent pool”, or is reposted again and again. You can’t prove it from the outside, but some patterns make it more likely.
Is this ghost job checker accurate?
It is a heuristic. It looks for warning signs in the text and adds them up. It can’t see inside the company, so a real job with a vague ad can score High, and a ghost job with a detailed ad can score Low. Treat the result as one input.
Is the job text sent anywhere?
No. The check runs in JavaScript in this page. The text isn’t uploaded, stored or logged, and these pages load no analytics.
Can I check a job link instead of the text?
Not on this page: a web page can’t read most job sites from your browser. Copy the posting text instead. In the HireWire app, Insights → Ghost-job check also accepts links for postings your feeds have already shown, and Greenhouse or SmartRecruiters links.
Does it work for German job ads?
Partly. The structure checks recognise “Aufgaben”, “Ihr Profil” and “Dein Profil”, and “Initiativbewerbung” counts as talent-pool wording. Buzzword and “posted N days ago” detection is English only, so enter the age in the box. There is a German version of this page.
Check every job in your feeds automaticallyHireWire gives every posting from its 55 free job feeds a ghost-job risk, including the checks pasted text can’t do: reposts, the same role in many cities, and closed postings. Free, no account.
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