The adverts are real.
But sometimes the jobs aren’t.

Ghost jobs are vacancies posted with no genuine intention of filling them. Companies list roles to build talent pipelines, signal growth to investors, keep their profile active on job boards, or, in some cases, simply collect CVs and data. The listings look legitimate.

However, a UK study found that 34% of advertised roles may fall into this category. In the US, official government data shows that while 7.2 million vacancies were listed in August 2024, only 5.1 million people were hired: a gap that points to the same problem at scale.

The consequences, for you and me, are real and cumulative: hours spent tailoring applications for roles that were never going to be filled, confidence being eroded by silence, and the creeping suspicion that the problem is yours. It is not you. In many cases, the job was simply never there.

Now there’s something
to help you.

The Ghost Job Detector analyses LinkedIn job listings for the signals that ghost jobs leave behind. How long has the role been posted? Has LinkedIn marked it as reposted, one of the strongest indicators available? Does the description rely on vague, templated language? Is a salary disclosed? Is there any description of the hiring process or a named contact?

Copy and paste the full text of any LinkedIn listing and you will have a verdict within seconds: a ghost likelihood score, a breakdown of every factor assessed, the specific red flags found in the listing, and recommendations for what to check before you apply.

The entire analysis runs in your browser. Nothing is stored. Nothing is sent anywhere. Completely free, no account required.

About this
tool.

I’m Ross, a strategic digital marketing and growth consultant who is always looking to solve problems. Like a lot of people, I’d been applying for roles and not always hearing back. Reading an article by David Mackenzie of Mackenzie Jones Group on LinkedIn about the ghost job trend made it click. This tool is the result.

You can find out more about me at rosswilson.consulting or connect through LinkedIn. It would be great to say hi.