Our AI analyzes every job description across three research-backed dimensions and 15+ signals to calculate the probability of a posting being fake.
When a company posts a job, they know if it's real. You don't. This is called information asymmetry — a concept that won George Akerlof the Nobel Prize in Economics (2001).
43% of companies admit to posting jobs they have no intention of filling (Clarify Capital, 2022). That means nearly half of your job applications might be going to ghost jobs — positions that exist only on paper.
GhostJob uses AI to reduce this asymmetry. We analyze the language, structure, and signals in every job description to estimate the probability of it being real.
Each dimension examines a different aspect of the job description to build a complete picture.
The Clarity score measures how specific and well-defined the job description is.
The Realism score checks whether what the company is asking for exists in the real world.
The Transparency score measures how open the company is about important information.
Each job description is scanned for 15+ signals, each weighted by severity.
These positive signals reduce the Ghost Score.
Few or no red flags. Apply with confidence, but always do your own research too.
Some concerning signals. Proceed with caution. Verify the company through other channels.
Multiple red flags. Consider skipping this one and focusing on better opportunities.
Overwhelming evidence. Do not waste your time. Share it on the Ghost Wall to warn others.
"The Ghost Score is a probability, not a certainty. Like a spam filter, it catches patterns — but no algorithm is 100% accurate. We optimize for catching ghost jobs even at the cost of occasional false positives, because your time is too valuable to waste."
GhostJob is built on established economic and sociological research.
Originally for radar operators detecting enemy aircraft. We apply the same framework: distinguishing real jobs (signal) from ghost jobs (noise).
When buyers can't assess quality, bad products drive out good ones. Ghost jobs pollute the market for real opportunities.
Spence showed participants send signals to convey quality. We read the employer's signals to assess posting legitimacy.
This study showed employers routinely inflate requirements beyond what's needed. We use this to calibrate our Realism score.
| Claim | Source | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 43% of jobs are ghost jobs | Clarify Capital Survey | 2022 |
| 11 hrs/week job searching | Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2023 |
| 2-3% application response rate | Jobvite Recruiter Nation | 2022 |
| 75% more likely to pass ATS | TopResume Study | 2021 |
| Companies post for 'optics' | Resume Builder Survey | 2023 |
| 60%+ credential inflation | Harvard Business School | 2017 |
Now that you know how it works, try it yourself and stop wasting time on fake postings.
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