Job Seeker

Is Indeed just a “sea of fake jobs”?

Fraudulent job postings are a clear violation of our policies. Our dedicated Trust and Safety Team uses a combination of advanced technology and human review to help identify and prevent fraudulent activity on our site and to assess whether job listings meet our quality standards.

We encourage job seekers to remain vigilant for potential red flags, such as requests for payment, immediate job offers without an interview, or unusually high pay for the role. We provide verification tools for employers and reporting features for job seekers to help maintain a secure marketplace.

Are Indeed job listings just scraped from other sites?

In addition to jobs posted directly onto Indeed, Indeed aggregates listings from many sources to offer a wide range of choices, including scraping job postings from career sites and job boards.

How can I tell what is a “real” job on Indeed?

To help evaluate a job listing, look for clear descriptions, professional communication, and verifiable employer details, such as a company name, official website, business address, or other details that may help confirm the employer is legitimate.

Indeed Company Pages can be a helpful resource; a profile that includes employee reviews and a physical location can be a sign of an established presence. However, because new or smaller companies may have fewer public details available, we recommend using these indicators as part of a broader evaluation of the opportunity.

What are some potential red flags of a fraudulent listing?

Indeed will never reach out to job seekers offering employment through social media or text messages. Scammers looking to harvest your personal information will often promise flexible hours, high pay, or quick hiring. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You should block that sender and report the spam.

Here are some key things to look out for:

Generic email: If it doesn’t exactly match a company domain (like @indeed.com), be suspicious. Established companies usually have email addresses with top level domains that match their websites. If you are contacted by someone with a generic address, such as @yahoo.com or @gmail.com, ask if they are able to conduct communications via a company domain email address. If they can’t or won’t, proceed with caution.

Unsolicited texts or calls from unfamiliar numbers: Only trust contacts or numbers listed on the company website.

The “too good to be true” offer: Be cautious of roles offering unusually high pay for minimal experience. Steer clear of vague “work from home” offers, or companies with no physical address, even for remote work. Ask questions to confirm that the position is salaried (not commission only) and that there is a physical base of operations when a “work from home” opportunity is advertised.

Vague job descriptions: Fake job listings often have generic, repetitive text that lacks specific team details or company-specific information.

Suspicious contact or offers: Being contacted with a job offer before you apply or without going through a proper hiring process.

Employers asking you to contact them off Indeed: Being immediately asked to take the conversation off Indeed may be a red flag.

Employers asking you to download software: You should never need to download or install software on your device during the interview process.

Pressure or urgency: Employers pressuring you with statements like “We need your info today.”

Never send any form of payment to a potential employer you apply to on Indeed. Not only is charging fees a violation of Indeed’s rules for companies, these are often a type of scam.

Never accept money upfront for work you have not performed. This is a tactic commonly used in financial scams and can put you at considerable risk.

Just as importantly, be on the lookout for things not included that you would typically see in a valid job posting:

Check the source: Legitimate open roles will almost always exist on the company’s website or a job posting platform. If you don’t see it on a business’s own website, be wary.

Details matter: Valid job offers include plenty of detail. They clearly explain who the company is, what the role involves, and what qualifications are required. Scammers keep things vague on purpose, promising big pay, easy work-from-home gigs or other flashy claims to grab your attention.

Others can be found in these articles

• How To Know if a Job Is a Scam: A Complete Guide
• Guidelines for a Safe Job Search

I applied on Indeed, but I haven’t heard back. Am I in a “black hole”? 

Not hearing back right away doesn’t mean your application was ignored. Even responsive employers may take several days to review all applications, especially if they receive many.

Indeed has tools that indicate an employer is actively reviewing applications and typically responds to most applicants, such as our Responsive Employer Badge.

Does AI automatically reject my application and hide it from the employer?

No. Indeed and Indeed’s AI-driven hiring tools do not delete applications. Employers have access to every application that comes through Indeed.

Why do some Indeed jobs stay open for months without a response?

If a job remains open for an extended period, it may be due to a continuous hiring need or a niche skill requirement. To maintain the relevance of search results, Indeed employs automated systems to refresh or remove inactive listings.

Why does my status say “Viewed” but I still haven’t heard anything?

“Viewed” confirms that an employer has opened your application in their employer dashboard. To move from “Viewed” to “Contacted, it can be helpful to ensure your profile highlights the certifications and competencies you have that match the ones requested in the job description.

This will help employers see your profile as a “Top Match,” making it easier for the recruiter to reach out to you directly.

This “Viewed” feature is only available for applications submitted directly through Indeed and is dependent on how employers use Indeed’s tools.

Why are Indeed’s salary estimates sometimes lower than market rates?

• Employer-provided: These are the actual budgets set by the hiring company.
• Indeed estimates: If an employer doesn’t provide a salary, Indeed uses an algorithm to estimate it based on similar roles and locations. Because these estimates are generated from broad market data, they may not fully reflect specialized skills, specific company benefits, or unique regional demand. We encourage employers to provide their own salary ranges to ensure job seekers have the most current and specific information for their role.

Why do some jobs have an “Indeed Estimate” instead of a real salary?

If an employer doesn’t provide a salary, Indeed uses an algorithm to estimate it based on similar roles and locations.

Can my current employer see if I am active on Indeed if my resume is private?

When your profile is set to “Employers can’t find you” (Private), it is hidden from employer search results, including those from your current company. Employers using tools like Smart Sourcing can only search and view profiles set to “Public.”

While Indeed does not share your individual search history or saved jobs with employers, we recommend reviewing your Profile Settings to manage your overall visibility.

Can my current employer see my Indeed profile if I make it public?

Yes, it’s possible. If your profile is set to “Employers can find you,” employers searching on Indeed may be able to find and view your profile, including your resume and other information you’ve added. This could include your current employer.

To limit visibility, you can change your profile setting to “Employers can’t find you.” With this setting, employers won’t be able to find your profile or resume in searches.

You can also block specific employers from finding your profile or resume in searches when they’re logged into their account. Keep in mind that blocked employers can still access your application and profile details if you’ve applied to a job with that employer. The Block employers feature is available on mobile and desktop browsers, but not in the mobile app.

More information can be found here.

Employer

Is there a fixed minimum cost, like $5 per day, to post a job on Indeed?

No. There is no universal flat fee or $5 minimum to post a job on Indeed. The minimum price for a Sponsored Job is dynamic and generated specifically for your post based on market factors, such as the number of available job seekers in your area and the competition from similar companies bidding for higher visibility.

You will see your specific minimum on the sponsorship page during the setup process.

What are the specific dollar amounts I might see on my invoice?

While there is no flat daily fee to post on Indeed, you may notice these two standard billing triggers in your account:

• $25 payment validation: For new accounts sponsoring a job for the first time, Indeed processes an initial invoice once your balance reaches $25. This is a secondary measure used to “validate your payment method” and ensure account security.
• $500 charge threshold: To manage account balances, an invoice is typically triggered immediately if your cumulative spend reaches $500 before the end of the month. If you do not hit this amount, you are simply billed on the first day of the following month.

These thresholds apply to both Standard and Premium Sponsored Jobs tiers accounts in the US.

How Indeed pricing works

Why am I limited to only three free* job postings per month? 

To ensure Indeed remains a fair and balanced marketplace, employers are able to post three free jobs directly on our platform per month, each remaining visible up to 30 days. Employers can then choose to sponsor additional jobs or extend the visibility of existing posts by sponsoring them. The three free job postings limit will automatically reset each month.

These safeguards enhance the job seeker experience by reducing low-quality or low-intent postings that rarely result in hires. Sponsored Jobs posted directly on Indeed are 95% more likely to report a hire than non-sponsored jobs, helping employers to hire more efficiently.

*Terms, conditions, quality standards and usage limits apply.

Is Indeed only for general labor, or can I hire for senior-level roles?

Indeed can be used to hire roles at every level. Indeed offers a suite of tools designed to support the recruitment of senior and specialized talent.

By utilizing skills-first matching and Smart Sourcing, Indeed provides AI-powered summaries that help employers highlight specialized leadership experience and professional certifications. These features are built to surface high-level qualifications more effectively, helping executive and senior-level roles stand out within the search experience.

How to Hire High-Salary Employees on Indeed

Can I hire for “passive” senior candidates on Indeed? 

Yes, you can reach passive, senior-level talent on Indeed. Through Smart Sourcing, employers can gain access to a database of over 360 million sourceable profiles.*

These are passive candidates who have uploaded a resume but may not be actively browsing job postings. By using AI-matched shortlists, recruiters can proactively invite these specialized job seekers to apply, which can result in significantly higher engagement for high-salary roles.

*Indeed data (worldwide), job seeker accounts set to public that have a unique, verified email address

How does Indeed find high-tier talent compared to niche boards?

Employers can benefit from Indeed’s broad reach and data-driven tools when looking for high-tier, senior, and specialized talent. Our advanced matching technology surfaces candidates with the specific skills and experience employers need for these targeted hires.

Products like Smart Sourcing, Smart Screening, and Premium Sponsored Jobs are built to help you proactively identify and screen professionals with the credentials required for high-level positions, streamlining the recruitment process for specialized roles.

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