Trying to post a job without waving a big flag that says, “We’re hiring!”? Whether you’re backfilling a sensitive role or just want to keep things quiet for now, there’s a workaround in your ATS that can help minimize visibility, though not eliminate it entirely.
Let’s break down what’s possible, what’s not, and how to get as close to anonymous as the system allows.
A Quick Note on Job Board Rules
Most job boards don’t allow anonymous job postings unless you’re submitting directly through their platform with a paid account.
They do this to protect job seekers and promote trust (we're on board with that).
Important: Even if you hide your job listing in the ATS, if it’s posted externally through the system, your company name will still appear in the job’s URL. So, a curious applicant could still easily figure out who’s hiring.
What the “Hide Listing” Toggle Actually Does
Turning “Hide Listing” ON will:
Keep the job off your ATS-hosted careers page
Not hide the job from job boards like Indeed if Free Job Boards distribution is ON
So if stealth is your goal, hiding the listing is only half the battle.
How to Post Anonymously (The Sort-Of Workaround)
While your ATS can’t post fully anonymous jobs, you can keep things discreet by manually managing the process.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Toggle OFF the Free Job Boards distribution
This stops the job from being automatically shared to external boards (which would include your company name).Toggle ON the Hide Listing option
This ensures the job doesn’t appear on your ATS-hosted careers page.
Click “Publish and Continue”
This creates the job internally within your ATS.On the confirmation page, copy the job link
Go to your preferred job board and manually post the job
Choose a paid anonymous listing option
(Each job board has different options, so check their documentation for details.)Use your copied ATS job link:
Some job boards allow you to add an external application link
Others let you paste the link into the job description
Reminder: The company name will still be visible in the URL, so a savvy applicant might still connect the dots. This method provides reduced visibility, not total anonymity.How Anonymous Is This, Really?
This process is helpful for situations like avoiding visibility on your careers page or limiting exposure to internal staff (like the person whose role may be changing). But it’s not truly anonymous.
If someone is actively looking to confirm a suspicion, they can likely identify the posting via the job board or link.
For more complete anonymity:
Skip the ATS entirely and create a paid anonymous listing directly on the job board. This gives you greater control over what’s visible and how your brand is displayed.
Still Need Help?
If you’d like help setting this up or have questions about the process, our support team is here and happy to assist. Just reach out, and we’ll walk you through it.