Job Posting Lifecycle
How active job slots and the 45-day lifecycle work.
CME uses a concurrent slot model, not a monthly quota. Post jobs, fill them, and the slot opens again immediately. Every job follows a structured 45-day lifecycle that keeps hiring fair, responsive, and compliant.
Active Job Slots by Plan
Your plan determines how many jobs can be live at the same time. This is a concurrent limit - close or fill a job and the slot is immediately available for a new posting.
Free
1
active job
Starter
5
active jobs
Growth
10
active jobs
Enterprise
20
active jobs
How Slots Work
Publish a job
Uses one slot. Drafts are free and unlimited.
Fill or close a job
Slot is freed immediately. Post another right away.
Upgrade your plan
New slot limit takes effect instantly.
Hit your limit
You'll see a clear message with your count and plan limit. Close a job or upgrade to continue.
Grace period jobs
Jobs in pipeline grace (days 30-45) still occupy a slot until they fully close.
Add-on job posts
Purchase extra job post add-ons to temporarily exceed your plan limit.
The 45-Day Lifecycle
Every published job follows a structured lifecycle designed to keep hiring moving, protect candidates from ghosting, and ensure Bill 190 compliance.
Job Published
Your job goes live. Applications are open and SmartMatch begins scoring candidates against your posting.
Applications Close
New applications are automatically cut off. Your existing pipeline remains active; review, interview, and extend offers to candidates already in your pipeline.
Pipeline Grace Begins
If no hire has been made, the system enters a 15-day grace period. You have time to finalize decisions with candidates already in your pipeline.
Reminder Nudge
You receive an email reminder that 7 days remain to finalize your hiring. The system shows how many candidates are still awaiting a decision.
Auto-Close
The job auto-closes. Candidates without a decision have their application slots refunded. The compliance archive is sealed for Bill 190 records. Your job posting slot is freed.
Fill the position early? Even better.
When a candidate accepts an offer, the job closes immediately, no need to wait for the full 45 days. Remaining candidates are notified, the compliance archive is sealed, and your slot is freed right away.
Application Slot Refunds
Candidates have limited application slots based on their subscription. CME automatically refunds slots when the outcome is beyond the candidate's control.
Job Closed Without Hire
If an employer closes a job without making a hire, all candidates who didn't receive a decision get their application slot back.
Auto-Closed at Day 45
When the system auto-closes a job after the 45-day lifecycle, all remaining candidates without a final decision are refunded.
Candidate Withdraws
When a candidate withdraws their application, their slot is immediately refunded. However, they cannot reapply to the same job after withdrawing.
KindHire Protection
The lifecycle system is part of CME's KindHire initiative, our commitment that no candidate is left behind.
- Employers who ghost candidates receive trust score penalties
- Auto-close prevents jobs from sitting open indefinitely
- Slot refunds protect candidates from wasted applications
- Day 38 nudge reminds employers to finalize decisions
- Talent Pool gives strong candidates a second chance after close
Bill 190 Compliance
Ontario's Working for Workers Act requires employers to maintain hiring records. CME handles this automatically.
- Every job posting version is snapshot and preserved
- All application communications are logged
- Interview records and status changes are tracked
- Offer details (salary, start date, hours) are archived
- Compliance archive is sealed and immutable at job close
- Records retained for 3 years as required by law
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an "active" job?
Any published job posting that hasn't been filled, closed, or archived. Drafts don't count against your limit. Jobs in the pipeline grace period (days 30-45) still count as active until they close.
Can I extend the application window?
Yes. Before applications close on day 21, you can request an extension through the job management panel. Extensions add additional time for candidates to apply.
What happens when I hit my job posting limit?
You'll see a clear message telling you your current count and plan limit. To post a new job, either close/fill an existing posting to free a slot, or upgrade your plan for more concurrent slots.
Do application slots get refunded?
Yes. When a job closes without a hire (employer-closed or auto-closed), all candidates who didn't receive a decision get their application slot refunded. This means the application doesn't count against their monthly limit. Candidates who withdraw also get their slot refunded.
Can a candidate reapply after withdrawing?
No. Once a candidate withdraws from a position, they cannot reapply to the same job. This prevents gaming the system and protects both parties. Their slot is refunded so they can apply elsewhere.
What gets sealed in the compliance archive?
At job close, CME automatically seals a Bill 190 compliance archive containing: all job posting versions, every application and status change, all communications between employer and candidates, interview records, and offer details. This archive is immutable and retained for 3 years.
What if I fill the position before day 21?
Great! When you mark a candidate as hired (through the offer acceptance flow), the job automatically closes, remaining candidates are notified, and your posting slot is freed immediately. There's no need to wait for the full lifecycle.
Does upgrading my plan immediately give me more slots?
Yes. Plan upgrades take effect immediately. If you're on Free (1 slot) and upgrade to Starter (5 slots), you can immediately post up to 4 more jobs.
Ready to post your first job?
Every plan includes SmartMatch scoring, KindHire compliance, and Bill 190 archiving.