Hiring the right candidate starts with writing a clear and compelling job ad, not just posting an internal job description. While everyone knows the importance of title, skills, and qualifications, one crucial detail is often overlooked—work location. Is the role fully remote? Hybrid? On-site? Candidates need to know, and when they don’t, they may hesitate to apply—or worse, apply only to later find out the role doesn’t meet their needs. And it’s not just candidates, your hiring team and even job board partners must be aligned to ensure your job is presented accurately to your target talent. Job location matters for successful hiring.
For those aspiring to hire their next great talent, unclear location details don’t just lead to wasted time. They can also reduce job post visibility (cough, job board jail), lower applicant quality, and create compliance risks. In this blog post, we’ll help you ensure you truly embrace the ethos of “job location matters” to elevate your hiring effort performance.
Beyond the city name
Simply stating “Boston, MA” might have sufficed in the past, but today’s job seekers demand more. The rise of remote and hybrid work has created a complex landscape where clarity is paramount. Are you fully on-site, offering a hybrid model, or fully remote? If hybrid, how many days are required in the office, and in which specific location?
Vague language like “flexible” or “remote options” can lead to confusion and deter qualified candidates. Be explicit: “This role is fully remote within the US,” or “This is a hybrid role based in our Boston office, requiring 3 days per week on-site.” This transparency builds trust and avoids wasting time on candidates who aren’t a good fit.
Clear location = better candidate experience
Today’s candidates expect transparency, there are even laws with transparency in the title. When work location isn’t clearly defined, they are forced to make assumptions—or spend time digging for details. This leads to frustration, confusion, and a poor impression of your employer brand. Further, they may assume the worst if details are missing, leading them to self-select out of your hiring process.
When location details are upfront and clear, candidates can quickly determine if the job aligns with their expectations and lifestyle. As a result, they’re more likely to apply confidently, engage positively, and accept offers without last-minute surprises.
Job boards demand clarity and precision
For recruiters and hiring managers, platforms like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and LinkedIn can offer a critical lifeline to target talent. However, access to those candidates by successfully posting on their platform may feel like navigating a minefield. With ever-changing requirements and guidelines that are often not well-known, the risk of having your job post go unoptimized or not visible is high. One aspect of job syndication that has recently received more attention from major job boards like Indeed and LinkedIn is location. For these job boards, job location matters, so getting it right can significantly impact your applicant flow and the quality of your hires.
Indeed requires location precision
Indeed search algorithms are heavily reliant on location. Candidates filter by city, state, and even zip code. If your listing’s location data is inaccurate or incomplete or does not follow their new location syntax requirements, you’re missing out on qualified applicants actively searching in your area. This isn’t just about showing up in searches; it’s about candidate expectations. Mismatched locations lead to frustrated applicants and wasted time for recruiters.
LinkedIn’s appreciation of #hastags
To maximize the visibility of your job postings on LinkedIn, strategic use of location hashtags is key. When creating your post, include hashtags that specify the job’s location on requirements. Use a combination of broad (#remote or #hybrid) and specific tags, such as #BostonJobs, #BostonHiring, and even more granular tags like #BostonHealthcareJobs. This helps candidates searching for roles in that area find your post. Place these location hashtags naturally within your post or at the end to categorize your listing and broaden its reach to relevant job seekers. Remember to also use other relevant industry and role-specific hashtags to further target your ideal candidate.
Legal and practical considerations
Beyond attracting the right candidates, accurate location details are often a matter of legal compliance. Many jurisdictions have laws regarding transparency in job postings, and location information may be a required element.
Best practices for location in job ads
To ensure clarity, compliance, and visibility, follow these best practices when writing job posts. To make this standard practice, consider embracing a platform that excels in Hiring Compliance with a Smart Job Ad Editor, like Datapeople.
1. Be Explicit and Consistent
Avoid vague language like “flexible work environment.” Instead, use clear terms such as:
- Fully remote (if the job can be performed anywhere)
- Hybrid (with details on expected office days and location)
- On-site (with the office location specified)
2. Align with Job Board Requirements
Each job board has different classification rules. Ensure your wording follows their guidelines to maximize visibility and avoid compliance issues.
Indeed
- Free job posting eligibility
- Post jobs on LinkedIn
- Job post visibility
- Pay found in job posts – Best practices
ZipRecruiter
3. Think from a Candidate’s Perspective
Work flexibility is a major factor in job decisions. Candidates want to know if they’ll be commuting daily, occasionally, or not at all. Providing this information upfront, with precision and intelligible consistent language helps attract the right talent and reduces drop-off later in the process.
By prioritizing clear and accurate location details in your job postings, you’ll attract a more qualified applicant pool, improve your employer brand, and ensure a smoother, more efficient recruitment process.
Job location is no small detail
Specifying work location in job posts might seem like a minor detail, but it has a major impact on candidate experience, hiring efficiency, and job post visibility. By getting this right, you set up both your team and your candidates for success.
Want more insights on writing clear, high-performing job posts? Datapeople has you covered, let one of our experts be your guide by scheduling a demo!