Indeed.com App filtering questions (apply, application, applications, employer)

[sandsthetime]

Been posting some apps on Indeed and noticed that more employers are requesting you to answer a Yes or No question regarding your location on there. For example, I just applied for a great position at a company which is literally right down the road from me. Now I only live in the next town over, but do you think the company filters out any apps when an applicant answers No to the "Are you in (insert specific city name here)" question? I know they want to reduce out-of-state candidates or anyone with a long distance commute, and maybe I'm a bit paranoid since its a great job, but I really hope I'm not at the mercy of some bad filtering even though I could walk to the place if I had to. The last two times I checked No were jobs which were about 8 miles away and never heard back from them so the Indeed questions have me a bit paranoid at the moment haha

[Abvincent1]

Does the employer have a site other than Indeed you can use to apply? If so, I would do that and avoid Indeed. What they are telling you is that they get spammed with frivolous applications.

Maybe you could even call? If it is down the street maybe you can go? If you want the job I am not sure you should use Indeed as your liaison.

[sandsthetime]

Thanks Ab. It is a small company and doesn't have a jobs section on their own website. And its not just them, though, I have noticed more and more employers on Indeed are asking this now. I just don't know if the software automatically dismisses a user who selects No even though they still are a local candidate who might live in the same county.

[High Altitude]

It's up to the employer. Lots of employers only like to hire local candidates and will use the question to disqualify you. There is no way to know unless someone in HR tells you, and that is never going to happen no matter how true it is.

The employers have the upper hand when you are filling out online applications.

[sandsthetime]

Originally Posted by High Altitude

It's up to the employer. Lots of employers only like to hire local candidates and will use the question to disqualify you. There is no way to know unless someone in HR tells you, and that is never going to happen no matter how true it is.

The employers have the upper hand when you are filling out online applications.

Thanks. It's kinda open-ended though as it doesn't literally ask whether you "live in" the company's town, but rather are you "in" the company's town. Perhaps I could stretch it and tell them I thought they meant as in "the area", or sure, I was in the town when I drove through it and filled out the app on my phone.

Not only this but I have seen a lot of contradicting information from employers on Indeed within the past year, especially when a HR person writes in the body of the posting "1 year of customer service experience preferred" and then you apply and have to answer the "do you have 1 year of required customer service experience?" question.

[jribe]

if you're that close i would just answer "yes" - or even if you're planning to move there on your own dime i'd answer "yes". they don't want out of state or out of area folks who are going to be an extra expense (and/or hassle) but if you're answering "no" then i assume you are being filtered out.