Optimize your job post

Job boards list tens of millions of jobs – EVERY DAY. Want yours to stand out?

If your posting isn’t written with search in mind, its likely buried beneath a flood of similar jobs. Most job seekers never scroll past the first page, so even a great job can go unseen if it’s missing key details or uses the wrong words. Not only that, if you’re not using attributes properly, you are missing out on the best applicants.

That’s where optimization comes in. Job sites like Indeed (on average has 3.3 million open jobs a day) rank postings based on relevance, completeness, and clarity. A clear, keyword-rich title like “Customer Service Representative” will outperform something vague like “Customer Guru” every single time. And when you skip key attributes like pay range, job type, or schedule, you’re signaling to the algorithm (and to candidates) that your listing isn’t as strong.

The result? Fewer views, fewer applications, and longer hiring times, all because your post wasn’t tuned for visibility.

The good news is you don’t need a marketing degree to fix it. A few small tweaks can help your job stand out in the right searches and attract the candidates you actually want. We got your back. Let’s walk through exactly how to do it and make your jobs shine!

1. Search-Friendly Job Title 

This is an absolute must have. Your job title is the single most important piece of your posting. It’s the headline that tells job seekers, “this one’s for you.” It’s also the first thing Indeed and other job boards use to figure out when and where to show your listing. Dont overthink this one. If your gut is telling you to use Rockstar, well, dont go with this, your gut is wrong as its still recovering from the weekend.

Problem: Many think this is where to stand out. Nope, no, and nada. This is not the time to get creative by adding words like “Rockstar,” “Ninja,” or “Wizard” thinking it’ll stand out. The truth? Job boards’ algorithms bury those listings faster than an email on a Friday afternoon. The search engines don’t reward cute. They reward clarity and relevance.

Think of your job title like a search query, because that’s exactly how job seekers use it. If someone’s searching “Customer Service Representative,” but your listing says “Customer Happiness Hero,” you’ve just lost visibility (and likely your best applicants).

Best Practices for Job Titles

✅ Use clear, common titles
Stick with what people actually type into search bars. “Delivery Driver” or “Line Cook” might sound basic, but those are the exact words candidates are searching for.

Avoid internal titles or abbreviations
Internal shorthand like “CSR II,” “Tech III,” or “Ops Specialist” might make sense inside your company, but not to the public. Candidates search by what they do, not what you call them.

Use Indeed’s autocomplete for insight
Here’s a pro tip: start typing your role on Indeed and watch what it suggests. Those autocomplete results show the most popular search terms, meaning you’re literally seeing what real job seekers are looking for.

Don’t combine multiple roles into one title
“Servers, Bussers, Bartenders Needed” sounds efficient, but it’s confusing to both people and algorithms. Each title deserves its own posting, that’s how you show up in more searches and reach the right candidates for each role.

Examples

Good:
✅ “Delivery Driver”
– Clear title, specifies role and schedule, matches what people actually search for.

Bad:
❌ “Logistics Rockstar Wanted – Great Pay!”
– Vague, jargon-filled, and algorithm poison.

 ❌ “Delivery Driver – Full-Time (Weekdays)”

 – No dont include schedules in the title. This comes later.

A simple, keyword-rich title might not sound flashy, but it’s what gets your job seen, clicked, and applied for. That’s the goal, visibility first, personality second. Once they’re in your job description, that’s where you can show off your brand’s personality and culture.

2. Use Job Attributes and Tags Correctly

Im going to give you the cheat code here on tags to use saving you a ton of time. Before I do, you have to use them right with placement and formatting. If you want a deep dive heres an article to check out list of Job Tags and Job Attributes used by top Job Boards.

Formatting and placement 

Super easy to do, so i’ll be brief:

1) Bullet point each individual attribute / tag 

2) Place all attributes/tags below the body portion of the job.

Job Attributes 

We have done a lot of researching into the best and most used job attributes (or tags). Heres a list of the best ones we have found used on most of the major job boards (Indeed, Monster, Zip Recruiter, GlassDoor, ect):

Think of attributes (or tags) as the behind-the-scenes code that connects your posting to the right job seekers. When candidates filter for “Full-time,” “Remote,” or “$25/hour and up,” the algorithm scans these details to match relevant jobs.

So if you skip or almost worse alter them, you’re basically telling the job board, “eh, show this to whoever.” Not great for visibility, or for finding the right people.

Dont get creative!

Resist the urge to add on to the above attributes. Heres a great example, healthcare. If you offer healthcare after 60 days, heres how to relay that. Like all attributes bullet point list Healthcare. 

Good:

• Healthcare
  ✅ Clear attribute, matching job boards searchable attributes / tags.

Bad:

•  Healthcare after 90 days
  ❌ “after 90 days” is a variable the job boards just wont deal with and ignore your attribute in full.

Key Job Attributes That Matter

Below are the main ones to include in your job, but include all applicable to your job. Its going to help.

Job Type: Full-time, Part-time, Temporary, Contract, Internship.
Get this right — it’s one of the most-used filters on every job site.

Schedule: Day shift, Night shift, Weekends, Flexible schedule, etc.
The more detail you give, the better the algorithm understands who to show it to.

Pay: Hourly, salary, range, or “from” amount.
Transparent pay helps you rank higher and builds instant trust with job seekers. Listings with pay info consistently get more clicks and applications.

Location Type: Remote, Hybrid, or On-site.
This one’s huge. “Remote” jobs attract tons of traffic — but only if they’re truly remote. If it’s hybrid, spell out what that means: “2–3 days on-site in Portland.” Clarity avoids wasted applications.

When you post through NinjaGig, all these fields are right in the job form — easy to fill out and fully compatible with Indeed’s system. The more accurately you complete them, the more likely your post is to appear when someone uses those exact filters, like “Remote,” “Full-time,” or “$20+/hour.”

Pro Tip:

Be honest and specific. Don’t mark a job “remote” if you expect people in the office every week. That’s how you get a flood of unqualified applicants — people who can technically apply, but can’t actually do the job as posted.

Bonus Insight:

Indeed and other job boards reward completeness. Jobs that include pay, schedule, and location details often appear higher in search results and get more qualified applicants — because they check every relevance box.

When you post through NinjaGig, these attributes are included in the job form. Filling them out completely helps Indeed correctly categorize your listing, and that means your job appears when candidates use filters like “Full-time,” “$20+/hour,” or “Remote.”

Tip: Be honest and specific. For example, if the role is hybrid, mention how often the employee must be on-site. Misleading job tags may lead to high click rates but poor applicant quality.

Bonus: Jobs with filled-out pay and schedule details tend to rank higher and attract more qualified applicants.

3. Optimize the Job Description for Keywords and Readability

Once job seekers click your listing, the description determines whether they apply. It’s also what Indeed scans for relevance and keywords.

How to optimize it:

• Naturally, include your job title several times throughout the text (especially near the top).
• Sprinkle in related terms candidates might search for. Example: if the title is “Medical Receptionist,” include “front desk,” “clinic,” and “patient scheduling.”
• Use short paragraphs and bullet points to make it skimmable. Indeed and Google reward readability.
• Start with a summary that captures attention, one or two sentences that describe why the role and company are great.
• Include a clear Responsibilities and Qualifications section, using bullet points for clarity.
• Heres an article on more ideas on what to include in the job body

Example snippet:

We’re looking for a friendly, reliable Customer Service Representative to join our growing team. You’ll be the first point of contact for customers, handling questions and ensuring a great experience every time.

This language is friendly, keyword-rich, and natural, perfect for both readers and algorithms.

4. List Pay, Benefits, and Schedule Up Front

Transparency is key. According to Indeed, jobs that include pay information get more clicks and higher placement in search results. In many areas pay is a required field legally. If you are not sure its pretty easy to do a search to find out. Candidates increasingly expect to see:

• Hourly rate or salary range
• Benefits (health insurance, paid time off, retirement, bonuses)
• Schedule details (day shift, flexible hours, weekends required)

Example:

Pay: $22–$26/hour based on experience
Benefits: Health insurance, 401(k) with company match, paid time off
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8am–4pm

Employers sometimes skip pay ranges to keep options open, but that can hurt your visibility and trust factor. Transparency helps you stand out and improves applicant quality.

5. Include Location and Keywords for Search Filters

Location is one of the most-used filters on Indeed, so it’s critical to include it consistently.

If the job is on-site:

• Include the city, state, and ZIP code in your posting.
• Mention it naturally in the description (e.g., “Our warehouse in Hood River, Oregon…”).

If the job is remote:

• Use the words “Remote,” “Work from home,” or “Hybrid” explicitly.
• If there are location restrictions, specify them (e.g., “Remote, must be based in Oregon”).

Indeed uses this data to show jobs to people in the right regions, so make sure your posting includes it multiple times.

6. Close with a Strong Call to Action and Employer Branding

End your posting on a positive, inviting note that encourages action.

Example:

Ready to take the next step in your career? Apply today and join our supportive, growing team at Sunshine Home Care!

Keep it aligned with your company’s tone, professional, friendly, and authentic. Avoid robotic closings like “Submit application” or “Apply per company policy.”

You can also use this section to subtly reinforce your employer brand, what makes your company great to work for. Mention growth, culture, or mission if it fits naturally.

Final Tip: Keep It Simple, Honest, and Human

Indeed’s algorithm rewards relevance, but people reward clarity. Write your posting like you’re talking to a potential employee, direct, helpful, and transparent.

If you want to scale and get your job posted on 13 of the top job boards fast, inexpensively, and easily then give us a try. When you use NinjaGig to post your jobs, your listings automatically feed to major job boards like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and Glassdoor. Following these best practices ensures your postings rank higher, attract better candidates, and fill positions faster.

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