The need to update or remove expired job postings so Google does not index outdated listings.
Why Job Posting Expiry Matters
Handling job posting expiry is a small but critical technical SEO task that has a significant impact on your site’s reputation and organic performance. When a job seeker finds a role in Google’s job search experience only to discover the position has already been filled, it creates a frustrating experience. This can lead to a higher bounce rate and a lower click-through rate, which sends a negative signal to search engines. By properly marking a job as expired, you are providing a better user experience and signaling to search engines that your content is accurate and trustworthy, which is a key part of the E-E-A-T framework.
Across Different CMS Platforms
The way you handle job posting expiry can vary across different CMS platforms.
WordPress
For WordPress users, the easiest way to handle job posting expiry is by using a dedicated job board plugin. These plugins often have a built-in feature that automatically marks a job as expired after a certain date. You can also manually unpublish a job or use a noindex tag to prevent it from appearing in search results.
Shopify
Shopify is an e-commerce platform, so it does not have a built-in job board. You will likely be using a third-party app or a custom careers page. In this case, you must ensure that your job listing is either removed from the site or that the page is set to noindex once the position has been filled.
Wix
Wix’s platform makes it easy to manage a careers page. Once a job has been filled, you can simply unpublish the page or set it to noindex through the page’s SEO settings. This is a simple and effective way to ensure the listing is removed from search results.
Webflow
Webflow gives you granular control over your website’s pages. You can set a job page to noindex or unpublish it entirely once the position has been filled. You can also set up a scheduled unpublishing for a specific date, which is a great way to handle job expiry.
Custom CMS
With a custom CMS, you have the most control and can build a system that automatically handles job posting expiry. You can set up a scheduled task that checks for expired jobs and automatically adds a noindex tag or redirects the page to a general careers page.
Across Different Industries
Every industry that hires can benefit from properly handling job posting expiry.
E-commerce
An e-commerce site needs to ensure that all its job listings for warehouse staff, marketing professionals, and customer service representatives are up to date. A large number of expired job listings can harm the site’s reputation and user experience.
Local Businesses
A local restaurant or retail shop can use this process to ensure that their job listings for cooks, cashiers, or managers are no longer visible once the position has been filled. This helps to provide a better experience for local job seekers.
SaaS Companies
SaaS companies can use this process to ensure that their job listings for developers, product managers, and sales professionals are removed from search results once the position has been filled.
Blogs
A blog can use this process to ensure that their job listings for writers, editors, or marketing assistants are removed from search results once the position has been filled.
Do’s and Don’ts of Job Posting Expiry
Do’s
- Do use a clear expiry date. Include an expiry date in the schema markup so search engines know when the job is no longer available.
- Do use a noindex tag or redirect. Once a job is filled, you should either redirect the page to a general careers page or add a noindex tag to prevent it from appearing in search results.
- Do check your Google Search Console. The “Jobs” report can show you if there are any issues with your job listings, such as expired jobs.
Don’ts
- Don’t leave a filled job listing up. This is a poor user experience and can harm your site’s quality signals.
- Don’t use the same URL for a new job. Once a job has been filled, you should not use the same URL for a new listing. This can confuse search engines and lead to a poor user experience.
- Don’t forget to update your sitemap. If you unpublish a job listing, you should also remove it from your sitemap.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to use an expiry date in the schema markup: This is a simple but important detail that can help search engines remove your job listing from their index more quickly.
- Leaving a job posting live after it’s been filled: This is a major source of user frustration and can harm your site’s reputation.
- Having a broken link to a job posting: A broken link sends a negative signal to search engines and can harm your site’s SEO.
FAQs
How does job posting expiry help my SEO?
Properly handling job posting expiry helps your SEO by providing a better user experience. It ensures that job seekers are not frustrated by finding a job that is no longer available, which can lead to a lower bounce rate and a higher time on site.
What is the best way to handle an expired job posting?
The best way is to set an expiry date in your schema. Once the job has expired, you should either redirect the page to a general careers page or add a noindex tag to prevent it from appearing in search results.
How long should I leave a job posting live?
You should leave a job posting live for as long as it is open. Once a position has been filled, you should remove the listing or mark it as expired immediately.
Can a Google penalty be caused by a large number of expired job listings?
While not a direct penalty, a large number of expired job listings can send a negative signal to Google about your site’s quality and trustworthiness, which can lead to a drop in rankings.
What is the difference between an expired job and a filled job?
An expired job is a job that has passed its application deadline. A filled job is a job that has been filled. In both cases, the job is no longer available, and it should be removed from search results.
