How to Demonstrate Location Flexibility on a Profile

Feeling global, stuck local? Visibility travels better than you think. Thinking of working in another country? You’re not alone. Millions want in. Few know what actually gets results. Buzzwords don’t help. And neither do job boards. Expat job search needs a smarter playbook. Let’s bust the myths holding most people back 👇 𝑴𝒚𝒕𝒉 1: You must already live there to get hired Wrong. Use “Open to” with target cities—recruiters can still find you. 𝑴𝒚𝒕𝒉 2: Only locals get interviews False. International roles value English, soft skills, and mobility. 𝑴𝒚𝒕𝒉 3: Online applications are enough Nope. Most jobs come through referrals, not portals. 𝑴𝒚𝒕𝒉 4: You need a local address to be credible Not true. A virtual number + relocation line builds trust fast. 𝑴𝒚𝒕𝒉 5: Visa support is for unicorns Hardly. Shortage roles + clear value = realistic sponsorship. 𝑴𝒚𝒕𝒉 6: You must meet every requirement No. If you match most, apply. Growth mindset > perfect match. Visibility abroad isn’t luck. It’s layered, learnable, and completely within your control. So here’s how you build presence—before you even move 👇 📌 Switch your location in Open to Work Click “Open to” under your photo. Add up to 5 cities. Recruiters in those areas will see you in searches. 📌 Update headline with relocation intent Example: Product Manager | Relocating to Berlin This boosts local visibility and shows you’re serious. 📌 Add move plans to your About section Include timing + target city in one clear sentence. Example: Relocating to Amsterdam by September 2025. 📌 Use a local or virtual phone number Buy a number for your target country. Add to Contact. Signals commitment and increases reply rates. 📌 Join local LinkedIn groups Search groups by city or sector. Comment on posts to boost local presence. You don’t have to live there to show up there. Which country is on your bucket list?

If you're applying for roles that require any amount of onsite work at a specific location, and you are not currently based anywhere near that location, you NEED to address this on your resume. Because here's what: Given current market conditions, applicant volume is often enormous, so one criteria that TA pros can and do rely on when reviewing resumes is an assessment of whether you're actually available to work onsite as required. If your resume reads as though you're located somewhere else altogether - either because you ARE (or were), or because you've primarily worked remotely for companies that are located elsewhere (even though you actually are local to the market *this* job is located in) - then answer the recruiter's question before they even have a chance to ask. Here's how: 📍If you already live locally, then simply add the name of the city or metropolitan area to your resume in the same area where you provide your contact information. No, you do not need to (nor should you) include your actual address. City & State will suffice. 📍If you're not currently local to the market but would be *willing* to move for the right opportunity, then add "open to relocation" to your resume. 📍If you actually *want* to move and are actively pursuing a role that would precipitate such a thing, then add "seeking relocation to (city name)" 📍If you already have plans to move regardless of when or whether you land a new role beforehand, then add "relocating to (city name) on/by (date)." 📍If you have recently moved, you can defer to the guidance I gave in my first pin-point up above, OR, do one better and add "Recently relocated to (city) and seeking local opportunities.” All too often, it's not what job-seekers DO say that leads to being dispositioned during the resume review stage; It's what they DON'T say. So your goal is to leave no doubt in the mind of the recruiter that you understand what's required of the role and are willing and able to meet said requirements.

Transitioning from overseas? Make your move CLEAR on your resume! ✈️ If you’re a transitioning service member currently stationed overseas, your resume needs to scream that you’re relocating back to the States. But why Marisol? Because recruiters prioritize candidates who are already in the job location since many roles need to be filled immediately. If a recruiter sees your address listed as Italy, Germany, or Japan, but the job is in New York, they might assume: ❌ You’re not available anytime soon. ❌ Relocation could take months (because, let’s be real, PCSing is a beast). ❌ It’s easier to move forward with someone already local. How do you fix this? ✅ Add a relocation statement to your resume: Relocating to New York in May 2025 | Available to start 15 May 2025 ✅ If you’re applying for jobs before your move date, make sure your LinkedIn profile matches. Update your location to your future home base and NOT where you are currently stationed so recruiters can find you when they are using location filters. ✅ In your cover letter, or summary section of your resume, and/or application notes, reinforce your firm relocation plans so there’s no doubt you’ll be there and ready to work. Many recruiters won’t take the time to ask if you’re moving, they’ll just move on to the next candidate that is local which is unfortunate, because many of my best candidates have been transitioning service members who came from overseas. I actually called a candidate today who is in Austria and will be relocating to the D.C. area. While he did not have a relocation statement on his resume, my Spidey senses told me to call him, and I'm glad I did because he is qualified and he's ready to relocate. (Today's post was inspired by this interaction). Don’t let your overseas address cost you opportunities. Make it obvious that you’ll be stateside and ready to hit the ground running! Fellow transitioning service members, have you faced this challenge in your job search? Drop your experiences below! 👇 Wait, let me get my 🍿 and 🥤. Okay, now I'm ready, let's discuss! Maloney out! ✌ #transitioningmilitary #resumewritingtips

How to find 𝗨𝗦𝗔 & 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻, even if you live outside those countries. I get this question a lot, so let me simplify it in 7 simple steps: Step 1: Use LinkedIn’s job filters (correctly) Go to the Jobs tab and use these filters: → Location: type “Remote” → Country: select United States and Canada → Job Type: Full-time → Work Type: Remote This ensures you’re only seeing roles that are remote and based in North America. Step 2: Use the right keywords In the search bar, try: → “Remote Data Analyst USA” → “Remote Data Scientist Canada” → “Fully remote data engineer” Mix in keywords like: • “Global team” • “Worldwide” • “Remote-first company”    These companies are more likely to accept international applicants. Step 3: Focus on companies that hire globally Target companies known for hiring remote international talent: → Automattic → GitLab → Toptal → Zapier → Deel → Doist → Oyster → Remote.com Search “[Company Name] careers” and look at their hiring policies.  Step 4: Follow hiring managers & recruiters Find hiring managers and tech recruiters in the US/Canada who’ve posted remote jobs. → Like and comment on their posts → Send a warm DM (not a cold pitch) → Stay on their radar These relationships create long-term opportunities. Step 5: Optimize your LinkedIn profile Make your profile location say: → “Open to Remote Roles in USA & Canada” Recruiters search by location. If your profile says “Kenya” or “India,” they might assume relocation is required unless you clearly state you’re looking for remote roles. Step 6: Highlight your timezone + communication skills Companies care about async work and timezone overlap. Add something like: → “Work comfortably across EST & PST” → “Strong async communicator with 4+ years remote experience” Step 7: Prepare your pitch Once you find a job that fits, don’t just apply. → Engage with the company on LinkedIn → Reach out to an employee or the hiring manager → Show how you solve their problems Outreach > blind applications. Start your search today because roles are going fast. P.S. It’s easier if you already have a valid work visa or permit. If you don’t, focus on global-first companies or consider freelancing until you build leverage. ➕ Follow Jaret André for daily data job search strategies 🔔 Hit the bell to get practical tips that actually land offers

Sometimes a little creativity and thinking outside-the-box is exactly what our career needs. Most resumes don’t work. They read more like a job description than a strategic introduction to our experience. In addition, remote career resumes should be different than the traditional in-office resume. The skills and qualities are unique. According to U.S. Career Institute by 2025, approximately 32.6 million Americans are expected to be working remotely, representing around 22% of the workforce. After working with thousands of clients on revamping their resumes, it’s easy to immediately point out what’s right (& what’s wrong) on a resume. Here’s how to position your resume for virtual success: ✅ 1. Lead with remote-ready skills right at the top. Highlight your experience with digital collaboration tools (Slack, Zoom, Asana), showcase your written communication abilities, and emphasize past remote or hybrid work experience - even if from the pandemic era. ✅ 2. Transform your location into an asset. Instead of just listing your city, add "Available for Remote Work" or "Remote-First Professional." If you're open to specific time zones, mention that too - it shows you understand remote work dynamics. ✅ 3. Quantify your virtual impact. Don't just list what you did - show how you delivered results while working independently. "Led virtual team of 8 across 3 time zones to deliver project 2 weeks ahead of schedule" speaks volumes about your remote capabilities. ✅ 4. Weave in remote-specific soft skills. Demonstrate your self-discipline, proactive communication, and digital organization throughout your experience section. Remember: remote employers need to trust you'll thrive without direct supervision. Getting a little creative can go a long way in our remote job search and resume. Question - On a scale of 1 to 5, how would you rate your current resume? Question - What’s your best tip for revamping a resume for a remote job search? — 📌 Want more help? Join the “Escape the Cubicle” Newsletter with weekly tips on how to… …level up your remote career, grow & monetize on LinkedIn, and work from anywhere. Scroll to the top of this post and click “Subscribe to Newsletter” to join 30,000+ subscribers. ☝🏻 I’m giving away my professional resume template to all new subscribers this week. 🙏 Here’s to us growing together, Wes #jobsearchtips #careercoach #remotework 🎥 (@andrewscott_art)

Over the weekend, I was sorting through over 1,000 connection requests (yes, you read that right! 😅) and noticed something on a lot of open to work profiles. Many of them had listed their location as simply “United States.” Here’s the issue with that…some recruiters - especially those not using LinkedIn Recruiter - can’t see your location preferences. They’re only able to see what’s on your profile. When your location is listed as “United States,” it’s too broad and often means you won’t appear in searches for roles tied to specific locations. If you’re exclusively seeking remote work, this may not seem like a big deal. However, as I’ve mentioned before, remote opportunities are scarce, making up less than 10% of all job openings. Plus, recruiters for those roles typically don’t need to hunt for candidates - they’re inundated with applications. My advice? If you’re open to on-site or hybrid roles, update your profile to reflect your specific metropolitan area. This simple change can make a huge difference in whether your profile shows up in a recruiter’s search. Don’t limit yourself unintentionally - sometimes, it’s the smallest adjustments that yield the biggest results. 🙂 #GreenBanner #OpentoWork #Jobseekers #RecruiterAdvice

🌍 𝐆𝐞𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐀 𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞-𝐄𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 This is the slow-ticking time bomb that everyone knows about, but few truly understand. One of my mentors at MGH once told me, “𝐖𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧—𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬.” That stuck with me. In the US, people deeply value their hometowns. Sure, some move for opportunities, but many prefer to stay close to home—I guess that's the perk of a developed nation. But as IMGs, do we really have a geo preference? 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐲—𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲. Does it matter if I match in California or Boston? Absolutely not, as long as I match! The challenge is how to show this in our application without looking vague or noncommittal. Here are some lessons, myths, and reflections: 🔹 Wild Myth: “PDs check your phone number area code to guess your geo preference.” 👉 Reality: They don’t have the time or bandwidth for this. Don’t stress over rumors or random advice—it wastes your energy. 🔹 No Preference = More Chances: For IMGs, not stating a strict geo preference maximizes interviews. 👉 But—if you do have genuine connections (friends, family, relatives) in an area, be my guest and mention them. Programs respect it—it reassures them you’ll have support nearby and may even make them more confident about your commitment. 🔹 The System Isn’t Ideal: Divisions are broad. For example, if you want NY, PA, MA, IL, and TX, you’ve already used up 3 slots with 1 left. 👉 This is why it’s important to prioritize regions logically rather than trying to fit every possible program under strict “geo preference” categories. 🔹 Be Honest if You Have No Preference: I wrote that I rotated in multiple regions, adapted to cultural and regional differences, and therefore had no strict preference. 👉 Being specific about your experiences makes your “no preference” statement credible rather than vague. 🔹 “Home” ≠ Rotations: A hometown means a significant part of your life (6–12 months at least), not just a rotation or a cousin living there. 👉 This helps programs understand whether your connection is genuine or incidental. 🔹 Signals & Alignment: Don’t signal California if you’ve declared the East Coast as your preference. Consistency matters. 👉 Signals can confuse programs and reduce your chances, so keep your application aligned with your true priorities. 🔹 Silent Preference: You can officially state “no preference” but still focus your applications on regions you want. 👉 This strategy allows you to remain flexible on paper while practically targeting programs in areas you prefer, giving you the best of both worlds. 💡At the end of the day, everyone has their own take on geo preference. This is mine. What’s yours? Drop your thoughts or experiences below. ⬇️