David has run both remote and onsite engineering searches across the US.
Opening a search to remote candidates changes more than just geography. It changes pool size, timeline, comp benchmarking, and who you're actually competing against.
Compare the impactFewer candidates to choose from in a given metro, but easier day-to-day collaboration and faster informal onboarding.
Dramatically more candidates, but you're also competing with every other remote-friendly company nationally, not just local ones.
Location-based pay bands for remote roles narrow your pool right back down, since strong candidates in high-cost markets simply won't apply. Companies that pay a flat national band for remote engineering roles consistently see faster searches and stronger finalist pools than companies that discount by location.
If you're going remote to widen the pool, don't narrow it right back down with a location-based pay cut. Pick one strategy.
David has run both remote and onsite engineering searches across the US.
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