I applied online for a role whose job description explicitly stated: “Working from Paris preferably, but Barcelona is an option.” Based on that wording, I was fully confident that strong candidates could be located in Barcelona, and that the company was genuinely open to both locations.
During the interview, after a few initial questions, I was asked where I was based. I explained that I am relocating to Spain. The interviewer then told me the role was actually intended for Paris-based candidates. When I referenced the part of the description mentioning Barcelona as an option, they hesitated and said they think it means you must be based in Paris but can occasionally work from their Barcelona office.
This was confusing, and it was clear they themselves were unsure about what the job description actually meant. If the role truly requires being based in Paris, that should be stated clearly and unambiguously in the posting. As written, it suggests genuine location flexibility, which does not reflect the reality communicated during the interview.