How long does DNS propagation take?

DNS changes typically take a few minutes to a few hours. In rare cases, full propagation across all global DNS servers can take up to 48 hours. The speed depends on your registrar and the TTL values on your existing records.

Can I use a subdomain like jobs.mycompany.com?

Yes. Subdomains like jobs.yourcompany.com or careers.yourcompany.com are a popular choice because they let you run your job board under your main company brand without affecting your root domain's DNS. Use a CNAME record to connect a subdomain.

Do I need to buy an SSL certificate?

No. Cavuno automatically provisions and renews SSL certificates for all custom domains at no extra cost. Your domain serves over HTTPS within minutes of verification.

Should I use a subdomain or a root domain?

If you already have a company website, use a subdomain like jobs.yourcompany.com. This keeps your main site intact and lets your job board inherit some of your existing domain authority. If your job board is a standalone product (like a niche board), a dedicated root domain like yourjobboard.com gives you a clean brand identity.

Connect a Custom Domain

Replace your default subdomain with a custom domain to strengthen your brand and improve search rankings.

By Abi Tyas Tunggal and Jack Walsh

A custom domain replaces your default yourboard.cavuno.com address with something you own, like jobs.yourcompany.com or remotejobs.io. This matters more than most people think: custom domains build trust with both candidates and employers, and search engines treat pages on established domains more favorably than subdomains on a platform domain. If you're serious about organic traffic, connecting a custom domain is one of the highest-impact things you can do early on.

Every board starts with a free Cavuno subdomain that works immediately. You can connect a custom domain whenever you're ready. There's no deadline, and switching later won't break anything.

Before you begin

You need a domain you own (purchase from any registrar like Namecheap, Google Domains, GoDaddy, or Cloudflare) and access to that domain's DNS settings. If you're using a subdomain like jobs.yourcompany.com, make sure you can add DNS records for the parent domain.

Connect your domain

Go to Board settings in the sidebar and click the Domains tab
Click Connect existing domain
Enter the full hostname where your board should live (for example, jobs.acme.com or remotejobs.io)
Click Add domain

Cavuno adds the domain and shows you the DNS records you need to configure. The domain appears in your list with a Pending status until DNS is verified.

Configure your DNS records

Open the three-dot menu next to your domain
Click Manage to see the exact DNS records you need
Log in to your domain registrar and add the records shown

For a subdomain (like jobs.yourcompany.com): add a CNAME record pointing your subdomain to the target value shown in the management dialog.

For a root domain (like yourjobboard.com): add an A record pointing @ to the IP address shown in the management dialog. You may also see an optional CNAME record for www that forwards www traffic to your board.

If a TXT record for domain verification is shown, add it exactly as displayed. The record name and value must match precisely.

Set the TTL to 3600 (or Auto if your registrar offers that option). Lower TTL values mean faster propagation if you need to make changes later.

The management dialog shows a status indicator next to each record: Valid means the record is correctly configured, Missing means it hasn't been detected yet, and Mismatch means the record exists but points to the wrong value.

Verify your domain

DNS changes typically propagate within a few minutes to a few hours, though it can take up to 48 hours in rare cases. Once you've added your records:

Open the three-dot menu next to your domain
Click Refresh status

You don't need to keep clicking refresh. Check back after a few minutes if the first attempt still shows Awaiting DNS. Once everything resolves correctly, the status changes to Active and your domain starts serving your job board over HTTPS automatically.

Set a primary domain

If you connect multiple domains, you can choose which one Cavuno uses as the canonical domain for job links, emails, and SEO meta tags.

Open the three-dot menu next to an active domain
Click Set as primary

This option only appears for domains with Active status.

Your primary domain is the one that appears in Google search results, in job alert emails, and in structured data for Google for Jobs. Keeping a single canonical domain prevents duplicate content issues and consolidates your search authority onto one URL.

Cloudflare users

If you manage your DNS through Cloudflare, make sure the proxy status on your CNAME record is set to DNS only (the cloud icon should be grey, not orange). Cloudflare's proxy is incompatible with Cavuno's hosting and will cause verification to fail. Cavuno detects this automatically and shows a warning if a CDN proxy is detected.

Troubleshooting

Domain stuck on Pending or Awaiting DNS: Double-check that your DNS records match exactly what the management dialog shows. Use a tool like dnschecker.org to verify your records are visible globally. If it's been more than 48 hours, there may be a configuration issue. Reach out to support.

SSL certificate errors after verification: Cavuno provisions SSL certificates automatically once your domain is verified. If you see certificate warnings, wait 10–15 minutes and try again in an incognito window. Cached certificate data in your browser can cause false errors.

"Domain already in use" error: This domain is connected to another Cavuno board. If you own the domain and need to move it, contact support.