Creating an A+ job posting is one of the most important elements of successful recruiting. So why are they overlooked so often? As sites like Facebook Jobs, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter continue to gain market share in recruiting, particularly in a tight labor market, having a stand-out job listing can set you apart from your competitors.
Crafting a great job posting doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re writing your next post:
First Impressions
A job post is usually the first point of contact between a potential candidate and the employer. A boring, vague, or convoluted job post can turn off qualified candidates, sending their resumes to a competitor. You need to grab the attention of your reader through the job description as well as the information about your company as a whole. A great first impression is more likely to lead them into clicking “apply.”
Specific Job Titles
While this may sound obvious, the job title is one of the most crucial elements of a job post. When scrolling through the hundreds of positions open in a major city, the job title and your company name is the primary information they see. The title needs to entice them to look further into the position.
The title should be specific and concise. Quirky, obscure, or even overly specific titles can be confusing. For example, if you’re looking for a project manager, then leave it at that. “[Industry] Project Manager” is typically all you need. The first sentence or two of the job description can get into the details. “Manager” or even “Project Lead” may be too vague. The title also shouldn’t be misleading. Terms like senior, director, and assistant should be used wisely, as they affect the pay and experience needed for the position in the eyes of the candidates.
Accurate Descriptions
The job position description should be accurate. If the position requires travel, say so. If weekend and late-nights occasionally come up, say so. If training is offered or not, say so. This information should be simple and straight to the point. There’s no need for industry jargon or a long post.
While an inaccurate job posting might gain plenty of applications, it will also set expectations for the individual you eventually hire. If the job is far off from how you described it, then you’re at a higher risk of losing that new hire—and incurring more costs.
To make the description stand out and remain honest, you can highlight the perks, benefits, and any interesting information about your company. Describe the company’s culture and why current employees love working there.
KRESS’ Tips for Job Postings
- Remember, it’s an ad. The post should be recruiting material, not necessary a copy and pasted version of your internal job description.
- Format the post with bullet points, paragraphs, and subheadings. This will make it easier for job seekers to identify if they’re a good fit for the position.
- Include relevant information, including working conditions, skills needed, if any certifications are required, and perhaps what the applicant can expect their day-to-day work to be.
- Avoid using industry jargon.
- Structure your post in an easy-to-read format. Here’s a template to consider:
- Job title
- Job responsibilities
- Skills, education, and experience required
- Company pitch
- Benefits and perks
- How to apply