How to Write a Job Ad to Attract Top Talent
Written by Sarah Tan, Amy Lien, Megan Murray, Madison Santos
So you’ve been tasked with writing a job ad and have no idea where to start??
The tips provided in this article will provide you with a clear breakdown of what to include in your job advertisement, as well as how to structure your job ad.
Before we begin, many can get job descriptions and job advertisements confused. So what’s the difference between the two?
A job advertisement is an ad that you pay to be placed on a job board or recruitment site. Within these ads, you include a job description. This includes information about the role and the company.
Okay, let’s dive in…
1. Create a clear job title?
It may seem obvious, but giving your job the correct Job Title can make a big difference in attracting the right talent. Don’t use buzzwords or industry jargon. Clearly state what the job is, and keep it straightforward.? A subheading can also be helpful in providing more context or clarification.?
Think about your target audience, what kind of job titles will they search and what kind of keywords would attract them??
An example of a clear job title can be:
“ Administration Assistant | Perth “
This job title is clear and concise, using keywords that the job seeker would use to search for similar roles in a job board or search engine.?
2. Be clear about role expectations & responsibilities??
According to research, one of the main reasons employees choose to quit a role within the first three months is because the role is not what they thought it would? be. Either it doesn’t align with their interests, strengths or they don’t feel fulfilled in their new role. This is often because of miscommunication, or being vague when writing job descriptions.
Your Job Description should contain the following:?
Giving candidates clarity on key responsibilities in the role, who they will be working with, what software or skills they will need to accomplish what tasks and what environment they will be working in, will give a more comprehensive idea of what the role entails.?
3. Outline qualification and experience required from candidate?
To ensure you’re attracting candidates of the right skill-level, you need to have clarity on the skills and experience needed for the individual to competently fulfil their responsibilities.
Make sure to state any specific qualifications and certificates needed, and if any clearance checks are required. The more detail you can provide in this area will reduce the possibility of attracting a pool of under-qualified candidates, wasting resources and time.?
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4. Highlight your Company Values & Culture
Your job description is your sales pitch to get candidates to apply. It’s your opportunity to attract top talent and educate potential candidates on why they should choose to come work for you.
Instead of focusing on getting a large number of applications, concentrate on attracting the right talent.
Company Values
Quality employees will invest in businesses that reflect their own interests and values, so it’s important to provide a description about the company, mission and values. This gives candidates an insight into the organisation on a deeper-level, providing a better understanding of how they can contribute to the team and the company’s overall success.?
Company Culture
Accurately portraying your company culture ensures that candidates who are aligned with your culture are more likely to apply, attracting the right ones and deterring the ones who aren’t a fit.
The right company culture can look different for everyone. The goal is not to make your company sound perfect, but rather to attract the right people for your business.
When describing your company culture, make mention of how the company approaches employee support. Employee morale and mental well-being is a huge focus these days - job seekers want to know they will be entering into a supportive environment. This might include your workplace ethos, how the leadership team runs, or examples of initiatives put in place to support mental well-being. It’s also a good idea to touch on the workplace environment. Is it fun and lively? A quiet place to focus? Or a balance between the two. Mention any team rituals like monthly team lunches or daily stand-ups.?
Take a look at this: 6 examples of effective company profiles with templates
5. Highlight benefits and perks?
To ensure you are enticing potential employees to apply for the job, you need to highlight the benefits and perks of your workplace. This can include aspects such as paid bonuses, discounted or access to wellbeing programs, and onsite childcare. Benefits don’t just have to be financial incentives, they may also include things like?convenient location and close to public transport, free onsite parking, or flexibility to work from home.?
However, benefits and perks are not enough. Workplace culture is proving to be one of the most important benefits to a job. We are stepping into a world where people in the workforce are caring more about having a positive environment over salary or flexibility. Highlighting the culture of your workplace, including any visions and values you have, will attract valuable employees who will bring passion to the workplace.?
Have a read of this: Workplace culture attracts talent more than salary.
6. Duration of the hiring process?
Your job ad should also mention deadlines of accepting applications, as well as the expected timeline of the recruitment process. If you’re a company that moves fast, state this here. If it’s likely it’ll be a few weeks before your shortlisted candidates are contacted, make sure you mention this. It will keep everyone updated and clear on expectations.
Many job seekers state a lack of communication as one of the biggest drivers for a poor recruitment experience.
While you may not have time to respond to every candidate, providing a clear timeline on the process can at least give some clarity.??
7. Keep it short and simple?
A job ad should be between 300 to 700 words long, ensuring only key information about the company and role is mentioned (you can dive deeper during the interview!)
Job seekers are scanning multiple job ads to determine which ones to apply to, so it’s important to structure the text in your job ad to accommodate for this. Use clear subheadings, write in dot points and bold any key information that you don’t want missed.???
Want more? Here's a great video from Dove Recruitment on how to write a Job Advertisement: How to write a Job Advertisement
We hope you found these tips valuable, and good luck with your next hire!
If you're tired of reading cover letters and CVs and want a more effective way to screen your candidates, why not try Useverb.com.