Writing a job posting can be difficult. Of course, you want to entice potential employees, but finding qualified candidates is hard work. This article will teach you how to write an effective job post by highlighting the best aspects of your organization and job position. Read on for tips on how to write a perfect job posting.
Creating great job postings begins with having a solid, well-written job description. Clearly defining a job position’s roles, responsibilities, and day-to-day tasks is critical to sourcing suitable candidates. Lock this part down first. It will make everything else flow easily.
It seems simple, but exciting job titles get noticed on job boards. The job title should clearly name the position (so as not to get overlooked in a job board search) and be creative enough to stand out from the crowd.
When it comes to selecting the best candidate for your open position, finding a good cultural fit is critical. Share a brief company overview that describes your business's goal, vision, and principles so that the prospects can get an idea of what you are all about. Also, include prominent aspects of your corporate culture and working environment as part of this picture.
The overview describes the position in general terms, and it's usually written in paragraph form. Make sure you address the applicant personally rather than referring to them as "the incumbent" or "the best candidate." This will make your job ad more personal, allowing potential applicants to picture themselves doing the task. Keep it concise, use bullet points, and try to avoid a ton of industry jargon. Effective job postings will offer enough information to look appealing and complete while avoiding emphasizing tasks that aren't critical job functions.
Begin by describing the “essential skills” required for the position. These are skills, educational qualifications, and experience that the employee must possess to do the task effectively. Then, finish with your “desired skills.” These are traits that may or may not be required but would certainly make a great applicant. If there are specific personality traits you are looking for, be sure to include these attributes. That said, be aware that the descriptors we use can adversely affect the applicant pool. For example, words like "determine" and "analyze" are typically associated with male traits, while "support" and "collaborate" are considered female. Language tools like Textio and Gender Decoder can help identify problem spots in your posting.
People want to hear what the perks are in a job posting. Keeping this part brief but still including important details will give readers an understanding of how they can benefit from working with your organization.
Be honest about the "negatives too." Are you looking for someone who is on-call or available around the clock? Does this role frequently work overtime or long hours to hit project timelines? Outlining these potential issues will help with the expectation-setting process and plan for a smoother transition into the role.
Keep in mind, most people are searching for jobs on their mobile devices. Increase the chance that your perfect candidate will hit "apply" by keeping your posting short and to the point. No one wants to read a novel when they are looking through job postings. Make sure to include contact information so people can inquire about the position. Also, include your contact information so applicants can get in touch if they have further questions. As you can see, there are many ways to write the perfect job posting. The key is being specific and honest about what your company needs so that your prospective employees know exactly what they're getting themselves into before applying for a position with you.