What is the purpose of employment ads? To find suitable employees to fill a role in a company perfectly, of course!
There are tens of thousands of online job ads searching for employees, from high-powered CEOs and managers to hardworking waitresses and long-suffering lorry drivers. However, one of the biggest obstacles to matching the perfect candidate with his/her ideal job is actually finding that specific job advert. Finding a job is a job itself! Employers are challenged to describe the role and company culture accurately. Job seekers have the challenge of deciphering what the employers are looking for and if they want to work there.
If you’re an employer, here’s one quick question: are you posting the right employment ads to engage the best candidates? The problem is that many companies are so overloaded with work that something seemingly insignificant as a job ad can often find itself at the bottom of the priority list.
This is no excuse for slapping up an unattractive job post and calling it a day. If you want your potential candidates to be the brightest in the field, use these tips to usher a number of talents fighting for a spot in your company!
Tips and tricks for writing the best employment ads
#1- Make sure your employment ads appeal to your candidates
A job ad is still an ad. And you must utilize a marketer’s approach to “sell” your product. Post relevant information about the job concisely but with a call to action.
As with most online content, the title is one of the most important aspects. The title has to give job seekers a taster of what is included in the rest of the job advert. Job search engines such as Google and Adzuna generally only show the title, salary, and a shortened description. From the carefully selected buzzwords included in the title, if the applicant is interested, they will click to find out more.
It is critically important to get the title right! It has to describe the vacancy in as few words as possible. And those words must be perfect. It should include the role, the industry, position, and a clue about the company culture.
#2 – Get creative
The content of your employment ads should jump off the page and grab a candidate’s attention. Use job titles and relevant buzzwords that job seekers tend to use when they search for jobs online. Weed out the inappropriate candidates effectively by adding challenging instructions like a specific subject on their email.
#3 – Perfect the layout of your employment ads
Once you ace your title and main description, it’s time to ensure your advert looks smart. There’s a lot of power in the presentation. Start with a line or two about the main role and character of the role. Then explain the 4 or 5 most important requirements, providing the interested candidate with enough information to want to continue reading. After this juicy introduction, this is where you write the main chunk of the description, including as many details about the role as possible, including company culture, benefits, responsibilities, and more.
#4 – Don’t omit salary details
Talking about money can be a sensitive issue. However, research shows employers are more likely to attract the best applicant when the job description advertises the salary. The point is simple. Job seekers favor more information over less. Give them the info they need so they can make the right choice and apply if your ad matches their needs.
Final Thoughts
There is no sense in littering the description with hidden messages. List the requirement by order of importance. Use a colloquial voice, as if you were explaining the role to a friend that isn’t heavy with industry jargon.
We’ve listed 4 basic tips to help you craft better employment ads to attract the right talent. Once you deploy these tactics, you should get A-grade applications for your ads.
Happy advertising!