Writing a compelling job advert can be challenging, from years of experience we have put together a few of our tried and tested tips to help you attract the best applicants to your business.
Use a relevant job title
The job title is one of the most important parts of the job ad, you need to make sure it stands out and contains the words a candidate would use when searching for a new role.
Job summary
Firstly, it’s important to remember that a job specification is very different to a job advertisement. You want to make the advert punchy and enticing and not overwhelm prospective employees with too much jargon and detail. Research shows that over 68% of candidates would be discouraged from applying for a role if it has more than seven responsibilities listed. You want to promote the key selling points, showcasing the best elements about the position and career prospects. The most effective job adverts that attract the most (and best quality) applicants, consist of around 500 words and with more technical or senior roles, the optimum word count being closer to 600.
Show them the money
Salary is not surprisingly a top priority when searching for a new job opportunity. A recent survey on Linkedin showed that 73% of job seekers would not apply for a role that didn’t state the salary. Benefits are also high on the list of desirables, so highlight any extra holiday allowance, incentives, or employee wellness programmes.
Location
Research from the major job boards shows that adverts that use a postcode receive up to 10 times more applications than those without. If you can make the role home-based or offer flexible hours, this may attract even more candidates.
Share your company story
Most candidates will have no idea about your company before scrolling across your job ad, so it's good to lay the groundwork and let them know what your company does before they apply. Finding an organisation with the right cultural fit can be of high significance for job seekers. Highlight any company achievements, your reputation, vision and your organisations core values.
The next steps
To encourage candidates to send in their CV, you will want to use persuasive language to add some sense of urgency, for example “apply today” Having spent so much time on an enticing advert you want to make sure candidates don’t click off or come back to it another time (by which time it may have expired!)
For more advice on job advertising call Sharon on 02380 173566