Kirstin's Tips - Writing engaging adverts to get applications

Writing engaging adverts to get applications

Creating a captivating job description is vital to helping you appeal to the most qualified candidates for your job. With a great job description, you can help your jobs stand out from the rest.

What is a job advert and tips?

We all know a job advert is a short overview of the responsibilities, activities, qualifications, and skills for a role.

This will help a candidate identify whether they are qualified to apply.

What you may not think about, is this also your “sales pitch” to perspective candidates. We are in a candidate short market, and they are choosing who they want to work for.

You want to put yourself into the candidates’ shoes and ask yourself why would someone want to apply for this?

You know your organisation better than anyone else, why do you work there? What makes it a great place to work?

Top 10 tips for your advert

1. Avoid very long paragraphs – be punchy, use bullet points
2. First think of who the ideal candidate would be – why would they want to move?
3. Put yourself in the applicants’ shoes – would you apply for this job, at this company?
4. Make sure your scream and shout about what makes you great – why they should apply?
5. Remember a job advert isn’t a job description
6. Leverage: if you're big – use your brand, if your small highlight you’re agile – what are your strengths?
7. Be clear with what the job is and what you expect – minimising non relevant applications
8. Always add salary – its so hard to know if your interested if you don’t see salary, even if it’s a range
9. Have a clear call to action – make it easier for them to apply
10. It’s always worth showing marketing and/or sales in the advert before posting

The structure and message

Structuring your advert is key, if your applicants don’t get to the bottom of the advert, you know they won’t apply.

Basic Details

• Job Title
• Location
• Salary
• Benefits

Company and job summary

• Open with a powerful and clear summary that grabs the attention of a candidate. Your summary should give an outline of your company and expectations for the position.
• Grab the candidate’s attention with information on what makes your company stand out. You are introducing your company to the candidate in your job description.
• By including details about your company culture, you are giving the candidate a reason to want to be a part of that culture.
• Also, it can be helpful to include information on the work hours and what environment the candidate would find themselves in.
• Highlight any awards, accolades, or key achievements o the business or the team

Responsibilities and Duties

• Give an overview of the core responsibilities and duties for the position.
• Highlight the day-to-day activities of the position.
• Indicate how the position fits into your company.
• Who will they report to and how they will operate within your company?

Qualifications and skills

You should include a list of specifics that your company requires such as education, previous experience, and any technical skills.

You should also include skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving etc. Keep your list brief, including too many qualifications and skills could deter potential candidates.

Call to action

It may sound basic and there will no doubt be an apply button – but still remind them to apply, to email or get in touch