Knowing how to write a great job post is the first step toward finding the perfect person for your business.
Your job ad is like a sales page. It needs to attract the right people and convince them to apply. This is super important if you’re to get the quality applicants you want. It should help them determine whether they are suitable for the position and whether to apply - which will also help you avoid getting irrelevant applications.
In this article, we will show you how to write an effective job post for a range of different roles.
So let’s start with the basics.
Regardless of the role, here are the main elements you need to include:
Reading your job ad is probably the first time that your potential employee has even heard of your company.
That’s why you need to start out with the basics. Write an introduction about yourself, your company, and the position you are offering.
Communicate your company values right away to attract the right candidates and filter out the wrong ones.
Remember, you need to put your sales hat on at this stage and really ‘sell’ the opportunity so you get the best candidates.
Consider whether you are happy to include a short video of yourself introducing the role as a way to really stand out and communicate with the potential applicants. This one has been proven to help with creating rapport with potential applicants much earlier in the hiring process as they get to see the person behind the job post.
This part includes the job description and the main responsibilities.
When writing the job description, highlight the most important details and try to convey an idea of how a typical day at work will look for your future employee.
Make sure to include all your expectations, so that your candidate knows exactly if the position is right for them. Consider including details such as:
What will the candidate be responsible for? What projects will they be working on?
Who will they be working with? Reporting to?
Will the new hire be trained in any specific areas? What tools does the team use?
What will the role become or turn into? What are the biggest growth opportunities that you see for someone in the role?
The more details you include, the more confidence you will give to your potential candidates - and excite them to apply.
This is a list of skills that your future employee needs to have.
Start out by writing the most important requirements, such as educational background and experience that are absolutely necessary. Then, you can add preferred skills that are not mandatory but could serve as an advantage to the potential applicant.
Also, don’t forget to think about their soft skills. What kind of personality would work best with your team? What kind of person do you want to work with? In the end, include a description of your ideal candidate to really grab the attention of someone who would be a perfect fit at your company.
If you want your job post to attract as many great candidates as possible, include a paragraph about the benefits your company offers. This one is extremely important, as it is usually the first thing job seekers will look into, before they decide to read the full job description and make the decision whether to apply.
If you already know the salary you want to pay, then include the salary right away. Studies show that 61% of candidates see it as the most important part of the job description.
If you’re not sure how much you’ll need to pay, then you can set your post as salary negotiable, and you can ask job seekers that apply to give you their expectations. This allows you to review quality vs cost and make an informed decision. However, even if you’re not sure about the exact figure, we strongly advise you to include a ballpark of what you’re willing to offer. This way, you’ll motivate candidates right away and have a bigger chance of the right people applying for the job.
Aside from the salary, you should include information on other benefits your company offers such as paid time off, home office stipend, paid access to learning tools, company retreats, or potential growth opportunities within the company. You want to use your chance to communicate to your potential hire why would they want to work with you and what you can offer them.
Lastly, you should always end your job post with instructions on how to apply, what to include in the application, and when the applicants can expect to hear back from you. The more information you include about the hiring process, the more comfortable will the applicants feel.
Also, pay special attention to formatting. Use bulleted lists and make sure your job ad is easy to read.
Now, let’s move on to some specific roles.
Depending on the role you’re looking to fill, there are different aspects you need to consider.
Nowadays, hiring developers through job boards is more difficult than ever, as they are being actively recruited almost on a daily basis. However, if you decide to do it through job platforms (potentially with one that also provides recruiting help), then having a clear, detailed, and effective job post is absolutely crucial.
If you want to attract a great candidate, you can’t risk your ad getting lost in the sea of other similar developer job posts.
Want a great example job post? Check out this great developer job ad to get some ideas.
The scope of work for virtual assistants and customer support specialists depends on the type of company.
Virtual assistants can do almost anything, from marketing to managing events.
That’s why the job description is the most important part of the job posting. Since these roles provide different services and have a wide variety of skills, you can also include a list of things that you don’t want in a potential employee.
This is an example of a great job ad for a virtual assistant.
Here is an example of a great job posting for a customer support specialist.
These roles are highly creative, so most of your candidates will appreciate it if you include more information about the company values and the flexibility of the position.
If you are looking for a talented designer or a great content writer, always ask them to attach examples of their work with their CV.
Here are two great examples of job postings if you are looking for a designer or a content writer.
The right project manager will improve every aspect of your business. That’s why it is important to avoid too many applicants and focus on finding the right one.
If you are writing a job posting for a project manager, try to avoid generic descriptions.
Everyone knows that a project manager needs to have good communication and organizational skills.
Instead, focus on describing the details of your projects. If you have a preferred project management methodology, include it in your job ad.
Here is an example of a good job post for an Operations Manager.
If you are looking for a new addition to your Sales & Marketing team, the most important thing is to be specific.
Although it might seem easier to write about general responsibilities (such as converting prospects into customers), try to include more details about the position you’re trying to fill.
This will not only make your job posting stand out from the rest but will also help your potential candidates determine if they are the right fit for the role.
Here is a sample of a job post for a marketing position with a great job description.
This was our guide on writing a great job post.
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