As we fast approach the end of the year, most of you will be getting your recruitment hats on in preparation for the new year. But if you’re anything like me, you may find yourself staring at a blank screen, feeling lost for words. After all, it can be tricky to toot your own horn!
Either way, writing an effective job ad is an essential first step to attracting the right talent for the job. So, to give your recruitment process a boost, here are five tips for writing the perfect job ad.
1. Get to know your target audience
There’s no point in sitting down to write without knowing whom you’re talking to. Consider taking the time to study your current team and what may be lacking that the new candidate can bring to the table. Maybe carry out some research and surveys to understand the buyer persona. This can help you customise the persona you are looking for. Remember, looking for a job is a little bit like going shopping. An enticed candidate is likely to click apply.
2. Make an outstanding first impression
A job ad is as much about you as it is about the candidate. So, begin with a short company summary. By this, I don’t mean copying and pasting your corporate bio and company mission statement.Put on your storytelling hat and write your story in a way that resonates with your target audience.
3. Write with the internet in mind
Gone are the days when you would place a recruitment ad in the newspaper or a printed version of an industry magazine. In this digital era, you need to put yourself in not only the candidate’s head - but also think like Google. Take the time to carefully consider the queries/search terms candidates may use while job seeking online. A few tips to help you along Include
· SEO keywords relating to the job type and industry
· Optimise the job title with keywords
· Clearly state the job title
· Mention the company name
While doing so, ensure you keep a good balance. Too many keywords and Google will penalise you.
4. Provide a clear and concise description of the job and benefits
Candidates will be scanning reams of jobs daily. So, you want to make it easy for the candidate to stop and engage. How can you do this? Well, here are a few pointers to help you along.
· Break down your content into short, sharp bullet points.
· Use short sentences.
· Avoid big, hefty paragraphs.
· Use headings to break down the information.
· Use video to fill in the gaps and provide your corporate story.
Let’s not forget to include all the information candidates look for in a job ad, which includes
· The core details of the position.
· A concise description of the daily tasks.
· The location – be specific, including the suburb.
· Experience and qualifications. This includes the desired years of experience.
· The salary details including any bonuses and super.
· Who to contact if they have any questions.
Out of all of the above, I have to emphasies the importance of adding salary information. Although you may not be comfortable with advertising this, you’re more likely to draw in candidates when you provide this information. The pay is a major decision maker. Often, candidates show interest in a position but have walked away if the salary does not meet their expectations. So, it may be time to consider adding the salary information to save time and to streamline your hiring process to target the right candidates.
5. Humanise the role with videos of real people and stories
Candidates have become a lot more selective when it comes to finding and keeping the perfect job. Some will even ask you for a day in the office. They will want to spend time with the team and get a feel for whether it’s an environment and culture that suits them. So, instead of wasting anyone’s precious time, say hello to your trusted friend – the video! Record a short insightful job ad video to give the potential candidate the feel for a day at the office. Don’t forget to get in some words of positive experiences from current staff!
There a more where these came from, but the above framework should help you get started. If you find crafting a mind-blowing job ad is still too difficult, save yourself the time and hire a copywriter to do the creative storytelling. If a copywriter is not in your budget, check out the quick guide on how to write a job ad like a copywriter.
Secure your top candidate today
Contact us today and give your recruitment efforts a boost. At DukeMed, we’ll do all the legwork to help you find the ideal candidate with the skills, qualifications, and personality to fit your brief.