Job postings are essentially advertisements geared toward potential employees. Instead of attracting customers, however, companies are focused on attracting job seekers.
When used correctly, job postings can help you generate an impressive pool of qualified candidates quickly. When used incorrectly, job postings can generate a candidate pool that is not qualified for the position or turn candidates away from the position and the company as a whole.
While there are many other factors that contribute to matching qualified candidates with your open position, a strong job posting can make the process much more effective. Here are a few tips to make the most of your company’s job postings:
Tailor it
First and foremost, you need to clearly define the open position. Specifically, what are the primary responsibilities of the position? What will the incumbent be expected to deliver or produce?
Next you need to determine what knowledge, skills and abilities will be required to ensure an individual will be successful in the position. What are the educational requirements? What prior work experience is necessary? What skills are essential?
Once you define the position and determine the qualifications required, you can tailor the job posting to reflect the position and the necessary requirements that will help generate a strong flow of candidate talent.
Key words are key
In today’s digital age, search engine optimization is every thing! Job search engines utilize keyword phrases to determine which postings are the most relevant. When potential employees are searching for jobs, you want to ensure that your post does not get lost in the shuffle.
In order to maximize your success, research what phrases are relevant to your job description. Consider your ‘ideal candidate’ and think about what words they might be searching for. Free online research tools, such as Google AdWords Keyword Planner, can help you identify the key words and phrases to incorporate.
As you create your job posting, avoid the use of acronyms and company specific terminology that may have little meaning to an external job seeker.
It’s all in the title
There is a lot riding on the title of your job post. Eighty percent of readers never make it past the headline. Studies show that, on average, 8 out of 10 people will read headline copy, but only 2 out of 10 will read the rest.
The content of your post could be spot on, but without the right title, you will miss out on qualified candidates. Avoid creative hooks and focus on writing something concise and relevant that job seekers will chose to click on. Also, avoid making the title too specific, as some viable candidates may rule it out based on their preconceived notions. Keep the title broad enough to entice a wider range of people searching for your job type.
Don’t underestimate the power of a well-designed job posting. A job posting is worthless if it doesn’t accurately reflect the position responsibilities and candidate requirements. Whereas, a carefully constructed job posting can help you quickly attract potential employees who are truly interested and also possess the qualifications you are looking for!
