Welcome to another labour market related blog post courtesy of the JRC. Summer hiring season is fully under way, so for this month’s blog post we’ll be looking at some simple tips for writing good quality job advertisements to attract applicants. Here are five easy and actionable tips to help boost those applications numbers!
Job title – Keep it simple
Let’s kick things off the first thing candidates see – the job title. It doesn’t need to be overly creative, clear beats clever every time. Titles like “All Rounder Rockstar” might sound fun, but they can also be confusing. Clear, straightforward job titles help candidates understand exactly what they’re looking for. Plus, using words candidates actually type into search engines when looking for work will help with potential candidates finding your job posting online.
Post the wage and be transparent
Being completely transparent and upfront with posting a clear pay band is huge for drawing in applications. We know first-hand that candidates prefer applying for a role in which they know what they will be compensated. If the job comes with perks and benefits, for example a health and dental plan, paid vacation, a season pass, or some sort of work-based discount, then going the extra step to include this in the job advertisement is also extremely beneficial in boosting applications for the position.
Be concise on requirements for the role
Of course, it’s essential to list the job requirements for a role. However, avoid listing too many (unless for a highly technical or nuanced role) as this can deter candidates who may be lacking in one or two requirements but would in fact be competent or qualified enough to take on the role. Five or six is usually the sweet spot. If there are some requirements that you feel need to be listed but wouldn’t be a complete deal breaker for someone you think would be good fit, then these can be listed as an asset rather than a required skill or qualification. This keeps expectations realistic and encourages more candidates to throw their hat in the ring.
Keep the job description simple, yet sufficient
Having a one-line job description with a serious lack-of-detail won’t get you many applications (surprise, surprise). In contrast, nobody wants to read a three-page essay for a job description either. We understand that a lot of roles are multi-faceted and require somebody dynamic and experienced. Breaking down the description into different sub-categories and using listed bullet points is a great way of breaking up a detailed job description into a more digestible format.
On the contrary we also understand some jobs do not need much listed, however, sufficient detail of the role still needs to be included. Again, breaking down the role into a couple of bullet points as well as incorporating some information about the company and incentives for staff to work there is a great way adequately to beef out a short description. Keep it simple, yet sufficient.
List when you would like the ideal candidate to start and keep it up to date
Last, but not least, including both the application deadline and start date is highly beneficial for applicants and employers. These details signal that the role is still open and actively being filled. If a posting remains up past its start date, or for too long without updates, it can appear outdated or filled which can discourage strong candidates from applying. To avoid this, we suggest keeping postings current – update deadlines and start dates, and mark roles as filled or remove the listing once hiring is complete.
Bonus tip: Post your job ads through the Job Resource Centre (Sorry, but we had to throw this one in there)!
If you have never posted a job with the Job Resource Centre, now is the time to do so. Bow Valley based employers can sign up online through the Login/Sign up tab on our website with just a few clicks. Once your employer profile is approved, you can start posting jobs on our job board which are advertised both online and on our in-office job boards in Banff and Canmore. We monitor job postings and, if we think any is missing, we will work with you to make sure everything is good-to-go and help you land the right candidate.
For more employment related tips, make sure to visit our blog post page.
Written by Oliver Reeves, an Employment Advisor at the Job Resource Centre. Outside of work Oliver can usually be found on a trail run, skiing or at home writing about sports.
