Don’t let a simple omission be the reason you miss out on a top candidate.
If you’re struggling to find like-minded, quality applicants, then you might need to look over the contents of the job advertisement. Here are nine ways to help entice the right candidate.
Use an industry recognised job title so it can easily be located through search. If you want to add some more information, it’s okay to add a little tag. For example, Chef – Italian Cuisine or Graphic Designer – In-house. You can be more specific in other sections of the ad.
Provide a quick company overview noting its size, location and business type. You may also want to mention the company’s vision and values, or a quick history of the company if you think it will be of interest.
Describe the role in one to three sentences. Don’t be afraid to use emotive language if you think it will make the role sound more appealing or inspiring. Also mention whether it’s a full-time, part-time or contract position.
List around three to five tasks required in the role. Avoid going into too much detail here – it’s a brief summary. Pick the most essential tasks, not the mundane or implied ones.
Clearly point out the job benefits. Are there opportunities to travel, flexible working hours or extra incentives? Becoming an “employer of choice” is vital in a competitive job market.
Make sure the listing specifies the minimum level of education and experience, and the attributes and skills required for the role. This will ensure you don’t get bombarded with junk applications.
These help match the requirements of the position with the skills of the applicant. They relate to qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience. The inclusion of this section will help to hone in on the perfect candidate.
Clearly explain the application process and timeframes. Some roles require attributes that can’t be seen easily in a standard cover letter and resume format, so consider other forms if necessary, such as a creative task, audition video, or a folio attachment.
This is the first thing potential applicants see when searching for jobs, so it’s important to get it right. Include three job benefits here, as well as a short hook to engage readers. At Scout you have about five lines, so use it wisely.
