Ten Questions You Need to Ask Yourself Before Posting a Job Ad

1. Does the ad describe the company?\r\n \r\nAt a minimum, we suggest noting the business\u2019s size and location, along with a sentence or two describing what the company does.\r\n \r\n2. Does it define the role and its core responsibilities?\r\n \r\nIt\u2019s a job advertisement, not a job description. There\u2019s no need to mention every task the job entails. But you should mention broadly the key aspects of the job.\r\n \r\n3. Does it note the minimum requirements?\r\n \r\nMake sure the listing specifies the minimum level of education and experience, and the attributes and skills required for the role. You may want to mention your key selection requirements, too. \r\n \r\n4. Does the way the ad is written empower the candidate?\r\n \r\nStart the role-responsibility bullet-points with empowering words such as \u201ccreate\u201d, \u201cmanage\u201d, \u201cbuild\u201d and \u201cdrive\u201d, and replacing the phrase \u201cthe ideal candidate\u201d with \u201cyou\u201d. It'll make the ad more engaging. \r\n \r\n5. Does it promote your workplace as an attractive destination?\r\n \r\nTop talent will want more than just a salary, so add any additional benefits on offer. Will they receive ongoing professional training? Will there be opportunities for career progression? Are there flexible working hours? Extra incentives? Opportunities to travel? \r\n \r\n6. Have you considered alternative application formats?\r\n \r\nSome roles require attributes that can\u2019t be seen easily in a standard cover letter and resume format. Consider other forms if necessary, such as a creative task, audition video, or a folio attachment. \r\n\r\n7. Is it succinct?\r\n \r\nYour job ad will be more engaging if it\u2019s written succinctly. Trim any long slabs of text, cut down any bulleted sections to five lines, and avoid long sentences. Use subheadings to make it punchier. \r\n\r\n8. Have you put yourself in the reader\u2019s shoes?\r\n\r\nRead over the ad and ask yourself whether you\u2019d find the role attractive if you were a candidate. If not, rework it. Don\u2019t be afraid to add a little flair to make it stand out. \r\n\r\n9. Is it free of discriminatory language?\r\n\r\nAll jobs must be open to all people on the basis of merit. That means ads can\u2019t discriminate against age; gender; disability; industrial activity; marital status; family responsibilities; physical features; pregnancy; race; or religious belief and activity. \r\n\r\n10. Has someone in the office double-checked it?\r\n\r\nIf not, ask a colleague to check for spelling and grammatical mistakes. Even the best of us make errors. \r\n\r\nMore information on writing job applications.\r\n\r\nLearn more or post a job\r\n\r\n