When you use Sherwood Park Jobs, your job posting will be viewable by any of our nearly 10,000 page viewers every month. Visitors can view postings even before they sign up on the site, but if your posting doesn’t appeal to them, you won’t keep their attention for long. If you want to attract the right job seeker, here are some things to keep in mind:
There’s no word limit!
Take advantage of the fact that you have the space to explain exactly what you’re looking for. We’ve all seen job descriptions that have nothing but a name and a phone number, and we’ve all passed them by. Give job seekers a reason to take the time to respond to you.
- Write an attention-grabbing job title so that your post sticks out. Think about what would make you want to read on.
- Tell a little about your organization - Why should a job seeker want to work for you? What perks are there to the job (flex hours, relaxed environment, telecommuting etc.)
- Describe the job. Help them imagine themselves in the position. What will their duties be? What is their role as part of your team?
- Outline the qualifications that you require. What is absolutely imperative, and what is nice-to-have? How much experience is necessary? Be as specific about skills as you can so that you can avoid getting applications from unqualified candidates.
The internet allows interactivity - use it!
Put a link to your website in the posting, and any other links you think will help the candidate learn about your company and the position.
Consider the medium
Writing for the web is very different from writing in print, so don’t just re-hash your last newspaper ad. Write in list format or use another method that will help job seekers can scan your post quickly. Make sure that everything you are asking them to read is relevant.
Use keywords
Consider the words a job seeker would put into a search engine like Google to find your job and use them in your description. Search engines and our internal site search will check titles as well as wording in the posts so give details that make it easy for the job seeker to find the posting. The more directly a job seeker can get to it, the more likely they’ll take the time to apply
Avoid jargon
Consider that you are targeting someone outside of your workplace. Stay away from complex language and insider slang. To make sure that your wording is clear, have someone outside of your office read through it.
Indicate a salary range
Give applicants an idea of what they’re getting in for, and weed out the ones who aren’t interested in that pay scale in the process. If you are offering benefits, state that too. Job seekers are more likely to skip over your post if you don’t include these details.
Post a logo
It’s easy to include a logo on our site. Doing so will establish credibility, especially if your brand is a recognizable one.
Check, and re-check!
Your post is likely the job seeker’s first impression of your organization so check spelling, punctuation and grammar. Don’t write the post in all capital letters, it makes for very difficult onscreen reading.
Include contact details
Your details will appear in the job description, but let potential employees know who they should respond to and by what means. If you’d like them to apply straight away on the site, they can do so, but if you’d like to meet them in person, ask them to stop in with a resume, or give you a call. It’s up to you!
Remember, the more targeted your description is, the more likely you are to get the right person applying for your position. Taking a moment to post the job well will save your time in the future by making sure the applications you receive are relevant and that the applicants are motivated and suited to you.