Today, companies are struggling to snag top talent for their open positions. When the competition is fierce, seizing opportunities to stand out becomes increasingly essential. Since job postings are usually the first chance you have to connect with a candidate, they’re typically the best place to start.
When your job postings are intriguing to potential applicants, they’ll garner more attention. Additionally, when job ads provide the right information, the odds that a top professional will submit a resume go up.
Fortunately, creating stand-out job postings doesn’t have to be a challenge. If you want to ensure your job ads don’t get lost in the shuffle, here are three tips that can help.
- Focus on the Candidate Experience, Not Your Needs
While it may seem counterintuitive, job postings shouldn’t be entirely about what the company needs. Instead, you need to showcase an intriguing candidate value proposition and offer an exceptional overall experience.
Along with outlining the must-have skills and traits, make sure you highlight your company culture. Additionally, discuss benefits that help employees thrive, including those that lead to better work-life balance or address specific common needs.
Keep the tone welcoming and curious, focusing more on drawing candidates in than using language to encourage them to doubt where they’re a fit. Also, consider adding a testimonial or two from existing employees, allowing job seekers to learn more about what it’s like to work for the company from those that actually do.
- Balance Simplicity with Visual Interest
While it’s tempting to cram as much information as possible into a job posting, it’s usually better to embrace a bit of simplicity. Keep the job description concise, covering all of the critical details without diving in too deep. Limit the must-have skills list to genuine essentials, removing any capabilities that the company is willing to train. That makes it easier to balance text with whitespace, ensuring the job ad isn’t overly cluttered.
When possible, also include a visual element or two in the job posting. An infographic or video makes the ad more interesting to view. Plus, they can be great options for highlighting critical details, ensuring they aren’t accidentally overlooked by job seekers.
- Make Diversity and Inclusion Part of the Equation
In many cases, diversity and inclusion should be part of your job posting in two ways. First, you should openly discuss any efforts relating to creating a workplace that embraces diversity and inclusion, ensuring every employee feels welcome, supported, and respected.
Second, you should review the job ad to make sure any language used is gender-neutral and culturally sensitive. For example, referring to the ideal candidate as “they” instead of “he” or “she” is a more neutral approach. Additionally, forgoing job titles or requests for a “guru” or “ninja” is essential, as those may be considered culturally insensitive.
Ultimately, by using the tips above, you can create job postings that stand out for all of the right reasons, making it easier to connect with top talent. If you’d like to learn more, the team at The Squires Group can help. Contact us today.
