13 Tricks to Make Your Job Posting Shine

Don’t let your job posting be overshadowed online.

Question: What can I do to make my job postings stand out on job boards to potential candidates?

State the Salary Range

"I know it sounds taboo, but we recently put out an ad to hire a director of marketing. The first ad we launched said, "Salary based on experience" or something standard like that. Our applications were mediocre at best. Two weeks later, we launched the ad with the salary range, and we have had the best résumés and applications come in. Now we are trying to narrow down our favorites."


Showcase Your Culture

"Assuming you are targeting Millennials, you need to give the reader a genuine sense of your culture. Culture is paramount to the younger generation. When showcasing culture, show, don't tell. Avoid saying things like "We have a great culture" when you can communicate this more effectively through your writing, style, humor and tone."


Make the Job Title Attractive

"Make sure the job title has both your industry and the common name for the position. People generally search job boards by position title, location and field. By having this information readily available in the title, you set a very clear picture of what you do and whom you are looking for to fill the role. This helps attract a more focused set of candidates for your hiring pool."


Don't Follow the Same Old Format

"Describe your job posting differently, and you'll end up with candidates who are looking for something different. That means have fun with it. Speaking honestly and humorously about what the job entails is the best structure to communicate."


A/B Test Job Posting Titles

"Four times as many job seekers read the job posting title than continue on to read the job description. To optimize your job posting title, ask your job board if you can post two job postings for the same job. Most job boards are hurting, so if running an A/B test improves the chance you'll be a future customer, they'll go for it. (I used to work at one.) A/B test the title to see what works best."


Utilize Video

"To stand out from the crowd and really let your potential candidates get a feel for what your brand is all about, make use of video. Many job sites now include video linking, and what better way to show off your company than having a behind-the-scenes video of your workplace where the viewer can meet some key team members, see inside your office and get a feel for your vibe before they apply?"


Get Specific About Personality Fit

"Personality and culture fit is one of the most overlooked criteria for potential job candidates, and often the most crucial. Save time and identify better candidates by describing not only your culture, but what that means in concrete terms to the position and the team dynamic. Successful personality traits are now required for every department and are reflected in job requirements."


Don't Use Buzzwords

"Most job seekers aren't looking to be a "ninja" or a "rockstar" or even a "code monkey." Describe the work environment, and focus on your desire to hire character first. People want to work in a place with other good people. If they know you place character high on your requirements list, it will be attractive to them."


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13 Tricks to Make Your Job Posting Shine

Don’t let your job posting be overshadowed online.

Question: What can I do to make my job postings stand out on job boards to potential candidates?

State the Salary Range

"I know it sounds taboo, but we recently put out an ad to hire a director of marketing. The first ad we launched said, "Salary based on experience" or something standard like that. Our applications were mediocre at best. Two weeks later, we launched the ad with the salary range, and we have had the best résumés and applications come in. Now we are trying to narrow down our favorites."


Showcase Your Culture

"Assuming you are targeting Millennials, you need to give the reader a genuine sense of your culture. Culture is paramount to the younger generation. When showcasing culture, show, don't tell. Avoid saying things like "We have a great culture" when you can communicate this more effectively through your writing, style, humor and tone."


Make the Job Title Attractive

"Make sure the job title has both your industry and the common name for the position. People generally search job boards by position title, location and field. By having this information readily available in the title, you set a very clear picture of what you do and whom you are looking for to fill the role. This helps attract a more focused set of candidates for your hiring pool."


Don't Follow the Same Old Format

"Describe your job posting differently, and you'll end up with candidates who are looking for something different. That means have fun with it. Speaking honestly and humorously about what the job entails is the best structure to communicate."


A/B Test Job Posting Titles

"Four times as many job seekers read the job posting title than continue on to read the job description. To optimize your job posting title, ask your job board if you can post two job postings for the same job. Most job boards are hurting, so if running an A/B test improves the chance you'll be a future customer, they'll go for it. (I used to work at one.) A/B test the title to see what works best."


Utilize Video

"To stand out from the crowd and really let your potential candidates get a feel for what your brand is all about, make use of video. Many job sites now include video linking, and what better way to show off your company than having a behind-the-scenes video of your workplace where the viewer can meet some key team members, see inside your office and get a feel for your vibe before they apply?"


Get Specific About Personality Fit

"Personality and culture fit is one of the most overlooked criteria for potential job candidates, and often the most crucial. Save time and identify better candidates by describing not only your culture, but what that means in concrete terms to the position and the team dynamic. Successful personality traits are now required for every department and are reflected in job requirements."


Don't Use Buzzwords

"Most job seekers aren't looking to be a "ninja" or a "rockstar" or even a "code monkey." Describe the work environment, and focus on your desire to hire character first. People want to work in a place with other good people. If they know you place character high on your requirements list, it will be attractive to them."


See Also: How to Foster Productivity Through Communication and Transparency

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