3 Tips for Writing Better Job Postings for Your Company
Job descriptions aren’t always eye-catching or compelling. Our reason for this is because they tend to reflect the job description the last time the position was filled, and the time before that, and the time before that. In short, most job-descriptions are fossils that haven’t evolved since candidates faxed in their resumes. They don’t compel or inform the best candidates to apply. The good news is that updating and writing your job postings isn’t difficult. Here are three easy ways to stand out:
Write for the Candidate
Candidates spend just a few seconds reading a job description, so make sure all the necessary information is included. Most candidates want to know their salary, responsibilities, and requirements. If candidates know these facts, they’ll decide whether or not they want to invest more of their time researching your company and applying. Get their attention with the right information, and they’ll want to know more about the role and your company.
Stop Talking About Yourself
The majority of job postings just outline the employer’s needs. They’re written from the corporation’s point of view and fail to address the candidate. Consider rewriting postings using “you”: with this approach, a person reading the posting can start imagining themselves in the role. Use second-person singular instead of “we” and “our” which sounds vague. Candidates care about company culture, but not when they’re reading a job description. Make it easy for candidates to find information by attaching links to social pages or your website, but leave your company’s mission statement out of the job description.
Less is More
Job descriptions with less than 150 words had 17.8% more applications than postings with 450 to 600 words. Besides, shorter descriptions are better for mobile applications. Pew researchers found that 53% of eighteen to twenty-nine-year-olds used their smartphones while job-searching, and in 2020 this number is increasing. Unfortunately, most companies haven’t adapted to this statistic and write their job postings for web browsers. Try using tools like Job Grader to audit your posting for length, keywords, and gender balance.
Post Your Job, Consider Pinnacle
Writing better job descriptions will help you find the right candidates, but working with Pinnacle Consulting & Recruitment can boost your process. Our team has years of experience and can efficiently match you to the best candidates in the Pittsburgh market. If you would like to learn more, please contact us at 412-343-6300 or admin@paf-resources.com.