Unhappy with the results from your job ad?
Getting no candidates?
Or a flurry of misfit candidates?
First, make sure that your company and job opening are attractive.
(A great ad will NOT overcome an unattractive company or job.)
Then, audit your ad copy.
Chances are that your ad is…crap.
More of a job description (boring) than a job ad (interesting).
Here’s a 5-point checklist to make your job ad more effective and compelling to candidates.
- Job Title? Make it 2 or 3 words. Use the words that your target candidates use when they search for a new job.
- Candidate-focused? 80%+ of your ad words should focus on the candidate. Describe “what’s in it for them”, not your needs. Use “you” and “yours”, not “we”.
- Length? Keep it under 300 words. Short beats long.
- Readability? Aim for grade 9 level (or lower). Be clear and bold.
- Gender bias? Make sure your ad copy is gender neutral. Better yet, use more feminine-coded words to attract more women candidates.
If you need help to fix your crappy job ad, please let me know.
