Not receiving responses to your job posting? Getting CV’s that don’t match the profile you’re looking for? You may have made one of the following errors…
A job offer that can’t be found
Candidates should be able to easily find your job offer on Jobboom.com, as well as on search engines including Google and Bing.
Be sure that the title of your job offer is correct and use industry-specific terms to describe the job, while avoiding terms that are too “niche” or particular to your organization.
To make sure that your job offer appears correctly in search results, classify it using the employment sector that matches the job itself, not the organization where the job is being offered. For example, if you are seeking to hire an accountant for a construction company, your offer should be in the “Accounting, finance and insurance” category – not in the “Construction/Trades/Oil & Gas” category.
Finally, your job offer should be easily found by search engines. Identify the keywords that should be associated with your posting, and make sure that they figure prominently in the title of your job offer as well as in the description of the position.
A lack of information
To attract the attention of a candidate, your job offer should contain the maximum amount of information possible.
At a minimum, your posting should include a detailed description of the job and the responsibilities of the position; a list of required competencies and qualifications; and a brief description of your organization.
If possible, provide an overview of working conditions, including the typical work schedule and benefits package. Feel free to mention the salary being offered, especially if it is particularly competitive. If you would prefer not to mention the exact figure, you can provide a salary range (e.g. $40,000 – $50,000).
If your company is located outside of a metropolitan area, be precise about where the position is located and mention the transportation options available nearby (bus lines, metro station, etc.).
A ‘grocery list’
While it’s important to write a detailed description of the tasks involved with the position, it’s best not to write an endless list of bullet points.
Wherever possible, limit your list to the five most important elements of the job, and make sure that each point is explained simply and clearly. Most of the time, a description of one or two phrases is enough to summarize the main tasks and can be followed by a short list of the most important responsibilities. This should provide a well-rounded but concise description of the job.
Needle in a haystack
Avoid being too exhaustive, or coming across as too demanding when describing the qualifications and competencies required for the position.
By trying to filter out everyone except the “perfect candidate”, you risk overlooking interesting and qualified candidates. Don’t forget that any new employee will require training and time to adapt to the position, and that certain competencies will have to be learned on the job.
Focus on the skills and qualifications that are truly necessary for the job. Again, try to limit your job description to five elements per bullet point list and detail which elements are considered essential and which would merely be seen as additional strengths.
Language errors
Your job posting will provide a first impression of your organization to a potential candidate. Make sure that your writing uses proper grammar and structure, and is free of typos. Generally, it is best to use short sentences that are written in a formal style.
A poorly-written job offer that is rife with errors can be damaging to your image and will discourage potential candidates before they have even finished reading. Make sure to review your writing before pressing the “Send” button!
Do you need help optimizing your job offer? Click here to contact a Jobboom customer service representative.