10 Tips For Employers to Create A Perfect Job Posting

The recruitment process starts with a job posting, so making it attractive will naturally increase your chances of finding the perfect candidate. After all, your posting is often your first contact with a jobseeker so you want to put your best foot forward and portray your company in the best possible light.

Here’s what to do to make sure that your job posting not only reaches the right people, but is also appealing to the best talent out there.

Go online

Our research has shown that a third of the professionals in the region used the internet to find their last job (as stated by 32.5 per cent of respondents to Bayt.com’s ‘Employee Retention in the MENA’ poll, February 2013). Going online is crucial to reach the right people.

Follow through the anatomy of a good job posting

Make sure you have all the necessary parts that compose a solid posting. These are:

• Job Title: One of the first things a jobseeker will see.

• Company: Provide insight into your organisation, including a brief description, the products and/or services your company provides, and a summary of your corporate culture.

• Job Description: Give real information, including an overview of the responsibilities involved, the general scope of work, and the role that the position and department play within the organisation.

• Requirements or Qualifications: Here you can outline the skills required for the position, the work experience, education or qualifications needed, as well as any soft skills this position may entail.

•Benefits and perks: Finally, you can throw in supplementary stimuli here and there about perks, benefits and career development opportunities to get jobseekers excited by the idea of working for you.

Be clear

Clearly state what you’re looking for, both in terms of the actual position and the requirements that jobseekers need to fill. To avoid having your inbox flooded with CVs, work with your hiring manager and/or HR department to help you filter jobseekers in the most efficient way.

Be concise

In line with the point above, keep your job posting as concise as possible by ensuring that all the relevant information is provided in a clear format. Bulleted requirements are a good way to do this. Remember that attention spans are short; you want to grab your jobseeker’s attention and give them everything they need as quickly as possible.

Be consistent

Does your company have a standard job listing template? If so, be sure to use it. If not, now could be the right time to create one. Showing consistency throughout your job postings enhances your professional image; it shows standardisation and a sense of unity among your company’s various departments.

Be clever

Think about who you’re trying to attract. What would they find most appealing? Research their needs and wants, and tailor your job posting to meet these needs.

Use keywords

While this is especially pertinent to online job listings, those posted in newspapers or elsewhere also need to use keywords. Jobseekers will be looking specifically for words that are relevant to their experience, whether they’re using a search engine or skimming the newspaper’s classifieds section.

Check your spelling and grammar

Never underestimate the power of spell check. Your job posting represents your company, and you want to make sure that it is presented in the best way possible. No jobseeker will be interested in joining a company that uses sloppy language, so always make sure to double check your job posting for spelling, grammar and style in order to maintain a high level of professionalism.

Reflect your company’s values

Following on from the above, you should consider creating a job posting that reflects your company’s business image, values and personality. This will help you catch the attention of candidates who will most likely fit in your organisation. This can be done through wording (using words and/or phrases that are relevant to your industry), or through the design layout.

Get personal

Are there any cues that might appeal to the particular candidates you want to attract? Things such as layouts, colours, language and slogans can all be tailored to catch the attention of specific jobseekers.