5 Things You Should Avoid When Writing a Job Posting

You can use hypnosis to attract more applicants to your job ad. Actually, that’s not at all true. But we got your attention, right?

Most job adverts are so boring or ask for too long a list of requirements. They send applicants right to sleep. Or confuse them.

You’ve got an amazing job that needs incredible applicants. So how do you communicate that? Read on to learn the tricks of writing a job posting that grabs the best candidates’ attention.

Writing a Job Posting Right

If you’re posting a job ad for a role you know very well, it can be hard to know what of all the extensive information you have, is actually necessary.

How do you make sure you block applicants from non-qualified candidates, but not put so many hurdles the great ones shy away? Let’s look at five things you should avoid, in order to get it right.

1. Vague Personality Descriptors

Asking for ‘hard-working’ or ‘loyal’ applicants is a waste of your time and theirs. These descriptors are subjective. What’s hard-working to one is lazy and distracted to another.

They are easy words to throw around. Instead, ask them to describe a time they achieved a difficult objective and how.

That way you’ll hear about their loyalty and work ethic in the response, and their description of past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior.

2. Discriminatory Requirements

Unless you fancy an expensive trip to court, avoid asking for particular age groups, genders or cultural backgrounds. Employment law protects applicants against these sorts of requirements.

3. Surprise Requirements

If the job requires a programming certificate or an ability to lift fifty pounds, go ahead and put that in the job ad. You want to avoid surprising people with this sort of info at interview. Don’t waste their time or yours.

4. Compulsory Application Forms

Some job postings require candidates to submit their LinkedIn profile, resume or CV and then fill the exact information into a form.

If you’ve asked for their LinkedIn, resume or CV, why make them give the information twice? You’re sure to turn away high-performing candidates with this one as they’ll see you as a time-waster.

5. Stuffy Langauge

Good communication is simple and clear. Why say ‘synergies’ or ‘communications technologies’ if you really just mean connecting, and phones? Jargonistic or overly-complicated language will just confuse people.

Or send them to sleep. Word your advertisement in direct, human language, and you’ll get better quality applicants to choose between.

What to Do Instead

Start with ‘why’, just like companies do to reach their audience. By that we mean you should start by explaining what this job role achieves, what the point of it is. If you capture their interest in the outcomes, you’ll have them for the rest.

Give it a clear title, a job summary that mentions what the company is like culturally, the core requirements, and the job location.

Get Recruiting

Now you know the 5 things to avoid, and what to include, when writing a job posting.

You know how to capture attention – without needing hypnosis, and to avoid discriminating. All that’s left is to start a draft and get some feedback.

Remember to have fun with it – the candidates will notice! We hope you found this article helpful. If you have any questions or comments, get in touch!