How to write a job advertisement that attracts the right applicants
If you decide to recruit your own staff, preparing an advertisement for display in the local or national press is important. Three groups will be attracted to your ad - recruitment agencies interested in referring their clients, competitors interested in your activities, and prospective employees interested in what you have to offer. Your ad will certainly be spotted, so it's important to get it right. Here's how...
1. Identify specifically what you want.
If you don’t know what you’re looking for, how will you know when you’ve found it? So, too, for people. For this reason, you'll need to take the time to construct the correct position profile before proceeding with the job advertisement. There are some simple, easy-to-use recruitment tools on the market that can help you construct that profile.
2. Grab the readers’ attention.
When you’re confident that you know the type of person you’re looking for, find the up-front word or phrase that will attract that person. If it’s simply an accountant, then say ‘Accountant’. If you’re looking for a person to fill a position that requires zest, initiative, and independence, your header may read, ‘Put Yourself In The Driver’s Seat’. Or for a design studio, 'Are you creative enough for us?' The header should match closely the ‘cultural mores’ of the position being advertised.
3. Explain the job clearly.
You can eliminate many hassles later on by letting the reader know what the job entails. If they are expected to walk on water, be up-front about it. Interviews are not the place to introduce surprise information about jobs. If your expectations are realistic, the right person will be out there waiting to reply to your ad.
