Six tips for writing better job posts

Finding a new employee is never an easy task. When you’re searching through the talent pool, you want only the best applicants to apply. While it’s impossible to attract only quality candidates, there’s still a way for you to make the whole process of recruitment easier on yourself. Investing the time into writing a quality job post is akin to investing in a more smooth and easier recruitment process.

A good job post will help you eliminate redundant candidates and lower the number of unqualified applicants. You’ll be left with those more suitable for the job, and find the right candidate faster. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to write a great job post:

Optimize for search

If you want the right people to get to your job post, you have to ensure search engine optimization (SEO). Optimizing the content of your job post will help the right candidates find it easily. It will boost your job post and help it appear in search results before those posted by your competitors.

Here’s what you to ensure:

• Using the right keywords in the job post title
• Using the right keywords throughout the job post content
• Optimizing for search engines using SEO tools

Make sure you measure your SEO score and improve it as much as you can before posting.

Make it easy to read

Many HR professionals and employers think it's best if they use as much jargon and hard-to-understand terms in the job post. However, candidates prefer applying to job posts that are:

• Easy to read and understand
• Structured in a way that makes it easy to scan the text
• Written in a more generic tone

These types of content and job posts encourage the right people to apply, sending them a welcoming message and vibe.

Write a company overview

This section of your job post is the most important, and you shouldn’t skip it. Give the candidates an insight into what type of organization they're applying for as some of them might have criteria for applying to only certain types of companies. This section will save you the time of going through applications of candidates who might give up halfway through. Thus, share information such as:

• Size of the company
• History of the company
• Services the company offers
• Other relevant information

Let the candidates know what they can expect from you, and they'll have a clearer idea of whether to apply or not.

Position requirements

Now it’s time for you to accurately define what is it that you expect from potential candidates. You should be straightforward and clear when writing this section to avoid any possible confusion or misinterpretations. Therefore, consider writing an elaborative description of the following:

• What specific skills do you expect the candidates to have? 
• Do they need previous experience in a similar job position or not?

Help them understand whether they're fit for this job and self-assess before they apply by discussing the following:

• Characteristics they should have 
• What personality traits are you looking for in a candidate and why are they necessary?

The goal should be to explain the type of person you’re looking to hire and give a brief explanation of why those characteristics will be essential for doing the job properly.Once you give such a job requirements description, most candidates will be able to determine whether or not they should apply. The more you write, the less confusion applicants are likely to have about the role during the interview. 

Position expectations 

Another vital section in your job post should cover the expectations you have for this opening position. Future employees need to know what they’re getting into, and this information is crucial to help them understand what their potential future as your employee might look like.. Therefore, write a brief paragraph defining the following:

• Why is this position open
• What is the potential employee expected to achieve for the company
• What are the goals of the position
• How many other people are doing the same job

Make sure it's mobile-friendly

They way your job post is presented is critical and if there’s an issue with how it’s being displayed, candidates might leave the page without even reading it. Mobile searches are becoming dominant compared to searches from desktop devices. As more people are using their mobile phones, tablets, and similar mobile devices to apply for jobs, you need to make sure of the following: 

• Your content is properly displayed on all screen types
• Your design isn’t slowing mobile devices down
• The images you attach are effective on all screens

If you publish a job post that is only suitable for desktop devices, you’re losing almost 50 percent of your potential employees. Adjust the design, structure, and load speed of your job post and make it mobile-friendly. Ensure everyone gets the same treatment, regardless of their device.

Final Thoughts

Clear and concise communication is key in writing an effective job post. The job post you’re about to publish is the first step in your communication with a potential employee, so ensure that it's written in a way that sends a clear message to the right person. Use the advice and tips mentioned above to start writing better job posts or to make adjustments to your existing ones. Invest some effort into creating a better job post, and the improvement in the efficacy of your recruitment process will make it worth your time and energy.