How to create an effective job posting?

Finding the right employees can be a tricky task if not carried out properly. If you are considering hiring employees, it is essential to know how to create a good job posting as it is the initial step to help you attract and recruit suitable candidates.

In this article, we will go over how to create a job posting and go over the following topics:

• What is a job posting?
• How to create an effective job posting?
• Where to post them?

What is a job posting?

A job posting is an advertisement for an open job position. It usually includes all the information needed for the job seeker, such as the job role, requirements (Skills, qualifications etc.), salary, type of contract and length etc.

Newspapers traditionally advertise job postings, but with the increased use and access of the internet, many jobs get posted on job search websites such as Indeed or Reed or social media (Facebook, Linkedin). Additionally, some companies have their own careers site on their website. They post internal (where the employer is looking for a recruit within the company) or external (where the employer is open to recruiting outside the company) job postings.

Job description

Although similar, a job posting should not be confused with a job description. A job description is an internal document for managers and employees. This document often acts as a guide and details the duties and responsibilities required by the employee. A job description can be used as a starting point for creating job postings.

How to create an effective job posting?

It is essential to create a good and effective job posting to help you attract high-quality applicants. A job posting should include the following sections:

1. A job title - Keep the job title clear and simple.
2. Job location - Clarify where the employee will carry out the job role or if it is a remote role.
3. Position summary - Briefly describe the job role. Consider these points:
   
   • Is the job position a full-time or part-time role, permanent or temporary contract or an apprenticeship etc.?
   • Is this position new or maybe a maternity leave cover?
   • Which team will the applicant be a part of?
   • Who will they report to?
   • How will the applicant help the company with the position they are applying for?
   • Additionally, consider demonstrating a commitment to diversity.
4. Responsibilities - List the responsibilities that are required by the applicant.
5. The ideal candidate - Describe your ideal candidate.
6. Skills and Experience - List the skills and experience that is required or expected for the position.
7. Qualifications - Outline the qualifications required for the position; this can be education, certification, training, licenses etc.
8. Hours/Salary and benefits - Outline the hours of work, the pay per hour or the yearly salary. Additionally, list any company benefits provided.
9. Application process/How to apply - Explain the application process or requirements, such as if the applicant has to send a CV or Cover letter or fill out an online application form. Include relevant contact details such as recruitment/hr email addresses or company website links.
10. Deadline for application - Decide for how long you would like the keep the job posting open for. The deadline could be after one or two weeks of posting or 30 days. But ideally, keeping the deadline shorter will make applicants apply for the position more quickly.
11. About us - Describe your company. A company description will help applicants decide if the company is suitable for them. Consider these points:
    • What is the size of your company - small, medium or large?
    • What is the purpose of your company, or what type of service does your company provide?
    • Mission statement
    • Which team or department are you hiring for?
    • Any short or long-term opportunities

Where to post job postings?

There are numerous ways of posting your job openings, such as your company's social media accounts, job search websites, job fairs, online job groups, newspapers etc. In these times job seekers mainly use the internet to find jobs, and we recommend considering these sites to post your job openings:

• Indeed
• Reed
• Google
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram - If you have an Instagram account for your company, you can easily create a post to advertise any open job positions. Use appropriate hashtags and link any relevant sites or details for potential applicants to find out more and contact you.
• Twitter - If you have a Twitter account for your company, you can post a short tweet with the job posting's relevant details, links, and hashtags.
• Own company website - Create a dedicated careers site or 'Join our Team' site on your company website, where you can post any open positions. Additionally, if you want only internal applicants, having your own careers site will allow for an easier application process.
• Newspaper - You can go the traditional way and post them on your local newspaper if they have a careers page.

Key Points

• Having a clear and concise job posting will help you attract high-quality applicants.
• Post your job openings on as many sites as possible, especially on job search websites or social media accounts.
• Keep in mind that not every job posting outlet will be appropriate for your job postings; for example, any text-based job posting should be posted on online job search sites, and any job postings with pictures or a lot of colours will work better on your company's social media accounts.
• Ensure you have an appropriate number of short-listed candidates, as this can determine if you need to close your job posting early or extend it.
• Be welcoming to everyone. Diversity is often sought after and will benefit your company in many ways.
• Always make sure your job postings are up-to-date.