How to Write a Compelling Job Ad

Every business wants to attract the best candidates. How can you make sure they apply for your job? When you’re looking to hire someone, it’s important to put some thought into writing an irresistible job ad. After all, this is the first impression you’ll make on potential candidates, and you want to attract the best of the best. Finding the right staff for your business is an important part of a company’s success, and it all starts with the ad.

The first step is to determine what the job needs. This involves creating a job description that outlines the responsibilities, qualifications, and skills required. Once you have a clear understanding of what’s needed, you can start writing the ad. If you begin writing before you have clearly defined the role, your ad will be vague and won’t attract those most qualified for the position.

Here are our five top tips for writing a job ad that will stand out:

1. Be specific about the job requirements and include a salary or salary window

It is important to be as specific as possible about what you are looking for. This includes specifying the required qualifications, skills and experience. What is the job title? What responsibilities come with the role? The more specific you are, the easier it will be for candidates to self-select. Study your ideal candidate and list the qualities they will possess. Separate your needs from wants, and be clear about which skills or qualifications are requirements and which are simply a bonus. Use bullet points to break up paragraphs of text making your job advertisement readable.

Including a salary or salary window in your ad is also important. Not only does this help to attract those who are genuinely interested in the role, but it will increase the number of candidates who apply.

2. Highlight the benefits

In addition to outlining the requirements of the role, it is also important to highlight the benefits of the job. Salary is important, but there’s a lot more that people take into consideration when choosing a role, especially in the current labour market. Make sure to include information about the perks and benefits of the job. Candidates want to know what’s in it for them, so be sure to include this information upfront.

Covid-19 has fundamentally shifted the workplace dynamic, with many employees valuing being able to work from home above other benefits. Does this position allow for days at home? If so, be sure to specify it in your ad – that may be the factor that attracts a candidate who would otherwise overlook the job.

3. Illustrate the company culture

Candidates want to know what it’s like to work for your company, so give them a taste of the culture in the job ad. This will help them to determine if they would be a good fit for the company. Do you have a remote work policy? Are there flexible working hours? Do you offer any additional benefits? These are all important factors to include in your ad.

Many candidates are looking for roles that will help them to develop their skills and experience. If your company offers opportunities for professional development, be sure to include that information in the job ad. This will show candidates that you are invested in their growth and development.

4. Use the right keywords

Use specific keywords throughout the job ad so that candidates can easily find it when they’re searching for jobs. This will help you attract qualified candidates who are a good fit for the role. Candidates often use specific keywords when searching for jobs, so by including them in your ad, you will be more likely to appear in search results.

5. Be Creative

Don’t be afraid to break the mould and tailor the ad to your business’ unique qualities. Be creative- try using humour or an unusual format to make your ad stand out. Need some inspiration? Check out these examples of Creative Job Posts and Ads, including Twitter’s ‘Tweeter in Chief’ ad and Fiverr’s “Another Generic Recruitment Video”. There’s even a company that started creating infographics for their positions, effectively condensing lengthy requirements into an eye-catching and digestible picture.

You can also tailor the ad type to your business – if you’re in a creative industry, a video or infographic might be the most attractive medium to others in your field. The more you can think outside the box with your ad, the more of an online audience it will attract.

By following these tips you can write a job ad that will stand out and attract the best candidates to any role.

Job Ad Templates

Need help getting started? One way to make sure you hit all the key points is to use a job ad template. This will give you a structure to follow and ensure you don’t forget any important information.

Here’s our pick of online job ad template free downloads and standout ad examples:

Final Tips

Don’t be afraid to get creative and embrace your business’ unique culture in your job ads. You’ll also attract a wider pool of talent if you purposefully use inclusive language.
Writing a great job ad is the first step to attracting top talent. But it doesn’t stop there. Once you’ve written a compelling ad, you need to get it in front of the right candidates. And that’s where a recruitment company can help.

Take the guesswork out of hiring by using an established recruitment company

A recruitment company will post your job ad on the leading job boards and actively search for candidates who are a good fit for your role. They will also screen candidates and conduct initial interviews so you only meet with the most qualified candidates. When you use a recruitment company to hire staff, they will also cover advertisement costs such as seek job ad costs, and can provide other avenues for visibility through social media and facebook post job adverts.

This takes the hard work out of recruiting, so you can focus on running your business. If you’re ready to take the next step, contact TRS Resourcing today. We’d be happy to help you find the perfect candidate for your open position.

TRS Recruitment Consultants work closely with every client to provide a complete recruitment solution. Our team has over 20 years of combined experience in hiring staff across a range of industries. Discover the TRS difference today with our Labour Hire Checklist. If you’re looking for staff to train, consider hiring an apprentice through the TRS Employee Apprenticeship Program.

Contact TRS

The TRS Difference is over 20 years of experience connecting Australian businesses with qualified staff.

To speak with TRS Labour Hire Recruitment Consultants please contact the following offices:

Labour Hire Melbourne
(03) 9917 3545
Labour Hire Perth
(08) 6205 3570

View each of our Recruitment Managers here on LinkedIn: Tavis Shearer

How to Write a Compelling Job Ad