HR & Recruiting Tip of the Month: How to Write an Effective Job Posting

How to Write an Effective Job Posting 

If you’re a business owner or hiring manager, chances are you’ve recently posted a job online. While many variables impact response, the tips below will enhance the quality, and possibly quantity, of your applicants.

Research shows typical job description language in postings discourages many good candidates from applying. The purpose of your posting is to attract candidates versus screening them out, and the following information will help you do just that. Furthermore, according to research, people evaluate posting information in a specific order, so we recommend that you include headings and content in the order outlined below:

Headline

Common posting headlines simply include the title, such as "project manager" or "construction project manager." To stand out from the crowd, write unique, attention grabbing headlines such as Take-Charge Project Manager.

Company Snapshot

Candidates look first for information that paints a picture of your company. Is it an established or start-up company? Growing? What’s the size and geographic footprint? A few examples: "ENR 400 Contractor - Projects Nationwide," or "500 Employees in Chicago office."

What We Offer You

Secondly, readers look for "What’s in it for me?" Besides the typical benefits, people want to know what you do to make employees feel appreciated and valued, such as paying for gym memberships or hosting happy hours. They also want to know the breadth of responsibility and career path for the role. The better you describe it, the more likely you’ll to attract the right candidates

The Role

Here, a simple, concise description of the job mission, reporting structure, and responsibilities are enough to attract, not screen.

Qualifications

Believe it or not, qualifications are the last consideration for a posting reader. Because fear of rejection can be so powerful, avoid words like required and must, in favor of phrases like "background in" and "exposure to." For example: "background in hard bid projects," or "exposure to industrial projects." 

Using these tips will help you attract more of the right candidates, and as we all know, it only takes one great candidate to fill a position!

Kathy Cole has helped construction companies match extraordinary job opportunities to exceptional talent for more than 20 years. She founded DK Cole Executive Search in 2006. She is Past President of the Chicago Chapter of the Construction Financial Management Association.