Ten things to include in job adverts to attract the right candidates

Get your job advert seen

A well crafted job advert being seen in the right place at the right time (and accessible 24/7) is an excellent start in the process for businesses wanting to secure skilled candidates for roles that need to be filled.

The All About Whitianga team has placed 250+ job vacancy adverts on their Jobs Section and  across their digital channels for business owners to connect their already engaged viewers to job opportunities in Whitianga and across the Coromandel Peninsula.

Over the last two years our Jobs Section has had 200,000+ views, with a huge amount of positive feedback from our users. And, most importantly we’re thrilled that the Jobs Section has been getting results by connecting business owners with the right candidates looking for Coromandel based roles. The Jobs Section has provided an important resource for business owners and job seekers alike. Currently the job market is flexing from a candidate-short market to a more candidate rich market.  Our team regularly reviews job market research and importantly integrates feedback from viewers and businesses working with us to continually enhance what we offer on our Jobs Section. This serves to give our customers a ‘head start’ in connecting with the right candidates across multiple digital channels.

Cathy Klouwens – Sales Manager All About Whitianga

Ten pointers to make your Whitianga job vacancy stand out from the crowd

When creating copy, images and video for your job advert these are the 10 things that that the All About Whitianga team recommend your business considers:

• Do some research – have a look at other job adverts looking for staff in the same or similar roles that you need. Is there anything you like or dislike about other adverts that you could apply in creating your own advert? Are other companies offering candidates anything different that you could consider?
• Create a relevant  job headline – make sure it gets to the point and states the title of the position you need. Think about the keywords that a candidate is going to search in google. Ideally the headline should be no more than 10 words (inclusive of your business name)
• First impressions count – a job advert may be the first impression of your company to a candidate. Does it reflect the image that you want to portray? Check it for spelling, grammar and typos
• Company culture and team – include a brief introduction about your company, what it does and a general feel of the people on your team. This will give candidates an idea of your team culture and who they may be working with.
• Include essential information – if you don’t want to receive lots of repetitive questions about the role, make sure you include all of the key information in your job advert. By including essential job information you will also attract the right candidates.

• Outline the skills and attributes needed for the role – explain the role and include the type of personal attributes you are looking for in the role. Be specific with skills that are required – and try not to scare them away with a huge list that even a superhero may find hard to tackle! Consider having some ‘must have’ skills or qualifications, and the ‘would be nice to have’ skills and skills that your company may provide training for.
• It’s not all about money – discuss training opportunities, career progression, flexible hours, work life balance etc.
• Add a video – If your business has a video showcasing it’s work or culture add it in.
• Keep the process fair – the job role and process must reflect the relationship to the person’s ability to perform a job. For more information and guidance re discrimination when hiring see the New Zealand Government Employment NZ website: https://www.employment.govt.nz/starting-employment/hiring/discrimination-when-hiring/
• Application process – have clear instructions about how to apply, any steps in the process and how long it will take. Take the time to get back to candidates, even if it’s a quick email. Record all candidates names and ask to keep their details on file – you never know you might want to contact them in the future.
• Length of  job adverts – candidates don’t want to read a book. A recommended length is 300-600 words. 

Finally, don't forget to proof read your job advert! Spelling errors, missing essential information or poor grammar can give a poor reflection of your business to prospective employees.

Top tip

If you are receiving applications that don't match what you are looking for, review your job listing. Perhaps the messaging needs to be tweaked or made clearer. The beauty of a digital job ad is that updates can be made while the ad is actually running live on the website. You'll be able to assess if the changes are successful, in short amount of time.

Want to know more about the All About Whitianga Jobs Section?

View the All About Whitianga Jobs Section, or learn more about the features and benefits the Jobs Section can offer your business.

To discuss your specific business needs with the All About Whitianga team click on the related link below.