Job ads are one of the most commonly used recruiting tools. If a company has an opening, one of the first things they do is post a job ad. However, what you say and the words you use in your job posting play a key role in attracting the right candidates for the position.

Think about job ads and recruiting in this way:

Job postings can be a lot like fishing. When you cast your reel (the job post) you need to use the right bait (words) if you want to catch the fish (great talent).

Word selection is important – a reason why recycling old job posts can become an issue. Each time you post a job ad, it’s an opportunity for your company to get better and hire the best talent available. If you don’t put in the effort, or don’t use the right words or phrases, you could be missing out on great talent in the market.

Millions of job searches are performed each month online by candidates who are looking for the positions you are trying to fill. Your ability to include the keywords or phrases that people are searching in your job ads to create a match will impact your ability to generate interest.

Ask yourself:

• Which words or phrases are candidates searching to find jobs?
  

• Which keywords are relevant to your job description?

• Which words would a candidate use to find a job ad like yours?

• Are you using key phrases in the job ad title and section headings?

Optimizing your job ad for search is only one of the many ways to improve your job postings. The words you use within the text is another opportunity.

Being clear and concise is the key to a great job ad. Use these tips to improve your ads:

• Be jargon free: Your job ad is not the time to use industry jargon or insider terms.

• Words that have meaning: You have a limited amount of words and time to get a candidate’s attention. Use words that have meaning. Try to avoid words or phrases that are overused and have lost their meaning. People become desensitized to overused terminology.

• Use simple words: Keeping it simple is most effective. Avoid using a technical word when a more simple word will do.

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