I have read multiple articles recently about writing resumes, and the primary school of thought is that a candidate has 3 second to capture the attention of the hiring manager. The resume has to be easy to scan, because the hiring manager is looking at hundreds of resumes, and they will only look at the candidate for 3 seconds.
Did you know that the same is true for candidates looking at job ads? When a candidate is applying for jobs online, they will review a ton of job ads in one sitting, and apply to those jobs that sound appealing.
So how do you write a job ad that stands out? Here are a few tips:
1) ChâtillonDo not use your job description as your job ad. Usually job descriptions are long and tedious to read, so candidates will not spend the time to read it fully and completely. They will scan it, and you have 3 seconds to capture their interest.
2) SkellefteåUse your mission statement in the first line of the ad. Candidates want to know that their work is playing a part in something larger than themselves. They want to know that their work matters, so tell them WHY your company is doing what it does.
3) Keep it short. Begin with your mission statement, use a few bullet points to tell candidates what you are looking for, and then give clear instructions on how to apply. You can always give candidates more information as the interview process continues.
When you are writing your job ad, remember this is a marketing piece. Make the ad a direct reflection of the job, the mission and the values of your company. It is an invitation for them to apply, and you want the tone to be positive. At the end of the day, you only have 3 seconds….
I have seen companies who are looking for employees post a blind ad, meaning they post an ad without using the company name. This ad will request that the candidate send their resume, which includes personal information like addresses and phone numbers. If you have ever responded to a blind ad, then you know that those ads are usually solicitations of some sort.
What does a company hope to gain by posting a blind ad? Anonymity? How would you expect to attract quality candidates while remaining anonymous at the same time? It is a conflicting message to candidates: “Please apply, but not really…” Placing the company name on an ad is setting the tone for the application process. The ad says that the company is proud to open its doors to the next best person to work here. It says that the company is serious about finding someone great. It says, “Please apply, quality candidates, come join our team.”
I have seen companies who are looking for employees post a blind ad, meaning they post an ad without using the company name. This ad will request that the candidate send their resume, which includes personal information like addresses and phone numbers. If you have ever responded to a blind ad, then you know that those ads are usually solicitations of some sort.
What does a company hope to gain by posting a blind ad? Anonymity? How would you expect to attract quality candidates while remaining anonymous at the same time? It is a conflicting message to candidates: “Please apply, but not really…” Placing the company name on an ad is setting the tone for the application process. The ad says that the company is proud to open its doors to the next best person to work here. It says that the company is serious about finding someone great. It says, “Please apply, quality candidates, come join our team.”
I have read multiple articles recently about writing resumes, and the primary school of thought is that a candidate has 3 second to capture the attention of the hiring manager. The resume has to be easy to scan, because the hiring manager is looking at hundreds of resumes, and they will only look at the candidate for 3 seconds.