First Impressions - Advertising A Role
Job adverts are your chance to market your role – and your business – to prospective staff. It’s important to stand out and to connect with potential candidates; they may be future hires, or even future customers!
In this toolkit we equip you with the best practice tips for advertising your role and, hopefully, attracting the best applicants.
Don't
Rush to write the job advertisement. Spend time drafting and editing it, until you've perfected the content and layout. Lead by example by demonstrating commitment and patience.
Use jargon and acronyms; these can be confusing to a young person and may deter them from applying.
Specifically request or mention any preferred age group; this could be interpreted as age discrimination.
Just use the job description as the job advert.
Make the application process confusing! Give jobseekers one straightforward option for applying.
Do
Craft an attention-grabbing headline and compelling opening paragraph. Typically, the first two paragraphs of a job advert are scanned in 3.4 seconds by readers.
Highlight the purpose and values of the company.
Include the description (see the link for tips on writing job descriptions at the bottom of the page), location of work and the specifics of what and who you’re looking for.
Remember what is important to people.
Include a guide to pay and perks, hours and whether they will need to travel in the job.
Make it clear if you are or aren’t open to considering transferable skills in place of experience.
Give one straightforward option for applying. Outline how you expect them to respond to the job advertisement.
Remember to use our Job Connector, once you've gone live with the advert, to search through our talent pool of jobseekers!
Youth tell us that the process of applying for jobs can be demotivating if they don’t understand what employers are looking for. By providing an upfront, informative job advertisement you will benefit yourself and the job-seeker!
References
Advertising the Job, Employment New Zealand.
Talking to a Youth Audience, Presentation from Trade Me Jobs.
The Attitude Gap Challenge: A South Auckland Employment and Skills Challenge (2016).