3 Simple Steps to Write Better Job Posts

Attract Your Ideal Employees

Hiring new team members is time consuming and expensive. Hiring the wrong team member means all that time and money is wasted. Use 3 simple steps to write better job posts and attract ideal candidates for any job.

Thinking anybody is better than an open position costs businesses thousands of dollars every time they hire someone who isn’t the right fit. They spend unnecessary time digging through applications, interviewing, and training only to have the new hire leave in a few weeks. Increase qualified applications to open positions when your job post resonates with the right people. Ones who want that job, not a job.

3 simple steps to write better job posts.

Step 1. Start With a Mission

Start job posts with a strong mission statement. Using a powerful and clear mission statement in your hiring ad will attract people who want to join that mission. What is the BIG company goal? When does it need to be accomplished? Why is it important? Put the answers together for a mission statement to motivate and inspire potential employees.

We will accomplish (the BIG company goal) by (this specific timeframe) because (it’s really important).

At Bob’s Donuts we serve the world’s best coffee and donuts every morning because every day deserves a great start.

Don’t let the name fool you, Freddy’s Fish House believes fresh, locally caught seafood needs to be savored. That’s why our intimate dining room only seats 15 parties because we know the only thing better than our food is the personal service each table receives.

You can already see the difference. Starting with a powerful and clear mission statement in your job post attracts people who want to join that mission. And as a bonus, it keeps your current team focused on what matters.

Step 2. Describe a Successful Employee

Add strength to job posts by listing key characteristics for the open position. What are 3 predictors of success in this job? What core traits do team members need to thrive in this role?

By describing what success looks like potential applicants know what’s expected. Potential team members start to get a good feel for the direction of the company and what it takes to succeed.

• Our team members enjoy early mornings, love the smell of fresh coffee, and can’t contain their smiles as they serve hundreds of people each day. -Bob’s Donuts

• The best servers in town know how to pair the perfect wine to each dish, how to meet and exceed each party’s needs and create a dinner dining experience that will be talked about for a lifetime. -Freddy’s Fish House

Adding key characteristics in step 2 of your job posts continues to attract ideal employees. They want to help accomplish your mission and they feel like they fit with the team culture.

Step 3. Define Important Tasks

Be clear about the critical tasks that must be completed each day. By defining what the new employee will be doing it continues to attract the ideal potential employees. They self identify as being capable of executing the tasks or willing to learn.

• Join the crew. You will brew the best coffee on the planet. Keep the counter and prep areas spotless, and make sure the donut rack is always full. -Bob’s Donuts

• Create memories for our guests with perfect course timing, superb menu recommendations and quiet, unseen mastery of table etiquette. -Freddy’s Fish House

Adding critical tasks attracts the ideal employee to the specific job. They identify with the mission and want to help achieve it. Company culture feels like a good fit. The critical tasks are skills they have or are willing and excited to learn.

BONUS: How to Apply

Give 1 way to submit applications. Now that your ideal candidate is excited to help accomplish your mission, contribute to your amazing company culture and has the talents to amaze your customers, don’t lose them because they don’t know the best way to connect. Having one way to submit eliminates confusion. Make it simple for candidates to apply.

Get the step-by-step path to write job posts that work so you attract the right employees to your job openings with CLEAR Message.

Examples: “Local Restaurants”

Many local restaurants have job posts like this: Local family owned restaurant seeking servers. Experience preferred but not required. Will train the right candidate. Flexible schedule, must be available weekends. Immediate openings, apply now.

Let’s see if you can tell the difference when we filter 2 restaurants through the 3 simple steps.

First local restaurant seeking servers:

At Bob’s Donuts we serve the world’s best coffee and donuts every morning because every day deserves a great start. Our team members enjoy early mornings, love the smell of fresh coffee, and can’t contain their smiles as they serve hundreds of people each day. Join the crew. You will brew the best coffee on the planet. Keep the counter and prep areas spotless, and make sure the donut rack is always full. Apply in person at 123 Main St. weekdays from 1-3pm.

Second local restaurant seeking servers:

It’s clear to see the difference in those two “local restaurants”. It’s also clear to see what isn’t there.

Be CLEAR about what you do and why. Describe key characteristics of people who succeed in your company. Define what actions they will do when they get the job.

Stop wasting time and money. Start attracting the right applicants to join your team using 3 simple steps to write better job posts. Create 5 inspiring documents to change the direction of your life and work. Join the next 8 week Business Leadership Group.