Best practices for optimizing your job postings by: Career Builder
1. Add Keywords
The primary job search method performed by job seekers is keyword. Many systems use some sort of relevancy when matching keyword searches to job listings. It is important to enter relevant keywords throughout the job title, description, and requirement sections. When these words are entered, it helps make sure that your job is appearing in the most relevant searches and you are attracting quality candidates. For example, if you are searching for a Claims Adjuster, you should make sure to include the following keywords: liability, insurance, claim, coverage, adjuster.
2. Use Familiar Job Titles
Make sure your job titles are clear and succinct. This is your first chance to tell candidates about the job so make sure they understand the job title the first time they read it otherwise they may pass over your job. Think as a job seeker and ask yourself “would I enter this into a job search?” If the answer is NO, then you probably will want to avoid using that term as a title. Essentially, use a spelled out title and be sure that it is simple and easy to find in a search. For Example: Business Analyst is a good, searchable title.
3. Proper Use of Abbreviations (In Titles)
Adding value to the title, you may want to provide an abbreviated title to compliment your spelled out title. It is recommended only if you are using titles that have widely recognized and frequently used abbreviations. The reason this is recommended is because there is ALWAYS a percentage of job seekers who will use the abbreviated term to search for jobs. If in your title you have that term, it helps the frequency of your job appearing in relevant searches. Make sure that you use a hyphen or forward slash when separating the terms so that the system you are using does not read the title as one complete term. For Example: Call Center Representative – Call Center Rep
4. Give ’Em the Details
Describe Position and Requirements-Provide the job seeker with a description of the position using your company perspective and definition. This quickly will let the job seeker know if they are meeting the requirements necessary to obtain the position. Also, list all other authorization, certification, skill sets, education and or specialty experience needed to obtain this position.
Explain Duties- Leave no stone unturned!!! Use this opportunity to provide as much information about the duties associated with this position. This information will also set the expectation for the position. Include such things as:
a. Hours and shifts required
b. Make Industry and Job Type Selections
Do Not Select (Other Industries/Other if possible)
c. Management requirements
d. Day to day operations of position
e. Travel requirements
f. Department position reports
g. Function and role position holds
h. Clients or customers this position will come in contact
Sell the company and opportunity- This can be done by providing a brief description of your company or the client you are recruiting for. This is a 2-3 line company overview that can include information about industry success, company background, and more.
Add Benefits and Intangibles- Not only are job seekers trying to sell themselves to you with their resumes; your company is selling itself to potential candidates. Providing a brief overview of benefits, travel, 401k, and other intangible offerings will go far in creating a positive image for your company.
5. Expand Your Location
Make sure to include surrounding cities and metropolitan areas in your searches. Sometimes jobs are located in suburb or rural areas. By adding declarative information about surrounding areas, it will help job seekers with a clearer vision of the actual location of the position. Furthermore it helps them determine travel/commute time. For example, if your job opening is located in Smyrna, GA, you should also mention Northwest Atlanta in your posting. That way, candidates who search in Atlanta will also understand the area the job is located.
6. Structured: Easily Read Posting
At one sitting, job seekers, as do employers, have limited time allotted to spend searching and posting jobs. For this reason, your job postings need to be structured in a way that is easy to read. An easy to read job posting directs the job seeker through the posting quickly and effectively. Using HTML, bullet points, italics, underlines, paragraph breaks, centering and other formatting features will help create postings that are comprehensible and well structured.
7. Add Compensation
Any time you can add pay or compensation information within the posting, it is highly recommended to do so. However, it is understood that at times, you may not be able to provide the job seeker with the exact hourly or annual pay information. When this is the case, please find an appropriate area within the posting to develop a benefit statement. This will let the job seeker know that you are cognitive and understand that ‘PAY’ is a heavily sought after piece of information. Especially adding compensation, especially when the salary is higher than the industry average, will boost applications to the posting. For Example: Great Pay, Commensurate Upon Experience, Bonuses Paid Every Quarter, Competitive Pay.
8. Show off Your Brand
It takes seven exposures before an individual begins to get familiar with a company. By placing or adding a company logo to your job posting, it will help increase your company branding while getting you added exposure. Placing your logo on your job posting also gives your company more credibility. Including your company’s website address is a great way to supplement the logo. Sometimes candidates are a little leery of recruiters. By showing off your professional company identity, you may be able to put some candidates at ease.
9. Associate with Multiple Industries
To take advantage of any system you use to post your job, it is recommended to associate the job with multiple and relevant industries. At times, job seekers will use industry searches to narrow searches and find jobs fast. By linking your job to multiple industries, it essentially will help the job appear in more industry searches. For example: If you are recruiting for a Public Relations Manager for a hospital, you should link your job to the Healthcare, Marketing, and Public Relations industries.
10. Check for Typos
Nothing says unprofessional like typographical errors in a job posting. Don’t just spell check your job posting; make sure it is free of grammatical errors. Read it aloud so you catch any strange words and confusing sentences.
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