Crafting a great job advert is an art. But for it to be successful, you’ll need to get it in front of the right people. Here are some reliable strategies to make sure the perfect candidates always see your advert.

1. Start by defining your audience

It’s vital that you know who it is you’re looking for. Create a detailed persona that includes the skills, experience and characteristics of your ideal candidate. This will help you pin down exactly who it is you’re after.

Once you’ve done that, research where your target audience spends their time online. Figure out which job boards they look at, if there are any industry forums they’re likely to use and what their favourite social media platforms are.

2. Use your research to post in the right place

Now you’ve figured out where you ideal candidates are looking online, you can use this to your advantage. Post your adverts on the websites they’re using, as well as those that specialise in your industry or profession. This can significantly increase your chances of reaching the right audience.

You might also want to look into partnering with recruiters (like us), professional associations and groups. They often have directories of members, and offer networking opportunities you can use to connect with potential candidates. This could be a great way to help you reach your target candidates more easily.

3. Power up your social media

Social media can be a powerful tool when it comes to getting your job in front of the right audience. There are lots of advertising tools on LinkedIn, as well as Facebook and Instagram, that you can use to target specific demographics and job titles.

You should also make sure that your organisation is really visible on socials. Regularly share your job listings, as well as company updates, industry insights and behind-the-scenes looks – content that gives extra value to your audience.

You should also reply to any messages, comments and mentions you get quickly. And don’t forget to ask questions, start conversations and interact with others online. Any one of those could be potential new employee. So make sure you’re always showing everyone what a great employer you are.

4. Get your job adverts working harder

Use a clear and engaging job title that accurately reflects the role, so people immediately understand what you’re looking for. Avoid jargon, buzzwords and gendered language. Add SEO-friendly keywords that candidates are likely to search for.

Clearly outline the responsibilities and expectations for the position, focusing on what makes it exciting. List the skills, qualifications and experience that are necessary for the job, but only the essential ones – overly extensive lists can put off qualified people who don’t meet all the criteria, particularly women and minority candidates. You should also emphasise opportunities for growth and development.

Including a salary as well as any benefits your company offers will always get you more applications. If you have great flexible working arrangements, add them too – that can widen your pool of potential applicants to include people with caregiving responsibilities, for example.

Finish up with a strong call to action inviting people to apply. Don’t forget to give them clear instructions on how to do that too.

5. Talk to your current employees

One of the most powerful networks for finding great new employees is already right in front of you – your current workforce. Encourage them to recommend people they know when you have a new position available, and also to share company job postings on their personal social media networks.

If you don’t have one already, you could set up an employee referral programme. That’s when current employees get a reward or incentive if you go on to employ someone they recommend.

6. Find hidden talent

There are lots of people out there who aren’t actively looking for work, but might be open to the right opportunity. Read of this article for tips on how to find them.

7. Tap into technology

Tracking the performance of your job adverts using analytics tools can help you refine and improve your recruitment strategies. Use these alongside A/B testing to compare different job ads and posting strategies. This can show you where your best candidates are coming from so you can focus your efforts.

8. Talk to us

If you’re struggling to get your job ads in front of the right people, we can help. Our consultants have spent huge amounts of time developing and maintaining strong networks of contacts. That means they’re already connected to lots of talented people looking for work in our region, any one of which could be perfect for you. 

Alongside these professional networks, we use a combination of technology platforms to gather, analyse and understand data about potential job candidates locally, regionally and nationally. This allows us to make more data-driven decisions, target our searches more effectively and speed up the whole recruitment process – ultimately giving you a more competitive edge.

Get in touch with your local Pure office to talk about how we can help.