It’s an employers market out there for sure.
Going through the job ads recently tells me a lot. People need work to be done, they just can’t pay for it. Many of the ads I see today are for part-time work and unpaid internships.
And employers are lucky they can ask for these things because jobseekers are in desperation mode and will take lower paying jobs, part-time work, and even internship positions to give them experience in a new career field or to get their foot in the door.
But what was true yesterday should still hold true today – employers should want to attract the best employees and should also want to provide a positive image of themselves to the workforce.
A good job ad can do wonders. Job ads can read from extremely boring, to militaristic and organization-speak in tone, to exciting and fun.
Every company looking to employ should have a careers page in their “About Us” section, even if this is only a one-pager that describes the company, culture and benefits, and provides a simple listing of their open positions.
The job ad should be an extension of the organization career page and be a selling point to potential applicants.
People should know what they’re getting into, and this is a win for everyone. It helps weed out people who may not be a good fit for your company culture, and attract those who are.
I firmly believe all organizations should provide a nice working environment to their employees.
Are you a company that thrives on creativity and collaboration? Do your offices hum with quiet determination from serious folks? Do you offer benefits that go beyond healthcare and 401k? Is flex-time an option at your office?
Your company culture should come out in the job ad.
Take a look at a sample of text from UW Hospitals and Clinics (voted one of the 100 best companies for working moms by Working Mother magazine):
“UW Hospital and Clinics knows our employees are our most important asset. We focus on our employees, because we know they make a difference. The benefits we provide employees are an important reason we are able to attract and retain such a talented and dedicated workforce.”
The UW Careers pages are extensive and even have testimonials from their employees. Why do they take so much care? Because they want top talent and they want to retain that talent with benefits and services that help balance work-life.
UW Health is a large organization, but even small companies should take care to express concern for employees and should make their ads engaging. Jobseekers do not want to feel chastised before they even apply to the job!
Here is an example of a bad ad:
“We seek a dynamic, team-focused individual to join our team. This position will provide marketing and graphic support to the sales organization. Duties will include developing local marketing programs, creating promotional materials, and providing administrative support. College degree in marketing or related field preferred. Must have a high level of computer knowledge in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Quark, along with knowledge of graphic layout and design concepts.”
This ad tells me a lot about what this company wants from this position, but nothing of what the employee gets out of working there other than a pay check.
In today’s world (and yes, even in a bad economy), people expect and want more from their jobs. They would like to be enthusiastic about going in for an interview, never mind going in to work every day.
Important points to convey in your job ad:
- company achievements
- why is it so great to work there
- company culture and work environment
- benefits
- as many aspects of the job that you can think of (weekly work hours, work involved, experience required and the good-to-haves, work environment, benefits, and even pay range).
Make people really want to be called in for an interview for your job. Even a boring job can be fun if it’s for a fun and compassionate organization.
