Writing an Attractive Job Ad

Even if you're not seriously looking for a new job, you no doubt review your organization's or profession's career postings from time to time.  Perusing the 'help wanted' section helps keep you abreast of changes in the job market, lets you know who is retiring, changing positions, etc.   Job ads may also help motivate us to make choices that lead down a particular career path.

However, when was the last time you read a job ad that inspired you?  Excited you?  Told you something useful?

I must confess that the job ads I notice are usually either those that advertise a position in a beach-front community, or those that report to someone I know and admire.  While those factors may exert influence, they certainly aren't key to attracting a well-suited applicant.

We all understand that attracting the best employees to an organization is key to its long-term success, and that finding a good job match is important to our own success and well-being. Anyone who has ever been in a job that just didn't fit will agree, it's like going to work every day in ugly clothes that are two size too small.  Quite uncomfortable and no matter how hard you try, you just never look good.

Don Blohowiak, Career Coach, asks in his column, Leadership Now,  Why would anyone race to respond to a basically generic ad that promises, “competitive pay and benefits”?!

That’s like saying, “We have dull jobs and don’t pay much worse than most anybody else.”

Whoa! Outta my way. Gotta jump on that one!

The next time you're writing up a job ad, consider Mr. Blohowiak's advice.  Ask a few people familiar with the position to complete this exercise. Complete this sentence: The ideal person filling this position would have the following five important attributes.  Then take those key words and put them in your job advertisement.

Identifying the skills and personality traits that best fit the position will help you attract the applicant who says "Wow, that job has my name written all over it!"