When posting a job opening, it’s important to provide all relevant details in a clear and organized format. The job post serves as the first impression for potential candidates, so crafting an effective summary with the key information is essential. In this article, we’ll explore some best practices for formatting and optimizing your job posts.
Include a Descriptive Job Title
Start by giving the position a clear, concise job title that summarizes the role. Some examples include “Digital Marketing Manager,” “Full Stack Developer,” or “Administrative Assistant.” Avoid vague titles like “Team Member” or “Associate.” The job title will help candidates quickly determine if the role is a potential fit for their skills and experience.
Highlight the Job Summary
The job summary or overview paragraph opens the post with 2-3 sentences summarizing the position’s core responsibilities, goals, and qualifications. This section should provide enough high-level details to pique interest from qualified applicants. Use action verbs to describe daily responsibilities like “manages,” “develops,” “oversees,” etc. Outline the position’s function and objectives, including any department or team collaboration. Finally, list some of the top must-have skills or credentials like “5+ years of experience” or “coding expertise in Python.”
Expand on Job Responsibilities
After the summary, go into more detail on the position’s day-to-day responsibilities. Use bullet points to break up key tasks and duties into readable sections. Be as specific as possible about required actions and outcomes to give candidates a clear picture of the role. For example:
- Manage a team of 3 social media specialists
- Develop and execute social campaigns across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
- Track campaign KPIs including engagement, clicks and conversions
- Monitor social listening and industry trends
- Generate weekly reports on campaign performance
List Required and Preferred Qualifications
The qualifications section outlines the must-have education, skills, experience and attributes needed for success in the role. Separate required qualifications from preferred or “nice-to-have” qualifications. Examples include:
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Marketing or related field
- 3-5 years of social media management experience
- Expert knowledge of major social platforms and advertising tools
- Data analytics skills
- Strong project management abilities
Preferred:
- Digital marketing certification
- Existing social media strategy examples
- Photography and design skills
- Experience with social listening tools
Specify Logistics Like Location, Hours, Travel
Clearly define any logistical details that come with the job like:
- Location (remote or in-office)
- Average hours per week
- Amount of required travel, if any
- Willingness to work weekends/holidays
Providing specifics upfront helps surface any potential dealbreakers for candidates before they apply.
List Hardware/Software Requirements
For technical or engineering roles, outline any specific hardware or software needs, such as:
- C, C++, Python coding languages
- Linux, Apache, MySQL, React
- Tableau, MATLAB, AutoCAD
- ERP, CRM, CMS platforms
Including technology requirements provides key insights into day-to-day work systems.
Share Salary Information
Research shows candidates appreciate postings that share salary ranges or precise compensation. Disclosing this information attracts stronger applicants by signaling transparency upfront. Some examples of how to present salary details:
- $60,000 – $75,000 per year
- Up to $90,000 DOE (depending on experience)
- Hourly range of $25 – $35
- Competitive commission structure
Check your budgets and benchmarks to provide accurate, enticing compensation. Make sure to highlight full benefits packages as well.
Explain the Application Process
Closing out the job posting, outline clear next steps for submitting an application, such as:
- Email resume and cover letter to [email]
- Apply online at [company URL]
- Fill out an application at our office location
Let candidates know what materials you need and how to provide them. Give a timeframe for reviewing applications and conducting interviews. Providing a point of contact for questions also improves the candidate experience.
Example Job Posting
Putting it all together, here is an example of a well-formatted full job posting:
Digital Marketing Manager
Summary:
We are looking for an experienced Digital Marketing Manager to join our growing marketing team. In this role, you will own our digital marketing campaigns across paid search, social, email, and our website to drive brand awareness and maximize lead generation. Success requires strong analytical skills, creative thinking, and leadership abilities.
Responsibilities:
- Manage digital marketing campaigns from ideation to execution and analysis
- Perform keyword research to enhance SEO and expand reach
- Create and optimize Google Ads campaigns, measure performance, and refine as needed
- Develop social media campaigns and work with designers on creative direction
- Build and segment email nurture programs for lead engagement
- Track all campaign KPIs and capitalize on insights to improve ROI
Qualifications:
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications or related field
- 5+ years in a digital marketing role
- Experience with Google Analytics, Google Ads, and social advertising
- Working knowledge of HTML and email deliverability
- Proven success driving qualified traffic, nurturing leads, and hitting KPIs
Preferred:
- Creative thinking and an analytical approach to campaigns
- Experience with marketing automation platforms
- Passion for staying on top of digital marketing trends and innovation
Location: Remote
Hours: Full-time
Salary: $70,000 – $85,000 per year
To Apply: Email your resume and cover letter to [email]. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Formatting Tips
Here are some additional formatting tips for optimizing your job posts:
| Formatting Tips | Examples |
|---|---|
| Use section headings | Responsibilities, Qualifications, Perks |
| Add bullet points | – Social media expertise – Project management skills |
| Bold key words | Required Education |
| Use numbered lists | 1. Manage campaigns 2. Track analytics 3. Hit targets |
Formatting elements like these help break up large blocks of text for easier online reading. Prioritize key details with visual hierarchy.
Optimizing for Applicant Tracking Systems
Many employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to sort, filter, and manage job applications. When crafting your job post, keep these ATS optimization tips in mind:
- Use common industry keywords tailored to the role throughout the text
- Avoid overuse of formatting like italics, underlines, tables, text boxes
- Save job post files using simple “.txt” formats
- Use standard fonts like Arial, Georgia, Times New Roman
- Avoid adding graphs or embedded images
Formatting for human readability and ATS scanability ensures your posting reaches the widest pool of qualified, interested candidates.
Posting to Job Boards
Popular job boards like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Monster and more also have specific posting guidelines to follow for maximum visibility. Here are some tips when posting to third-party boards:
- Choose targeted, high traffic boards that align with your open position(s)
- Use job board profile tools to showcase employer brand and culture
- Enable screening questions to filter low quality applicants
- Take advantage of premium, sponsored posts when your budget allows
- Repurpose your compelling job post content across multiple sites
Posting on niche industry job boards in addition to large general boards expands your reach to passive candidates.
Conclusion
Well-formatted job posts that speak directly to qualified candidates are critical for talent attraction. Include the details that matter most to applicants upfront to capture interest and talent. A balance of concise and compelling content, scannable formatting, and strategic job board targeting will help you present enticing opportunities to the right candidates.