Wanted: a great job vacancy

Today, it is more important than ever to write a job description that prompts readers to take action. In this case, it’s quality that counts, not quantity. After all, you’d rather have three top-tier applications than twenty mediocre ones, right? To achieve that goal, start with an intro that reads as smoothly as this one, sounds engaging, and avoids clichés. And then? We have bundled our most important tips for every essential section.

The responsibilities

What does a candidate want to know most? Exactly: what they will be doing all day. Therefore, start by summarizing the essence of the role:

Don’t overwhelm potential applicants with an overly detailed list. Focus on three to five core tasks.
Pay attention to the nature of the work. Take a woodworker, for example. Do they work individually or in a team? In the workshop or on-site? On high-end projects or standard production?
Provide concrete examples of the activities

This is us

Applicants want to know where they will end up. What is it like to work for your company? Which clients do you work for? Are you a major player or a cozy family business? What about the corporate culture?

Our tip: first briefly describe exactly what your company does. Then, dive into the work atmosphere and corporate culture. Give applicants a glimpse behind the scenes in just a few sentences.

Job requirements

A long list of job requirements is a turn-off for potential applicants. Start with the absolute must-haves and focus on a few other skills in a bulleted list.

Limit yourself to three to five skills.
Leave out clichés like ‘team player’ or a ‘proactive attitude’.
Keep your wishlist realistic: what are the chances of finding someone with 10 years of experience? Is French really a must or rather a nice-to-have?

The offer

Give and take: what do you have to offer applicants? Be as complete and transparent as possible. List the most interesting employment conditions in a bulleted list.

Consider things like:

Salary: talk numbers or don’t talk at all. Avoid meaningless terms like ‘a competitive salary’.
Mention extras in the order your dream candidate would value most. Put yourself in their shoes!
Are there extras that set you apart? An annual teambuilding trip abroad, lunch at work, or a training budget? Be sure to mention it.

Converting = applying

Your ideal candidate has read your entire vacancy. Now it’s a matter of prompting them to take action. Provide an active call-to-action and make it easy for potential candidates to apply. State what you need from them, what the application procedure looks like, and what the deadline is.

A good vacancy = findable

Google is the bouncer of the party you want to get into. And inside are all the applicants who are perfect for the job. Therefore, don’t just write for the applicant, but also for Google. Use the job title as a keyword, and include it in the main title, URL, intro, and throughout the text. Keep it natural, though, and don’t overdo it.

What’s in a name?

Kitchen ninja = a sous-chef or someone who assembles kitchens? Choose the most common job title and make it as easy as possible for potential applicants. If necessary, add extra information: ‘experienced account manager for marketing agency in Hasselt’ filters out junior profiles from Ghent.