If you don’t have the time to headhunt for a new employee and you don’t want to hire a recruiter to do this for you, the job advert you create is often the first point of contact between your practice and potential candidates. As such, it’s important to make sure that your job ad is well-written and effectively communicates the key information about the role, the company, and what sets your opportunity apart from others.
Here are some tips for writing the best job adverts:
REMEMBER: Your job advert is NOT the same as the job description, so don’t just list the job tasks, rota and salary information.
Be clear and specific about who the role is suitable for:
Cut down on unsuitable applicants by including details about any specific skills or experience that are necessary for the role. If the role is not suitable for new graduates, say so. If there is opportunity for progression or leadership, say so. If you are looking for someone who neither wants to lead or attain a certificate, say so. If you can sponsor overseas applicants, you’re at an advantage – so make sure you make this clear in your advertising.
Make sure you’re also clear about the type of person you are looking for. What attributes will work well within your team? Are there any skills gaps you have that you’re looking to fill? Do you have a certain type of client that requires a certain type of approach?
Use an attention-grabbing headline:
Your headline is the first thing that a potential candidate will see, so it’s important to make sure it grabs their attention and makes them want to read more. Use strong action words and be specific about what the role entails. Phrases like ‘exciting opportunity’ have become cliched and anything but, so try to avoid them if you can. If you’ve won awards, shout about them right from the start!
Highlight the benefits:
In addition to simply listing the job responsibilities, be sure to include information about the benefits of working at your practice for any potential applicants – what’s in it for them??
Job features that are sought after include flexible working hours, paid overtime, the chance to work with specialists in a given field and opportunities for growth and advancement.
This will help attract candidates who are looking for more than just a higher salary.
Don’t forgot the simple stuff:
It is common for adverts to omit salary or location. It is vital that these details are included as they will often be the base on which job seekers search for jobs on job boards and search engines. By not including these small but key things, you’re excluding your advert from the searches and your practice from potential applicants.
Include a call to action:
At the end of your job advert, include a clear call to action that tells candidates what the next step is and how to apply for the job. Make it easy for them to take the next step by providing clear instructions and providing a link to your practice’s job application page or email address.
Use visuals to help tell your story:
Incorporating images or videos in your job advert can help make it more engaging and break up long blocks of text. It can also give a visual representation of the practice culture or what the job entails. When you’re competing with local practices, making what you offer stand out will give you the best chance of success if you’re choosing job boards or website advertising.
What is your USP (Unique Selling Point)?
What makes your practice stand out from the competition? What is it about your practice and clinical team that is special?
So often a practices USP is overlooked in the job advert, but this is the important bit. It will make your job advert stand out from the crowd and also help you attract the right type of candidates.
It could be that you have a high caseload of a certain discipline, have visiting specialists or specialists in your team or that you don’t work weekends. Maybe you offer a yearly overseas trip with your team or offer employees a yearly allowance for staff wellbeing. The USP will vary, and this is what makes you, unique.
By following these tips, you can create job adverts that are clear, engaging, and effective at attracting the right candidates for your practice.
Remember that writing a great job ad is an ongoing process and you should always be testing and improving different aspects of it.
To share your views on the subject of for some independent, impartial advice, get in touch at contactus@vettedrecruitment.co.uk