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Like everything else in the recruitment process if you put time into creating an informative, catchy and specific advertisement, you will save time having to screen unsuitable applicants. First of all, if you have not searched for a job on SEEK or Trade Me, explore these sites so you can fully understand the importance of creating a stand apart advertisement.

Searched headline and summary (teaser)

When a job seeker searches an online job board they type in their categories, locations, remuneration, etc and from that a list of roles that match their criteria appears on the screen. The most important aspects a job seeker is looking for are:

• Salary - Include the salary band here if you can, also include any benefits and if the range is negotiable
• Location - Be specific as people will elect based on location (particularly with current fuel prices). Is there parking or is it close to public transport?
• Working environment - Is it busy with no two days the same or is it a quiet office?
• What type of a company is it? Well established or brand new? Large corporate or SME? List your organisation’s name if you feel that will attract more job seekers.
• The skills and experience you are looking for - List your “must haves”.

Title of role

This is the title that will appear at the top of the advertisement. Keep it simple and use a “generic” title as opposed to something fancy which no one will understand.

Body of Advertisement

Remember that your ad needs to stand out from the other similar roles listed on the job site so you have to make it catchy, write in a positive tone, and sell all the benefits of why someone would want to work in your business.  Here is a list of what to cover off and how to format it:

• Make sure it is appealing to the job seeker-flexi hours, parking, fuel allowance, etc.
• If your ad is quite wordy consider using bold sub titles and bullet points to make the layout easier to scan and be sure to break it into smaller paragraphs as opposed to lengthy ones.
• Is all of your information presented in a logical order?
• Write about the history of the company, the company culture, and the working environment.
• List again the location of the role.
• Be specific when listing your key skills, experience, and requirements for the role:
  • Qualifications required.
  • Previous number of years experience required.
  • Computing experience required.
  • Personal attributes required.
  • Any special skills required.
• Go into detail about the package by discussing the remuneration band (keep it as tight as possible), bonuses, perks, reviews, vehicles, etc. If there are training and development opportunities available make sure you list them.
• Check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Contact details are essential - list your name, phone number, email, and instructions for applicants.