Comments on: A Job Description Is Not a Job Ad

By: karl deitz

karl deitz — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 04:03:51 +0000

Hi Jeff
Would have loved to have been able to attend your session. i think lack of education (read lack of copywriting skills) and laziness are major components on why recruiters and job posters continue to write really terrible job ads.

Why are job ads not approached the same way as a normal ad ?

Surely there is the benefit of creating a targeted headline instead of just putting up “Customer Service Manager” Use keywords as necessary but don’t ever overlook the fact that you a. Want to attract the higher quality candidates and b. you need to get them to read your ad in the first place.

We’re attempting to help out with http://www.RecruitWriteNow.com as a guide and using proven success factors in a well crafted ad – results so far are very good.

By: Recruit Smarter 2012: Create a more compelling job description

Recruit Smarter 2012: Create a more compelling job description — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:11:53 +0000

[...] a deep breath, pat yourself on the back for expanding in this tough economy, and get to work on a job description. It's the single step that begins the process – and makes it simpler, from start to finish. [...]

By: Eric Putkonen

Eric Putkonen — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:07:03 +0000

“We all know that a job description is not a job ad.”

Do we? It is so common that I think many don’t know. I can’t see how you could know and then post a job description…knowing its ineffectiveness and inferiority to a good job ad…but enough on that.

I would like to include a couple more reasons for you:

* Just lazy (everyone else just posts a job description)
* The ATS doesn’t support it
* Policy and approval process for ads deviating from job description

I write this not only as someone with over a decade of recruiting experience, but also the owner of MinnesotaTechJobs.com. I have included additional fields like, “why work for us”? Also, the short description you see when you look at a list of jobs is not a segment of the first paragraph, but a separate field to enter – thus allowing you to really target and sell yourself.

Guess what?

I saw a short job description say “See job description.” for a job post. I am sure that will make someone want to click to read more – when they are looking at a list of opportunities.

I have had discussions with HR people trying to post on the site, but they don’t have anything “approved” to put in the “why work for us field” (which is a required field).