How to Publicize a Job Opening
A key element in finding and hiring the best employees is crafting and publicizing a strong job opening notice.
There are several ways to advertise the positions you have open, depending on your budget and the number of people you want to attract. Advertising your job openings can be very simple — businesses with good window locations can post "Help Wanted" signs — or more complex.
In most cases, your local Sunday newspaper and carefully selected Internet sites are the best places to begin advertising your position. For specialized positions, try placing recruiting posts in industry trade journals. If you're looking to hire more than one employee for the same type of job, you might try recruiting in person at area technical schools or colleges. Another option is posting with job networking organizations. For higher-level positions or ones in a very competitive field, it may be worth the money to engage a recruiting firm to locate prospective employees for you.
In all instances, be as specific as possible about your needs and the precise level of the open position. While job postings are meant to draw a number of applicants, they should also help you narrow the field of candidates. Writing a job posting gives you a better idea of who you're looking for, and offers potential candidates a clue about whether the position is right for them.
Once you've posted your job opening, be patient. Often, running one ad for one Sunday will not be enough. Be realistic about the number of responses you expect, and try to mix the mediums in which you advertise.
Whether you're advertising your job opening on the Internet or sending it to an executive recruiter, the most important thing about job postings is to include all the necessary information, as well as juicy nuggets that make your firm seem like an attractive place to work. Try not to lean too heavily on spicy adjectives, but don't overfill an ad with facts, either.
Always include the following in your job postings:
- The job title, a brief description of the duties, and the position it occupies in the corporate hierarchy.
- The minimum levels of education, experience, and skill you require.
- Software, equipment knowledge, or certifications you require.
- Good contact information — not just who will receive the applications, but also how they should be delivered (mail, fax, and e-mail are the most common choices, but note in the ad if you don't want to receive phone inquiries).
- Information an application should include — if a portfolio of work seems appropriate, indicate what size; if all you want is a resume, say so.
