How to Write a Truly Convincing Job Ad

How to Write a Truly Convincing Job Ad Something that not enough recruiters realise is the power of branding and marketing. As Ive written before, you can be a great company that offers the best jobs in the world but if your job adverts dont reflect that then you wont get the best candidates. While people will probably send in applications based on almost any advert, they wont necessarily be the best people you could potentially get â€" because the top candidates are applying for jobs that seem to be much better prospects. Crafting a great job ad is not just a matter of listing a few dull duties or recycling the ad you used five years ago. Its a chance to showcase your employer brand and demonstrate the real, tangible reasons why the cream of the crop should find a place in your organisation. How can you turn your organisational needs into an exciting, enticing recruitment advert? Luckily its easier than you might think, at least once you know how. Be precise Too many job adverts suffer from vagueness and dont give a clear idea of what kind of person is needed. This is sometimes deliberate, as employers like to keep their options open and wait until they meet the successful candidate before they decide what exactly the job involves. Its fine to be flexible, and to want to tweak the role later to take into account your new employees skills. But if the ad gets watered down to the point where its not clear what the role is any more, then you need to make some more concrete decisions about exactly what needs the new employee will fill. Remember its not for everyone One of the best job postings ever (gender discrimination aside) was this one, in which explorer Ernest Shackleton recruited men to go with him to the South Pole: To be honest, it doesnt sound like my kind of thing Id prefer a job with a pool table and beer on Fridays. But thats fine. I probably wouldnt have managed very well on the expedition itself. A seasoned adventurer though would want nothing more than to be a part of this trip. Its a recruiters duty to let readers know clearly why they might not be suitable, by outlining necessary experience and qualifications. That way, unqualified people dont have to spend their time applying for a job they wont get. It sounds simple, but many employers shy away from stating hard requirements for fear of making the work sound unappealing. But at the risk of repeating ourselves, the best candidates will be suspicious of a job that will appear to accept just anyone. Include only what you need Just as an ad should be enticing without being vague, it should also be descriptive without rambling. After all, a posting is not meant to be a full job description nor should it aim to list absolutely everything the role involves. Instead its main purpose is to attract those who are likely to be qualified and interested in the role, and turn away those who are not â€" anything else can almost certainly be cut. Heres what you can safely leave out: The first six paragraphs comprising very detailed company history Too much about perks â€" perks are great but not the first thing candidates need to know Promises you cant keep â€" for example, raises after six months! Overuse of jargon or acronyms Writing a great ad for a job opening doesnt have to be difficult, stressful or time-consuming, as long as you keep in mind throughout what a prospective candidate is likely to want to see. Put yourself in their shoes and youve no reason not to get it right every time! Author: Liam Coleman is Co-Founder and Joint Managing Director with online recruitment agency BlueOctopusRecruitment in Leeds, UK.

10 Unorthodox Ways to Keep Employees Motivated

10 Unorthodox Ways to Keep Employees Motivated Is office morale at an all time low? Want to inject a bit of fun into your workforce? Read my top 10 unorthodox ways of keeping employees motivated here! 1) Install Ping Pong tables: Forget fussball tables these days its all about ping pong! As well as getting the blood pumping to the brain, a bit of gentle exercise is great for creativity and motivation. Taking a break from working also means the time you do spend working will be more productive. It also creates a fun environment for co-workers to get to know each other away from the working environment. 2) Adopt an office  dog: Other than the fact there would be untapped puppy cuddles all day,  there are hundreds of reasons your office needs an office dog. Its scientifically proven that being in the company of dogs releases endorphins in the brain making you feel more relaxed and happier in general.  Being in the company of dogs also means reduced blood pressure, a balanced work/break ratio, a brightened environment, boosted creativity among other things. The list is truly endless.  Overall having a dog in the office sets the tone of your brand. 3) Use scooters for transport: Heres another great thing to have in your office. As well as making transport across the office much quicker scooters are just ridiculously fun. I can think of nothing Id rather be doing right now than having a ride on a scooter. Offices that already have scooters include Pixar, Mashable and Popcap it feels like 2002 all over again! Woohoo! 4) Install a chalkboard wall: Having a chalkboard wall not only encourages collaboration within the working environment, but also allows workers to release their creativity in an old-school way. In-office chalkboards are not only cheap, but they also provide a talking point for respective clients or visitors to your office. 5) Introduce Friday afternoon drinks: In a study conducted by British Airways, it was found that motivation is at its lowest on Fridays after 2.39pm. What a perfect time to start the weekend! Its always a great idea to stock some beers in the fridge so that when Friday afternoon starts, workers can wind down in the office and chill out with their co-workers. Doing this works well in a variety of ways. It means employees will enjoy Friday afternoons at work, it gives them the chance to get to know their coworkers in a more casual environment, and lastly it will mean the rest of the week is more productive, as employees know they have to complete their workload before Friday afternoon. So get them beers in! 6) Install a slide: Even as an adult, you cant deny how incredibly fun slides are. Feeling the wind through your hair whilst gliding gracefully down a smooth piece of plastic  is a feeling like no other. So why not inject your office with a bit of nostalgic fun not only will it improve your employees moods it will  make going from floor-to-floor less of a chore. James Avery of Workshop, Kent , introduced a slide into his office and hasnt looked back! He told The Daily Mail  that  its not only useful for getting around, but hes also  noticed the slide being used for other purposes, such as sending down post, and even the odd bag of sugar. How very practical. 7) Use outdoor areas: Its all well and good having an office full of fun things to motivate your employees with. But when it comes to summer time, theres nothing worse than working in a boiling office surrounded by sweaty collared employees. This is why every workplace needs an outdoor work area. Whether it be a roof garden or a wooden terrace, any outdoor area is the perfect place to work on those hot summer days. Its also the perfect setting for Friday afternoon drinks. 8) Give every employee a birthday party: Walking in to work on your birthday and no-one realising  is probably one of the worst things in the world (to me, anyway!). Although some people may not feel as strongly about birthdays as me, having a birthday surprise  at work  leaves you feeling appreciated and happy. And instead of a standard, boring Tesco caterpillar cake why not take the celebrating to the extreme? Set up an ice cream bar with sauces and toppings, organise a masseuse for the day, set up  games with fun prizes there are endless opportunities for fun with birthdays. Another thing to remember about birthdays, is that each celebration should be unique to the employee they are for. Although birthday celebrations take time and planning, the end results are worth it for both your brand and  on the employees side. 9)  Create a beanbag corner: Creating a soft area for employees to work in is a great way to make work a  bit more comfortable.  For most people, the office is where they will be spending the majority of their time, so making it a comfortable environment should be a priority. Having access to plugs near the beanbag area means that work can be done whilst lounging. So say goodbye to clicking knees and sore backs from uncomfortable desk chairs, and hello to  well rested legs  and a more motivated workforce. 10)  Provide unlimited coffee: Coffee at work is a must especially on a Monday morning! A great way to get employees up and ready for the day is to provide unlimited coffee for everyone. Now some brands may have the budget to install a full working coffee machine with a personal barista, others only the budget for a Nespresso machine. Either way, providing this small perk will not only brighten up Monday mornings, it will boost staff morale and motivate the team. Brightening up work-life for you and your colleagues is a sure-fire way to improve motivation and productivity. If you  have any of these things in your office, or have any other unorthodox ways of keeping employees motivated, make sure you let me know in the comments!