Many commercial e-cruitment services (e.g. Workopolis, Monster.ca, Jobshark etc.) have a template that the employer fills in outlining pertinent information—job location, title, starting date, name of company hiring, company/industry specialization, job description and job category. It is recommended that you don’t just cut and paste data from the formal job description into the template. Although this may seem like a fill-in-the blanks exercise, you must keep in mind that your goal is to attract candidates and get them to forward their résumés to you.
- State the specifics up front starting with job title, position’s reporting relationship, company name, territory location (include city or region), and job reference number.
# Use headings (e.g. Key Responsibilities, Required Qualifications and Desired Qualifications) as signposts. Online job seekers are drawn to headings.
- Isolate three or four personal characteristics that have the greatest impact on successful job performance (be careful that each requirement you identify is specifically job-related).
- Rank the position’s responsibilities in order. List major job duties followed by minor job duties.
- Identify client types and markets segments that the salesperson will be handling.
- Outline Total Target Compensation for the position, including allowances.
- Indicate method of application preferred—email, fax or mail.
- Use objective language. Avoid hype (e.g. “unlimited income opportunity”) hard-sell and buzzwords, which distract and deter candidates wanting real information about the position you are offering.
- Use shorter words and write sentences that are short (20 words or less).
- List information using bullet points, or numbered lists if appropriate.
- Arrange information in short paragraphs, with one main idea per paragraph
- Use highlighting and boldface type where appropriate. Never use italics as they are hard to read, especially in smaller types.
- Never use underlining as it looks like hypertext.
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