TIP 1

Keep it concise

Many people look at job descriptions on their phones. That could explain why job posts with fewer than 150 words can get candidates to apply 17.8% more frequently than job posts with 450 to 600 words.

TIP 2

Be careful of being too casual

Candidates in our study were 2x–4x less likely to apply when the mock job description was extremely casual. Coming off as too conversational can give the impression that you are unprofessional – so keep it friendly without going overboard.

Candidates are less likely to apply to a very casual job description

Which parts of the job description were most important?

TIP 3

Let candidates know what’s in it for them

Candidates may spend only a few seconds reading your job description, so make sure you cut to the chase. Details like compensation and qualifications were consistently highlighted as the most helpful part of a job description.

TIP 4

Don’t spend too much time talking up your company

Candidates care about your company; it’s just not what they’re looking for in a job description. They rated company, culture, and mission as less important, rarely highlighting it as helpful.

TIP 5

Define exactly what success looks like

Stand out from the crowd by providing specific metrics that your candidates should hit after one year on the job. This can set up expectations and reflect positively on your company.

TIP 6

Get your job post out there early in the week

When it comes to posting jobs, earlier in the week is better. Most candidates apply on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday – with just 15% coming in over the weekend.

Candidate job post applications distributed by day of the week

TIP 7

Use gender-neutral terms to encourage gender diversity

Men applied to the jobs that they viewed 13% more often than women. Job descriptions with “masculine” wording can turn away qualified prospects. Using gender-neutral language encourages a more diverse pool of applicants.