Tailor your ad to your company's specific needs.
Good help is hard to find. It is even harder if your want ad is unfocused to begin with and fails to identify the qualifications and desirable traits necessary to fulfill the duties of the job. It's important to keep in mind that the quality, clarity and tone of your help wanted ad contribute to the first impression that job seekers will form about your company, which influences whether they'll even apply.
Instructions
1. Determine the size of the ad required to adequately convey your employment needs. Typically, the more complex the duties and higher the position, the larger and more detailed the ad will be. In contrast, an entry-level opening where an employee is only doing one or two repetitive tasks can be described in 30 words or less. Example: "Part-time busboy. Flexible hours and free parking. Apply in person at Rosie's Grill between noon and 4 p.m. on June 10th."
2. Make a list of job tasks before you start writing your ad. This helps you define your expectations. If there are multiple responsibilities, focus on primary duties or consolidate activities under a general description. If you take the latter approach, however, make sure it's not so vague as to leave applicants guessing. Example: "Someone needed for office work." A job-seeker has no idea from this what kind of office it is or whether he'll be typing, crunching numbers, creating a product or working on computers.
3. Make a second list addressing the qualifications and desirable traits an applicant must possess for consideration. These include work experience, academic credentials, licenses/certifications, language fluency, physical strength and/or agility as well as attributes such as a pleasant demeanor, sense of humor, ability to multi-task, self-starter and team player.
4. Create an attention-grabbing hook. In most cases this will be the position title along with a reference to the business environment. Example: "Experienced Caterer Wanted for Independent Film Company". Another approach is to pose a catchy question. Examples: "Would You Like to Chauffeur Celebrities?"; "Do You Love Playing With Dogs?"; "Looking For a Fun Way to Pay Off Your Student Loan?" Type your hook in all caps and follow it with a concise summary of the most important elements drawn from the two lists you created.
5. Let readers know where a job is located. If you want to avoid drop-in's or phone calls by not specifying the company name, it's still essential to take into consideration how far a candidate may want to commute on a daily basis. An accountant in Pasadena, for example, wants to know upfront if that dream-job opening is in the San Gabriel Valley, somewhere in downtown San Diego or would require relocation to another state.
6. Identify whether the position is full-time, part-time, temporary or seasonal and whether the reporting hours are anything other than a traditional 9 to 5.
7. Provide a filing deadline and instructions on apply. Sample options include mailing a cover letter and resume, filling out an online application, emailing a query, calling for an interview appointment and dropping by in person.
