A job listing states that the candidate must be both a specialist and a generalist. Someone who has led teams and can think strategically but also has been a development-operations engineer. That does not quite add up.
Writing a good job advert is a skill, especially when it comes to recruiting HR of IT-professionals. I often see job listings that are essentially a long list of ‘this is what you need to have,’ followed by a brief ‘this is what we offer.’ Fortunately, there are specialists, such as Nicole Tadema, whom I enjoy working with, who can ensure your job listing attracts more candidates.
Focus on the Candidate
How? By focusing more on ‘what will this job bring you as a professional?’ What development opportunities do we offer? How can you grow here? What makes working with us enjoyable? Mention group activities, regular social events, and other incentives in your text! A job listing is a business card and should, in my opinion, always link to a ‘working with us’ site. Such a site doesn’t need to be fancy but should list all vacancies together, include some nice photos, and perhaps some interviews with professionals who work for you, like at bol.com. This shows that you have things well-organised upfront. I have many conversations with hiring managers, and it sometimes turns out that what they are looking for is not clearly defined on paper. We then refine and look at what is realistic. For example, if English is spoken throughout the company, you can also recruit highly skilled migrants. (Note that the so-called 30% ruling, which offers tax advantages, was adjusted as of 1 January 2024.) This significantly enlarges the IT talent pool.
Would you like to brainstorm about better job listings? I would be happy to, so feel free to get in touch.
How to Attract Better Applicants
Examples: In the Netherlands, you can see that Coolblue has a very distinctive style, even in job listings.
Practical tips on how to write a good job advert can be found here. For IT and technical vacancies, it is advisable to seek the help of the team where the vacancy exists, so that all the soft and hardware requirements are well described.
Watch: Just being yourself is always a good idea. HEMA shows how it is done with their cheerful job listing for a receptionist at their headquarters. Colleague John is the star!
Discussion: LinkedIn is, of course, the place to discuss what an employer can and cannot expect from you. For example, should you check all your social media as soon as you wake up?
