On the heels of 7 Controversial Stories About Job Descriptions, here’s another cautionary tale of poor wording in job postings. It was discovered by Wendy Lu, a self-prolaimed “Proud Disabled Woman” (vocal cord paralysis). Wendy found a job ad posted by Newsday, the Long Island-based newspaper in New York, for a general assignment reporter. It included… Read more »
12 Examples of Poorly Written Job Descriptions
Poorly written job descriptions share certain things in common. I’ve analyzed (by hand) many thousands of job descriptions and created this checklist of the”worst job description practices” to avoid. 1. Poorly Written Job Descriptions Have Long Job Titles The job title is key. It’s usually the first thing a candidate sees. Job titles with 1… Read more »
Action Verbs for Job Descriptions: The Comprehensive List [2022 Update]
Action verbs are the most effective verbs to use in job descriptions. What is an action verb? It’s a verb that expresses physical or mental action. Examples of action verbs: The CEO motivates his team. The developer writes code. The accountant approves the balance sheet An action verb is distinct from linking verbs (am, are, is, was,… Read more »
7 Controversial Stories About Job Descriptions [With Key Learnings]
Job descriptions are in the news lately. A lot of controversy. I’m hoping you’re not in any of them. That got me digging. I went back a few years to find stories related to controversial job postings. There’s Uber, Abercrombie, Walmart and other lesser-known names as well. I’m starting a list here as a central… Read more »
What 7 Years Running a Dating Advice Company Taught Me About Recruiting
Recruiting is like dating. Before Ongig, I had a great job as CEO of a dating advice company. We helped millions of single men (and some single women) become more successful at dating. Here are a few ways I found that recruiting is like dating: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken” Oscar Wilde is… Read more »
7 Examples of Well Written Job Descriptions [With Tips!]
Well written job descriptions aren’t easy to come by. Most JDs are written by busy hiring managers or recruiters. They read more like a legal contract than clean ad copy. Below are 7 tips based on examples of well written job descriptions I found on the web. For more tips on writing job descriptions, check… Read more »
15 Best Job Ads Examples (2019)
Today I’m going to reveal the best job ads examples in 2019. You’re bound to find some job ad ideas to draw inspiration from. First, Let’s look at what the best job ads contain: Consistent Branding — Clear logos at the top of the page and throughout the job ad. The page’s color scheme is… Read more »
5 Lessons I Learned from Cynet’s “Preferably Caucasian” Job Posting Debacle
When Cynet Systems, an Inc. 5000 company out of Ashburn, Virginia, had its job posting debacle last month, I decided not to write about it. Cynet CEO Nick Budhiraja and his team had reached out to Ongig (we have software that helps avoid such issues). I thought I’d hold off on giving my take on… Read more »
Employer Required to Pay $250K for Poorly Written ADA Job Description
The placement of a single bullet in a University’s job description cost it $250,000 under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Job descriptions, under the ADA, can be the “evidence” that courts use to rule in a lawsuit. This is a cautionary tale for employers, especially those who consider rotating work schedule to be an… Read more »
5 Free Hacks for Writing Effective Job Descriptions
I’d love it if you used Ongig’s Text Analyzer software for writing job descriptions. But it’s not free and I understand we might be beyond your budget. So, in the meantime, here are 5 free “hacks” (tools) for you to write more effective job descriptions. Note: For more tips on writing job descriptions, check out How… Read more »
How To Find Your Most Valuable Organic Job Pages in Google Analytics
Today you’ll learn how to find your most valuable job pages in Google Analytics. Specifically, I’ll show you how to find the job pages that generate the most organic traffic. Why is organic traffic important? It’s free It’s relevant traffic It’s sustainable Let’s dive right in. How to Find Job Pages that Generate the Most… Read more »
Why Starting Your Job Postings with “About Us” is Usually a Mistake
Where should your “About Us” section go in a job posting? The start? The middle? The end? If you guessed the start, you’re not alone, but you might be in for a surprise about its effectiveness. An informal survey of job postings on Indeed, Glassdoor and Google for Jobs shows that 53.8% of employers start… Read more »
3 Simple Ways To Create Transparent Job Descriptions
The best candidates crave transparency. Employers who are hesitant about transparency in their job descriptions may inadvertently cause job seekers to lose interest (Harris Poll of 1,100 adults in May 2018). Here are some tips: 3 ways to create more transparent job descriptions 1. Salaries The #1 thing in job descriptions that candidates are about is salary… Read more »
5 Storytelling Steps to Transform Your Career Site
If you want your career site to attract and convert the best candidates, it helps to borrow lessons from the best storytellers. Screenplay writers, for instance, are masters at getting us (the viewer) to sit down for: 2 days, 15 hours and 30 minutes (first 7 seasons of Game of Thrones) 22 hours and 40 minutes… Read more »
Comparably: The New Glassdoor Alternative
If you’re a recruitment marketing or employer branding leader, you probably have tons of energy around company review sites like Glassdoor. A new Glassdoor alternative that has grown rapidly is Comparably. I spent some time with Comparably CEO Jason Nazar to dig in on this important new part of the employer branding space. Special thanks… Read more »
