20+ of My Favorite Articles About Writing Job Descriptions [that aren’t mine!]

Posted by & filed under Writing Job Descriptions.

I’ve written what I hope you find useful content on job descriptions (see job description articles,  job ad articles and our free Job Descriptions Guide. But there are so many awesome articles out there written by others. And I love giving shout-outs where they’re due. Here are my favorite articles on job descriptions, job postings and job ads. 20+… Read more »

10 of the Best Job Descriptions in 2019

Posted by & filed under Job Descriptions.

If you look at the best job descriptions (below) you’ll notice a pattern. Most have: Multi-Column Format — Easier to read. That’s why most magazines and newspapers use them! Good Employer Branding — Consistent color, font and perhaps even corporate messaging (especially helpful if a candidate comes from a job board and hasn’t seen the… Read more »

3 Examples of Jobvite ATS Overlays

Posted by & filed under Job Pages.

If you’re a Jobvite ATS customer you might looking for ways to enhance your Jobvite job pages. An out-of-the-box Jobvite ATS job page might look something like this:   That’s a better job page than those from Taleo, Brassring and some older ATS’s. And there are many, many happy Jobvite customers. But to have a cutting-edge job… Read more »

15 Best Career Pages in 2019

Posted by & filed under Company Career Site.

Are you doing a career page redesign or creating a new one altogether? Our 15 Best Careers Pages (2019) is here to help! Remember: the goal of a company career page is to get the candidates’ attention so that they dive into your job postings. Below, you’ll find the 15 best career pages we’ve found… Read more »

3 Types of Job Description Software (and Why Each Matters)

Posted by & filed under Job Descriptions.

In my view, there are 3 major types of job description software now available. And each has its own purpose. Here they are:   1) Candidate Experience Job Description Software Some clients of applicant tracking systems are not satisfied with the ATS job pages. It might be because: The URL shown is that of the… Read more »

3 Examples of SuccessFactors ATS Job Page Overlays

Posted by & filed under Job Pages.

If you’re a SuccessFactors ATS customer you may be looking for ways to customize your SuccessFactors pages. As one TA leader told me: “I want to complete control of the UI of the job!” The SuccessFactors ATS, like other ATS’s, is mostly focused on “tracking” (not “attracting”) candidates. As they should be. Here’s an example… Read more »

10 Easy Ways to Boost a Job Ad’s Apply Rate

Posted by & filed under Job Ads.

The apply rate for job ads is one of the most important recruitment metrics. An average of 11 people who visit your job ad end up applying. 11% convert and the rest of the 89% leave. But I’ve seen the apply rate pop up to 60%+ with the right tweaks (see below). Note: Special thanks to… Read more »

[INFOGRAPHIC] 5 Key Elements of Your “Digital” Candidate Experience

Posted by & filed under Candidate Experience.

The Digital Candidate Experience is an integral part of recruiting and talent acquisition. You might recall 5 Key Steps Of Your “Digital” Candidate Experience we published a while back. We decided to make an infographic for easy readability and quick reference. You can download the infographic HERE. Why I Made This There are many aspects of the candidate experience… Read more »

5 Examples of Greenhouse ATS Job Page Overlays

Posted by & filed under Job Ads.

If you’re a customer of the awesome Greenhouse Software ATS, you may be looking for ways to enhance your job pages. Remember what James Ellis of The Talent Cast said about ATS’s: “Applicant tracking systems were never meant to be pretty (external), they were meant to help manage workflows (internal)”. A default, out-of-the-box Greenhouse job page might… Read more »

6 Reasons to Include Commute Time on Job Ads

Posted by & filed under Job Ads.

The commute to work is a huge factor in recruiting and considering candidates. Out of the 1,000’s of job ads we’ve looked at, <1% include this information. Long commute times result in more stress, late attendance and missed meals. All of these things contribute to low job satisfaction (an employer’s nightmare). An Example of Commute Information… Read more »

New Study Shows Gender Bias Against Women for “Brainy” Jobs

Posted by & filed under Writing Job Descriptions.

Women are less likely seen as good candidates if the job mentions a high degree of intellectual ability, according to a new study. In 3 tests, published in the journal American Psychologist, more than 1,150 participants were asked to refer individuals for a job. Half of the participants were told that the job description required… Read more »

HR Conferences to Attend in 2019 [Updated]

Posted by & filed under Conferences.

A new year is upon us which means a fresh list of HR conferences and recruiting events. The HR industry is thriving and we’re seeing a big uptick in events from our list of HR conferences in 2018. Needless to say, this is our longest list ever! Which of these top HR conferences will you attend… Read more »

5 Examples of “Complex Words” That Hurt Your Job Ads

Posted by & filed under Writing Job Descriptions.

Every word in your job ad counts. But your job postings often have complex words or phrases you don’t need  — they sound more like legalese than a job advertisement.  Replace or cut these complex words/phrases and your job ad’s apply rate can see a major boost. You’ll also often see an increase in good candidates…. Read more »

5 Ways to Avoid “Crapplications”

Posted by & filed under Recruiting Process.

My head of TA friend Marnie (name changed to protect her identity) told me this before agreeing to do business together: “Rob, I want more pipeline, but the last thing I want are more “crapplications”. By “crapplications”, Marnie meant that she didn’t want crappy (low-quality) applications. Crappy applications are often worse than having no applications at… Read more »

5 Creative Things to Add to Your Job Ads

Posted by & filed under Job Ads.

If your job ad doesn’t stand out, neither will you. Here are 5 ideas you might not have thought of. Enjoy. 1. Employer Branding Tab A lot of employers talk about their employer brand. Dutch clothing manufacturer Hunkemöller has actually written it into their job descriptions. Candidates click the middle tab (see below) and get a… Read more »