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Job Posting Formats: Components, Description, Summary, Duties & Skills

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A job posting is an advertisement for an open job position within an organization. The purpose of a job posting is to inform potential job candidates about new job openings and attract them to apply. Using different components, recruiters can create a job posting that stands out and draws in interested candidates.

An effective job advertisement is brief, precise, and to the point. Prospective candidates typically job-seek online using smartphones, tablets, and laptops during their commute to and from work; thus, brevity is critical.

This blog discusses the key components and format of a modern job posting. The goal is to provide all of the information necessary to design a job posting template that small businesses can use to support the hiring process.

Job advertisement defined

A job advertisement is an announcement that informs people that a particular position is available. It is written in an engaging tone and contains information about the job, the company, and the benefits the company offers.

The Components and format of a Job Posting

The critical components of a well-written job posting include a company description, a clear title, a job description, an explanation of responsibilities and qualifications, as well as working conditions. Typical job posts contain the following key components:

    1. Business description
    2. Job title
    3. Job descriptions & purpose (role)
    4. Job duties and responsibilities
    5. Qualifications
    6. Working conditions
    7. Call to Action (CTA)

Employers may also mention a salary range and any perks the company offers to reward or motivate employees.

Note: the above components of a job post can be used to design a format for future job ads in the order listed above.

What is a job board?

A job board (online job board) is a website employers use to advertise job vacancies to job seekers. Also, job seekers can use job boards to search for new employment opportunities in their area and profession.

Note: Examples of well-known job boards include Indeed.com, Glassdoor, and Careerjet, to name a few. 

What is a job seeker?

A job seeker is an individual actively looking for an employment opportunity and intends to submit applications to an employer.

The Purpose of a Job Title

Job title indicates the label assigned to a particular role within an organization. Companies operating in the same Industry may use similar internal job titles. However, the job titles may vary slightly depending on company culture or communication strategy. Moreover, job titles provide a sense of career level and expertise.

Job titles tell what a role entails and lets others know what an employee does and their general responsibilities. In addition, titles suggest levels of seniority; it communicates skill sets and a level of specialization to customers and coworkers.

The Purpose of a Company Description

The company description aims to inform potential employees how the business benefits consumers and what place the business occupies within the marketplace. Therefore, the business description should give readers a clear understanding of the business, its mission, and its goals.

On a job posting, a company description is a general summary of an organization, the company’s values, mission, and culture. Perspective applicants who read the description will get a clear idea of what the business does as well as what the applicant’s role will be within the company.

Note: Job descriptions are key because they inform applicants of what the company stands for.

Describing Job Expectations and Summary of Role

Employee satisfaction is essential to a smooth, functioning workplace, and knowing what’s expected of them daily is vital for morale. Furthermore, communicating prospective employee expectations through a job posting can help employees better understand the company’s goals and their role in achieving those objectives. 

Here are some basic expectations that can be applied to many workplaces:

  • Be here on time for your scheduled hours of work.
  • Be here for all scheduled hours of work.
  • Plan for expected absences ahead of time.
  • Work during all of your scheduled hours.
  • Dress appropriately for the workplace.
  • Be courteous at all times.
  • Maintain a positive, helpful attitude.

Employee expectations are the assumptions, intentions, and actions staff members expect from their employers.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Job responsibilities refer to the duties and tasks of a particular job or role. This is sometimes referred to as the job description. Roles also signify a person’s position within an organization. The individual roles that make up a team vary depending on the organization or Industry.

Roles and responsibilities help find the right person for the job and improve an employee’s experience and job satisfaction. In sum, the description of roles and responsibilities promotes the efficiency and productivity of your organization. Similar to Adam Smith’s famous quote regarding the division and specialization of labor:

“In general, if any branch of trade, or any division of labour, be advantageous to the public, the freer and more general the competition, it will always be the more so.” – Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations.

Job Qualifications and Skills

Job Qualifications allow a candidate to determine whether or not they qualify for the position before applying. The job description details the specific work and elaborates on the position’s daily tasks, duties, and responsibilities.

Qualifications also refer to a candidate’s achievements or accomplishments related to a task or role, while skills are the specific abilities that enable employees to complete those tasks.

Qualifications show the level of knowledge and skills building in a specialist subject. For instance, if an applicant is qualified in a specialist subject such as nursing, computer science, or accounting, employers know the prospective employee has developed the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job.

Call to Action (CTA) Statement on Job postings

A call-to-action (CTA) is a brief statement that asks readers to respond with a specific action or participate in something. For example, during the job search, qualified candidates might encounter various CTA imploring them to apply to particular positions, for instance:

  • “Please submit a cover letter and resume.”
  • “Please click “apply” to submit your resume and links to your work. See more jobs at [WEBSITE].”
  • “We’d love to hear from you. Please click “apply” to submit a cover letter and resume. No phone calls, please.”

Note: a compelling CTA excites candidates to pause their job search for a moment and submit an application.

Working Conditions

Working conditions include work hours, breaks, work schedules, and compensation. In addition, the physical requirements and mental demands of a person’s employment are also considered working conditions.

Maintaining a positive work environment helps boost employee morale, retention, and productivity. Enhancing your office’s work environment includes:

  • Giving employees space and privacy to do their work.
  • Making the office more comfortable.
  • Improving communication.

The atmosphere of a workspace often influences an employee’s mindset, growth, and commitment. For example, employees working in a positive environment may feel more motivated to produce high-quality work consistently. What’s more, learning about a positive working environment may help a company improve collaboration and productivity.

Job seekers are often overwhelmed by job postings, all vying for their attention. You must create a post that stands out to attract the best and brightest. Use the different components to create an engaging and visually appealing post that provides all the necessary information.

The summary can highlight the most important duties and skills, so potential employees can quickly see if they would be a good fit for the role. With the right ingredients, your job postings can stand out from the rest and help you find the best candidates for your organization.

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