How to write an effective job advertisement
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How to write an effective job advert
How to write an effective job advert
This TIAH Guide provides advice on how to write an effective job advert for your business. It covers topics such as the importance of a well-written job description, what to include in the job advert, and things to avoid.
Creating great job advertisements is essential to attract the best and brightest candidates for open positions in your farming or growing business. As there are many job opportunities out there, first impressions are crucial, so create your ads carefully and effectively.
Start by discussing the vacancy with other team members to identify exactly what you're looking for. Visualise a ‘dream candidate’ and then write a job advert that will most likely attract people with the right skills and experience.
CV-Library says one in five job hunters would be put off applying for a role with an unclear job description. Getting a job advert right can save your company time and money in the long run.
Structure the ad effectively
Start the advert with an accurate job title that includes the key words your ideal candidate might use when searching for job vacancies. If you're looking for a farm manager, tractor driver, or herd manager, make sure you use those words.
Our job profiles list a number of alternative names for many roles in the industry, so check those to ensure you include other variants of the position’s title.
Additionally, you can include seniority in your roles, such as ‘junior’ or ‘assistant,’ providing it designates the status of the position and has no bearing on age.
‘Sell’ your company
The advert is an opportunity to ‘sell’ your business to the best talent in the jobs market, so include a brief description of what the company does, its values, and achievements.
Hugh Pocock, one of the founding directors of agribusiness recruitment specialists Cultura Connect, says: “The description should allow candidates to be able to assess the company’s size and scale and the potential opportunity for career progression.
“For example, if you're a nursery, don't just say, ‘We grow trees and hedge plants.’ Instead, say, ‘We grow x million trees per year and have a team of x number of people.’”
Roles and responsibilities
The advert must contain a description of the role’s main tasks and responsibilities. Candidates will want to know if the role fits their professional and personal development and goals. This section can work well as a series of short sentences in bullet points – for example, what will they do, who will they work with, what will they be expected to achieve?
Skills and qualifications
List the specific skills and qualifications required – for example, will they need A levels, a certificate in land-based activities, a diploma in agriculture, or a degree? Which ‘soft skills’ (enthusiasm, good communication skills, and so on) are required? Does the candidate need to have experience on a farm or growing environment or in the type of role advertised? Our Capability Framework can help you identify these soft skills and behaviours.
Location, hours, and salary
State the job location, working hours, and whether remote or flexible working are available. Be as transparent as possible about the salary and benefits package to help candidates decide if the remuneration suits their commitments and lifestyle. Providing salary and benefits information upfront can help to attract the best talent.
Be clear about how to apply
Give clear details about how to apply; an email and hiring manager’s name and job title in case candidates have questions; and a deadline for applying.
Promote your advertisement
Once you've created your job advert, you can use it to promote the role online and on social media. You can post it on job boards like JobsInAgriculture, Farmers Weekly Jobs, Horticulture Jobs, Indeed or Reed and use job-specific hashtags on Twitter to reach a wider audience. Make sure you use the same job title and content across all platforms to ensure consistency. Don’t forget to add the salary!
You can also reach out to local colleges, universities, schools, and other educational institutions to spread the word among potential candidates. Consider whether you might want to offer work experience or apprenticeships to give them a taste of life in the sector.
Things to avoid
Don't be tempted to cut and paste from previous job adverts. Agriculture and horticulture are fast-moving sectors, so your company might have changed along with the roles and responsibilities of the vacant role.
Don't use unnecessary jargon and acronyms.
Avoid spelling and grammar mistakes by having the advert proofread several times.
Top 10 tips
- Visualise your dream candidate and make sure the job advertisement reflects this
- Use an accurate job title
- Tell candidates about your company, its values and achievements
- Include roles and responsibilities
- Outline skills and qualifications needed
- State the location, hours, salary, and benefits on offer
- Give clear details about how to apply
- Make sure your advertisement is widely seen
- Do not cut and paste from your previous advertisements
- Proofread the advertisement to avoid spelling and grammar mistakes