How to Advertise a Job Opening

Since employee turnover is inevitable in the business world, you mus know how to advertise a job opening to effectively fill any gaps in your workforce. Follow these steps.

Instructions

1. Call your local newspaper(s) to advertise job openings in the classified section. Daily papers give applicants more opportunities to see your listing, but weekly papers and alternative publications allow you to exploit a special niche of readers. Consider the Web presence of a newspaper as an additional return on your investment.

2. Post job vacancies using job hunting Web sites. These Web sites allow businesses to promote vacant positions to millions of applicants at a low cost. Companies like Monster allow hiring companies to customize postings and set a time limit on an advertisement (see Resources below).

3. Meet with applicants and advertise open positions at job fairs. Your recruiters can meet with candidates in person and reach a large number of eager job seekers in a short period of time. Consider the use of job fairs outside of your city to reach a wider range of talent.

4. Consult with colleges and universities in your area about your new job opening. Academic advisors and graduate job centers work together to find students jobs in the community. If you are looking for inexperienced professionals with lots of talent, advertising on campuses is a good idea.

5. Make sure that a job opening advertisement features the correct contact information. You may want a department head or other experienced worker to take on initial interview responsibilities. Each posting should include an email address and phone number to enable applicants to ask questions.

6. Attach all forms needed to complete an initial application with your job listing. Your application might include a writing test, initial questionnaire and/or affirmative action compliance form. By providing these forms to all applicants, you ensure that each application is complete before you move to the interview process.

Tips & Warnings

• Specify job responsibilities and requirements in as much detail as possible. Vague job advertisements lead to applications from professionals who may lack the requisite experience or skills for a particular position. Speak with department heads and review the daily tasks of an experienced worker to construct an effective job description.