How to Make a Job Advertisement

Newspaper ad for restaurant staff

Businesses that need employees usually place an advertisement in local publications and newspapers where they will be seen and hopefully, attract qualified people to reply. Ad space is sold by the line or size in the classified section of a newspaper, for example. Trained staff will help with creating the ad which contains details such as job requirements and contact information, and are published for a specific period of time.

Things You'll Need

• Publications and telephone numbers (classified department)
• Details on specific job requirements, responsibilities and employer contact information

Instructions

1. Draft an advertisement for the specific job to be filled, such as title of job, skills required, responsibilities and duties, work hours/shift, name of company hiring, location, contact person and telephone number. If desired, include a fax number or email address for applicants to send a resume.

2. Call the publication where an advertisement will be placed, and speak with a person in the classified department. That person will provide the costs of ads (depending on size/length), how long the ad may run, terms of payment and billing information. Decide which of these you will use.

3. Tell the classified clerk what you want to say in your advertisement. If your proposed ad is longer than you want or is more than you want to pay, the clerk will eliminate unnecessary words, and help you compose it to meet your budget.

4. Watch for the advertisement to appear in the newspaper or other publication where it has been placed. Check for errors, and contact the classified department to correct the errors before it is published again.

Tips & Warnings

• Some newspapers offer a post office box address to receive resumes which are forwarded to the hiring company. This may be a desired option rather than direct contact. Be specific in your job details to minimize unqualified applicants. There is no ad format that must be followed since each job is different. However, certain basic information is necessary to create an good ad. Salary, pay, bonuses, and other remuneration are sometimes included in the ad, but usually discussed with applicant during an interview. Otherwise, an ad might state "salary based on experience."