Employment ads are posted in newspapers, on Internet job boards, in fliers and other media outlets. An employment ad is posted to attract candidates to an open position within a company. When posting an employment ad, the goal is to attract the right candidates. This includes adding information in the ad, like keywords and jargon, that attracts candidates who understand those keywords. These are the candidates who are more likely to be qualified for the position.
Examples of employment ads can vary, depending on what type of worker the company is looking to hire.
Employment Ad Example for a Newspaper
If placing an employment ad in a newspaper, the newspaper will typically charge a fee per line. This can be costly if the ad is lengthy. If an employer is willing invest money to find the right candidate, a larger ad can be purchased. In most cases, though, it should be kept to a minimum of five or six lines with abbreviated words that most readers will understand. The ad needs pertinent information, including contact information (phone numbers and an e-mail address), so the candidate can apply to the position. When placing an ad, the newspaper representative will be helpful in writing and placing the ad in the appropriate section. Small, local community newspapers can also bring down the cost of the ad. Placing an employment ad in a newspaper can cost from $5 to $800, depending on the size of the newspaper and the size of the ad. Most employers will post an employment ad in a Sunday edition because those papers have higher circulations.
Here's an example of a small ad to keep the cost at a minimum:
Lg phrma co. looking for admin asst. Must have comp. & typing skills. $17/hr. Pls fax resume to (555) 555-5555 or e-mail to hr@email.com.
This ad is approximately four or five lines in newspaper print.
Employment Ad Example for an Internet Job Board
Placing an employment ad on an Internet job board is costly, but job boards don't limit the size of the ad. When placing an employment ad on an Internet job board, make it stand out to attract candidates. Be informative about the company by expressing the benefits and perks of working there. Adding keywords and jargon to the ad will help the ad appear when a candidate searches specific job titles or qualifications. Adding a list of keywords at the bottom of the ad can also be helpful. Refresh the ad, making it appear as a recent job posting. Because there are so many employment ads on the Internet, candidates may narrow their searches to recently posted ads to avoid an overwhelming list of ads.
Most Internet job boards like Careerbuilder.com, Monster.com and HotJobs.com will have representatives to help write and place the ad,. Most also have an online resource center for employers.
These types of employment ads can cost between $400 and $1,000, so it's important your ad doesn't get lost on an Internet job board.
Here's an example of an Internet job board employment ad that includes keywords and a company profile to attract the right candidate:
Because of continued success and growth, we have an administrative assistant position available!
XYZ Company is a large, diverse pharmaceutical company with 40,000 employees nationwide and $200 million in revenues. Our mission is to improve medicine by developing the most cost-effective medicine with few side effects for patients worldwide. Founded in 1973, XYZ Company employs a diverse team of individuals dedicated to our mission by offering an excellent salary and benefit package, such as health, dental and vision insurance, gym membership reimbursement and 401K. We offer a casual work environment and a flexible schedule because we understand your personal life is as important as your professional life. If you're dedicated and ready to work for an organization that cares about you, we have an opening for an administrative assistant.
Responsibilities include:
(List responsibilities of the position.)
Educational Requirements:
(List education requirements.)
Please send your resume and cover letter to: name@XYZcompanyemail.com to be considered for this unique opportunity.
Keywords: administrative assistant, admin asst, pharma admin asst, administrative, secretary, project coordinator, pharmaceutical administrative assistant
By opening with information showing the success of the company, it's attractive to a candidate. Adding all information about company benefits and personal benefits such as a casual work environment can also be attractive.
Example of Employment Ad for a Flier
In most cases, an employer will make a flier to post an employment ad at convenience stores, college campuses, grocery stores and vocational schools if they're looking for non-skilled, part-time or temporary labor. Fliers are used to find candidates who may not look at ads online or are not computer-savvy. Working in positions such as maintenance, warehouse, assembly or delivery may not require computer skills. Those candidates are more likely to look in newspapers or fliers for employment opportunities.
In some cases, employers will post a flier in an area frequented by the type of employee they're looking to hire. A good example would be posting a flier for an electronics assembler close to a nail salon. Because this type of work is a nonskilled trade, a nail technician may do well as an electronics assembler because they work in a repetitive environment. Both work in similar environments dealing with repetitive, small detail work. Higher pay and better benefits often lure people to job postings.
An employment ad using a flier should include pertinent information including wages, benefits and contact information. Provide such information as a mailing address and fax number. Also allow the candidate to apply in person.
In the example below, notice the information that will attract a candidates is in capital letters, which you can customize with font sizes. Make it legible and to the point, allowing the candidate to write down the basic information quickly. If possible, add this information at the bottom of the ad in precut vertical strips, allowing the candidate to easily take the contact information.
ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLERS NEEDED! $12 PER HOUR WITH BENEFITS.
40 HRS PER WEEK, PAID VACATION AND HOLIDAYS.
LOOKING TO HIRE 7 PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY!
Apply in person at or send your resume to:
Company Name
Address
Phone Number
Email your resume to:
hr@companyname.com
Fax your resume to:
(555) 555-5555
Confidential Employment Ad Example
Confidential employment ads are listed because an organization may want to remain confidential or are looking to replace an existing employee. A high-profile company may want to remain confidential to avoid an overwhelming response. This type of employment ad should be carefully planned and executed for several reasons. If a company is replacing an existing employee and a colleague finds the ad, that employee may tip off the colleague. The employee may also go looking for the ad if they have a feeling they're being replaced due to unsatisfactory job performance. In most cases, confidential ads are placed to avoid embarrassing the employee the company is looking to terminate.
When writing a confidential employment ad, be careful to remove any company information. Use an e-mail address that is not affiliated with the company. Don't use current employment ads with the same keywords and jargon. Make the ad brief and to the point, but also state the confidentiality of the ad. This helps candidates understand why the posting is confidential. Change the job title to be similar to the opening but enough of a difference so it doesn't seem affiliated with the organization. Here is an example of a confidential employment ad:
Large local organization is doing a confidential search for an executive assistant with excellent computer skills and three years of experience in a similar role. This position pays $17 an hour with a full benefits package. We offer an excellent work environment where you're valued as part of our team. Our organization and our services benefit individuals worldwide making lives better through lower-cost prescriptions. Please send your resume and cover letter to: confidential@unaffiliatedemail.com.
This ad gives basic information on what the company does, without being too obvious. Looking at this ad, most candidates will see several things that are attractive to them: the hourly wage, the company is offering benefits and it is a medical or pharmaceutical organization.
Another way to assist in a confidential search is listing the position in a nearby city, rather than the actual location. This helps attract candidates outside the company, not employees that it may be looking to replace. Most candidates won't ignore a posting in their home city and typically search for positions that are within 30 miles of their home.
Cheaper and Free Employment Ad Sources
Because technology has made employment ads easier to attract a larger group of candidates, it's also drastically increased the cost of placing the ads.
Internet communities like Craigslist.com offer free or low- fee employment ads on Web site. Most employment ads are free of charge, and the highest fees are about $25. A fee is only charged to place an ad in large metropolitan areas.
Because of increasing accounts of employment ad scams, where candidates unwittingly provide personal information, it's important to brand your company by posting reliable information the job seeker can verify. It's also important that the employment ad title stands out because these ads are listed in a standard format. Use all caps and bold, if possible, because these Web sites are often overwhelmed with ads. Here is a good example:
ADMIN ASSISTANT OPENING - XYZ COMPANY - $17/HOUR
Use the same posting you would for any Internet job board, and make sure you add the company's Web site, an e-mail address and phone or fax number. This will allow the job seeker to verify the information provided to see the posting is legitimate.
Because Internet community boards are becoming more popular through word-of-mouth advertising, they are a cheap alternative and can attract the right candidate.
Additional Insight
Recruiting employees is typically a costly process for any employer. Finding the right candidate for a position is time-consuming. As technology grows, job seekers have greater access to prospective employment opportunities.
Other options include buying resume databases from Internet job boards such as CareerBuilder.com, HotJobs.com and Monster.com. This is costly, but puts the power in the employers hands by doing searches and contacting candidates they feel are a good fit for the position. In most cases, posting an employment ad will attract an enormous amount of job seekers. Sifting through applications can be time-consuming, but placing the proper employment ad can attract the right candidate.
If your company has a strict budget, negotiate with the Internet job boards or work out pricing packages. Research all of your options as if you were a job seeker. This lets you see which job board is easiest or more popular with job seekers. To find the best possible candidate for your company's opening, take the time to understand make your employment ad stand out.
