The formula is very simple: you want to hire
someone, and there's someone out there who
wants the job you're offering. But how do you
find that person? The first step is to get
your message to the public. Hence, the want
ad. Want ads are just that - ads that tell
the public what you want. They usually appear
in regional newspapers, but you can also
place them in magazines or other local
publications, and now on the Internet.
You will need to decide when you want the ad
to run, where it should appear, and the size
of the ad. Each of these factors will affect
the price. Regardless of the medium you
choose, your message will essentially be the
same. And - creating want ads is not only a
good way to find employees, but also a great
opportunity to advertise your company. The
following are a few tips on writing a want
ad:
-
Get to the Point - Job
Responsibilities. Be concise,
but thorough. Make sure the person
reading the ad knows exactly what you
need in an employee and what the job
entails. Before writing the actual ad,
figure out what tasks the hired employee
will do, as well as jobs that they may
need to do in the future. If you
are looking for someone who may be
promoted quickly to a different position,
keep those things in mind when listing
desired traits. Once you have decided
which tasks the prospective employee will
do, write them out in order of importance
in short phrases (ex: Shipping Clerk -
Inventory, Mail Room, Ordering
Supplies).
-
Prioritize Skills. Everybody
needs people with "excellent
communication skills," or a "great work
ethic." Determine and list the skills
that are most important to the position,
or to your particular work environment.
If a good sense of humor is as important
in your company as fast typing skills -
say that. List the necessary skills in
order of importance (ex.: well-organized,
attention to detail, prompt).
-
Experience. Make sure
you mention any required education or
experience. It's tempting to be vague
here when you're willing to train the
right person. But just coming out and
saying the job requires an accounting
degree and office experience will save
you hours, days, even weeks of screening
out unqualified people.
-
Salary. Salary
information is optional - however - if
the salary is not high, listing it may
save you a lot of time from interviewing
people who require more money. Also, be
clear if the job has potential for
growth, as that is something that all job
searchers are looking for. Some people
are willing to take a lower salary in
exchange for great experience.
-
List the Interviewer as the
Contact Person. Often times, the
first phone contact with a candidate can
tell you if that person is worth having
in for an interview.
-
Sell Yourself. Make no
mistake about it - potential employees
are interviewing you as much as you are
them, especially in tight job markets. Want
ads can be a great opportunity to sell
your company to the public. Potential
investors have been known to look at
unusual places to find out information on
a company. Are you a "new, dynamic
company with a great future"? Let people
know that.
All in all - this is your time to shine. To
tell people why they should work for you.
Just remember, the general rule of thumb with
writing want ads is - be honest. If you don't
ask for what you want, chances are, you won't
get it. |
