How to Publish Job Adverts: Manual vs. Automated
Publishing a job advert correctly is a crucial step in the recruitment process because if you make a mistake, it can impact your response. However, the approach to publishing jobs varies significantly based on your hiring requirements. There are three options here:
- Manual uploads: The most straightforward method for employers with ad-hoc recruitment needs is manually uploading job adverts on each job site. This process, albeit time-consuming, involves logging into various job sites, copying and pasting the job content, and meticulously selecting specific options for each posting. Despite the labour-intensive nature of this method, it’s often the only cost-effective solution for occasional hiring.
- Applicant tracking systems (ATS): A good-quality ATS should streamline the job publishing process by posting to various job sites. However, many ATS providers have very limited integrations with job sites, which may be too much of a compromise.
- Multi-posters: An efficient solution for regular recruitment is using a multi-poster, a specialist Software as a Service (SaaS) platform designed for job posting. These systems should have many integrations with job boards, enabling a single job to be published across various sites. This not only saves time but also broadens the reach of the job advert.
<span class="grey-callout"><span class="text-color-purple">Note:</span> Whether you have an ATS or multi-poster, you must still purchase advertising on job sites. Additionally, because each job site categorises jobs differently, you will often need to select from a plethora of drop-down options, which can be time-consuming.</span>
Categorising Jobs
When publishing a job, you may need to categorise it into an appropriate sector. This categorisation relates to the role or function rather than the industry sector. For instance, a manufacturing company advertising for an accountant should categorise the job under “accountancy” rather than “manufacturing”.
Sometimes, you may wish to publish a job in multiple categories. For example, if you’re recruiting window and door fabricators, you may want it to be categorised as “manufacturing” and “construction”. However, this isn’t usually possible, and you must choose one option.
Some categorisation on specialist job sites can become very granular. For example, a sales job could have sub-categories, including the level of seniority, whether it is business-to-business sales or business-to-consumer sales, and what actual sector they are selling in (eg. telecoms).
Unfortunately, there is no standardisation between job sites, and some seem bonkers. For example, one job site has very similar categories that are almost impossible to distinguish between: “Admin, Secretarial & PA”, “Admin & PA”, and “Secretarial”. You may even find some categories are missing, which isn’t necessarily an indication that they don’t advertise that category of job, just that they’ve got an awful taxonomy.
Then there are bizarre categories, such as “Computers”. Goodness knows whether this is software development or a catch-all for using a computer at work!
Fortunately, categories aren’t significantly important. They are mainly used to help job sites create “parent” pages for search engine optimisation. Therefore, the best option is to choose an approximate category, forget about it, and publish the job advert.
<span class="purple-callout"><p>Shameless promotion – need some support? Let's book a call.</p><p>Remember to check out my recruitment book for even more insights - it's a bestseller.</p><p>And for just £199, I'll advertise a job on top job sites across the UK.</p></span>
Additional Resources
- Talent Acquisition Book: The Secrets of Great Recruitment: How to Recruit Great Emloyees.
- Downloadable PDF guide; Revealed: The Ultimate Structure for High-Impact Job Adverts.
- Article; How to Write a Advert That Attracts Great Performers: Secrets Revealed.
- Article; Write a Job Advert: Crafting the Perfect Posting to Attract Quality Applicants.
- Article; How to Optimise a Job Advert: Techniques Proven to Boost Your Application Rates!
- Article; Advertising Jobs With a Company Logo is Probably a Waste of Time!
- Article; Best Time to Advertise a Job: Recommended Schedule.
The secrets of great recruitment
The Secrets of Great Recruitment is a top-seller. It is easy to read and wastes no time in giving powerful actionable strategies you can use straight away.
