Every career advertisement must attract the attention of the right candidates, however, that alone can often feel like an impossible task. Without that special something that appeals to the right people, you will struggle to stand out from the crowd and build a robust team who are qualified, knowledgeable and passionate about the role.
Common Career Ad Mistakes
There are so many emergency services sector career ads out there that just aren’t working for the organisations they are supposed to be supporting and representing. Let’s take a look at some of the most common issues that are ultimately presenting serious challenges for hiring managers looking to fill non-medical blue light roles such as back office staff and cloud tech roles.
1. Meaningless Job Titles
Every blue light careers job title needs to mean something. It isn’t enough to simply include a title that is primarily used internally if it doesn’t also translate to the outside world. Remember, whether you’re looking for social communications staff or are recruiting for digital transformation vacancies, top candidates are only going to apply for roles that have an appealing title that reflects their skills and their career aspirations.
2. Use Of Gendered Language
Too many career adverts are still using gendered language, which is contributing to the gender bias seen across the blue light sector. It is important to be mindful of the type of language that is being used, taking care to select gender-neutral terms that will help you to build diverse teams.
3. Rigidity
While it is, of course, important to know what you do and don’t want from a candidate, there is a risk in being overly specific. Make sure that your requirements don’t come across as exclusionary because that might mean you’re missing out on a pool of talented candidates simply because they don’t feel as though they can live up to your extremely high expectations.
4. Failing To Focus On The Role
Many job ads fall into the trap of simply listing a shopping list of experience and personal requirements without also highlighting how the vacant role fits into the bigger picture. Emphasising how different roles interact to provide services that make a difference to people’s lives every day is one of the most effective ways to inspire potential candidates and encourage applications from passionate individuals who are ready to take that next step towards their career aspirations.
What Does An Effective Blue Light Career Ad Look Like?
The aim of the game is to capture the attention of as many qualified, experienced and passionate candidates as possible, so a career advert is the perfect place for you to highlight the reasons why your organisation is their ideal match.
1. Emphasise Your USP
If you can’t convince candidates that you can provide a supportive and welcoming working environment that will nurture their skills and invest in their development, you aren’t going to receive the level of applications that you need. Create a list of bullet points that detail why your organisation is better than others they may be considering.
2. Share Your Values
Cohesive and successful teams have shared goals and values. To ensure that you are attracting applications from candidates that are on the same page and won’t cause friction that disrupts your goals, incorporating your values into every career ad you post is key.
3. Detail What You Can Offer
Candidates aren’t solely looking for roles based on the salary attached to them. They also want to know whether there are training and development opportunities, well-being schemes, social events, and other perks that will come from working for your organisation.
The most successful career advertisements can even pique the interest of individuals who perhaps aren’t actively looking for a new opportunity right now. Some may be tempted to apply straight away, while others may take note of your ad and look out for other opportunities in the future.
Data Careers is here to help every organisation hiring digital transformation talent. Why not contact us today to find out how we can help you beat the competition and secure the very best resources?
