How to write a job advert good people answer
Pay first, a real day in the job and one easy way to apply. A 4-step guide with examples from owners.
In 30 seconds
- Put the pay at the top
- Describe a real day, not a list of qualities
- Ask for one short message, not a cover letter
What you’ll need
- The pay you can afford, as a range
- What a normal week looks like
- When you want them to start
Step 1Put the pay first
People skip adverts that hide the pay. Give a range and say how it is paid: by the hour, by the year or by the job.
On HumDays your verified sales show beside the pay, so applicants can see the business is real and busy.
Step 2Describe a real day
Say when the day starts, where the work is and who they work with. “Van leaves at 7.30, 25 houses, back by 4” tells people more than “hard-working and reliable”.
- Start and finish times
- Where the work happens
- Who they work with, or if they work alone
- What they will be doing by month three
Step 3Say what you will teach
Many good people have never done the job. If you will train them, say so. Apprentices and people changing careers apply when they know they will be taught.
Step 4Make applying easy
Ask for a short message, and a CV if they have one. Reply to everyone within a week: most applicants take another job within two.