Keywords to use right now to optimize your job ads

Finding and hiring the right candidate amongst thousands of applicants is always a challenging task for any business looking to recruit. It might seem like magic, stumbling upon the perfect candidate for your role, but in reality, it’s a combination of a sharp thought-out strategy, starting with using the right keywords. When looking to attract the right applicants, you need to be visible right at the beginning of the process, which is done by writing and optimizing your job ad.

Here are some tips you can use to improve your job ad online.

Know the keywords that job seekers use in looking for a job

One reliable way to increase visibility and reach of your online job posting is including relevant keywords and phrases that are aligned with what would-be applicants are looking for. Below is a list of keywords that job seekers are continually using so far this year: (source: JobStreet search bar, from March 15 to April 27, 2020)

• Work from Home

• Freelance

• Part-Time

• Home-based

• Government

• K12

• High school graduate

Since our country has been on COVID-19 quarantine for more than a month, many job seekers are looking for freelancer positions or roles where they can work-from-home. Tweaking your job specifications to target these needs might result in an uptick on your visibility online. 

Some specific roles, regardless of industry, have also risen in keyword searches in connection with the COVID-19 crisis. These are opportunities that many job seekers are looking for during the quarantine. (source: JobStreet search bar, from March 15 to April 27, 2020)

• data entry

• data encoder

• virtual assistant

• safety officer

• admin

• back office

• data analyst

• Non-voice

Now that you know the type of job ad keywords that you should be adding to your ads, here are some additional tips that you can apply right away to help you get more relevant candidates in the future. 

Say no to keyword stuffing 

The old-school way was spamming keywords onto the text as many as you can, with the hopes that it will rank higher. Not-so-breaking news: Google has already figured this out and is now penalizing businesses who do this practice. How to avoid this? Just practice writing a great well-thought-of job posting, and aim to mention your keywords no more than five times.

Avoid the Great Wall of Text 

Is there any more way than to turn off a potential applicant than seeing several big blocks of text that they have to wade through? You aim to be as transparent as possible with what you’re looking for. Make sure that the information posted is clear and organized. If you can describe what the job entails in three to five sentences, do that. When necessary, separate information using well-placed headlines and sub headlines. 

Following these simple strategies is an excellent start to optimizing your job ad. The more relevant your job posting is, the more it will be visible to potential job seekers. Soon, your business will enjoy an abundance of great candidates whom you can choose from.