Writing a great job posting

Large platforms like Indeed have job posting policies you should be aware of in order to stay compliant and get good visibility. Luckily, our team has spent countless hours on the phone learning about best practices to share with you!

In general, write your job descriptions with the job seeker in mind. Indeed's credo is to "put job seekers first." What info would you want to know if you were looking for a job? Below is a list of job template tips to help you get good visibility on job boards and attract competitive applicants.

🤩  To write a top-notch job posting...
Use a straightforward title	The best title is the one that gets searched for. If you're hiring a manager, use the title "Manager," not "Head Coach" or "People Leader Extraordinaire." A job seeker looking for a manager job will search job boards for the word "manager" and may not see more creative titles. If you want to use a creative title or a fun team name, mention it in the Summary section – keep the main title as simple as you can.
Include pay info (and tips!)	Candidates are 2x likelier to apply to a job with a visible wage. Pay info may also be required by your area, and it can help your jobs perform well on job boards. For tipped roles, state the tips up front – that's a major perk! Read more on pay here.
List tangible requirements	Try to be as objective as possible in the Requirements section. The clearer your requirements, the quicker you and your applicants will know if it's a good match! Consider requirements like: 1 year's experience in a similar position Driver’s license ServSafe certification
Share helpful shift info	Many of your greatest employees are balancing multiple responsibilities (school, family, commute, and more). Sharing shift info with applicants up front helps them predict whether they'll be successful in this role – and that's a win for everyone! Are you hiring for part-time or full-time? Mention which shifts you're hiring for (especially if one specific shift needs coverage). Do you offer flexible scheduling options? Will this role need to work weekends or holidays? How often do you send schedules? How far in advance? How does your company promote work/life balance? Some companies offer tuition assistance, childcare options, or even time set aside for younger workers to do homework.
Describe an ideal candidate	What attributes would lead to success in this role, or gel well with your team? The Summary section is a great place for details like: Friendly attitude! Hard worker Team player Calm under pressure
Highlight your benefits	Beyond tips and flexible scheduling, what other benefits do you offer? Perks could include: Shift meals or employee discounts Free uniforms Career pathing & growth opportunities Tuition assistance Parking or transit passes Childcare assistance Health insurance Bonuses ...and more!
Shout out your culture	Why do people like working here? Use inclusive language and help job seekers get excited about joining your team. Do you have community service days? Team spirit? Extra safety precautions? Brand ambassador opportunities? Let people know!

OK, so what shouldn't you do?

🚫  Things to avoid
Don't post duplicate jobs	Duplicate postings get flagged as spam and hurt your job board visibility. Don't post directly on Indeed while also posting through us. Learn more.
Never ask for PII	Never ask for personal identifying information (PII) in the job application itself. PII includes date of birth, bank information, SSN/SIN, driver’s license number, etc. Asking for PII in a job application violates Indeed's policies on applicant safety and privacy. If there's standard information you need, ask it during the interview or during onboarding (as applicable).
Scan for exclusionary language	Make sure your jobs don't include any language that could be understood as exclusionary. Best practices may vary based on state/province, so familiarize yourself with guidelines for your area. If you need to ask about age, try to ask in a way that cannot be understood as discriminatory. Don't ask, "How old are you?" Instead, try, "Are you 16 or older?"
Leave out URLs & links	Don't include any URLs or external links (to forms, surveys, assessments, policies, etc.). Indeed's Trust and Safety policies prohibit job postings containing URLs in an effort to protect applicants' online safety. If you have an important link to share with applicants, please share it with them directly after they have submitted an application.
Stop keyword stuffing	It might be tempting to pad your job posting with keywords so it gets noticed, but it won't help your visibility. Job boards are likely to flag keyword stuffing as fraudulent. For example, "Related keywords: fun, team, coffee, barista, benefits, culture, server, growth, manager" or "If you have prior experience with [brand], [brand], [brand], please apply."
Avoid clickbait-y job titles	If you're hiring for a team member, use a straightforward title like "Team Member" or "Morning Team Member" and avoid over-the-top titles like "ROCKSTAR TEAM MEMBERS - GET PAID WEEKLY! 🤩." While titles like that might seem engaging, they can make your jobs harder to find in searches & are often flagged as spam.
Don't advertise for events	Job postings are meant to advertise open roles, not job fairs or hiring events. Job posts that do not represent an actual offer of employment are likely to be removed or deprioritized on job boards.