Hiring & Employer Branding

How to write a job post people actually apply to

Most job posts read like a contract. The ones that fill fast read like an invitation. Here's the difference, line by line.

SHIFTED · Built by operators · 4 min read

You've posted the role three times. A trickle of applicants, half of them wrong. The problem usually isn't the pay — it's the post.

Lead with the shift, not the company

People scanning on their phone at 11pm want to know one thing first: what is this job, where, and when? Put the role, the area, the hours, and the pay in the first two lines. Burying them under a paragraph about your "fast-paced, dynamic team" loses the exact people you want.

Say the pay

A range beats "competitive salary" every time. Workers filter out posts that hide the number — they assume it's bad. If service charge or tips are part of it, say so, and say roughly how much.

Describe a real day

"Barista wanted" tells them nothing. "Open the café at 7, dial in the espresso, run the bar through the morning rush, close at 3" tells them whether they want it. Specifics signal that you actually run the place.

Be honest about the hard parts

Late closes, weekend shifts, a demanding regular crowd — say it. The people who opt in anyway are the ones who stay. The ones you scared off would have quit in week two.

One clear next step

End with exactly what to do: apply here, bring up X, start date. Don't make them guess.

The best posts aren't clever. They're clear, honest, and written by someone who's actually done the job.

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How to write a job post people actually apply to — SHIFTED · SHIFTED