How to Post a Job Online

If you need to fill a position at your business or need to hire a professional for any reason, posting the job online lets you find qualified candidates quickly and easily. Since companies list new positions frequently, it’s important to write your listing so it stands out from the rest. Once you write the listing, share it on multiple job boards so applicants can find the position while they’re job-hunting. If you still don’t get any applicants, promoting your listing will help other potential candidates find the job. Hopefully, you’ll be able to find the right employee for the job!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Writing a Job Description

1
Write the job title clearly so it’s easy to search for. Many potential candidates search by job title, so list your opening with a clear and concise title that’s easy to find. Even if your company has a creative or fun name for the position, choose a more general term when you write the posting. If you use a different name for the position, candidates may not even find your listing.^{[1]XResearch source}
- For example, rather than listing something like “Sandwich Artist”, you may list the position as “Line Cook” instead.
2
Summarize the day-to-day duties of the position. Try to write the position using “you” instead of the job title or “the right candidate” so it feels like you’re talking directly to the potential applicant. In 2–3 short sentences, write a brief summary of the position. Include information about what the applicant can expect to do every day as part of the job. Include a sentence about how the job is important for the rest of the company to help sell the opportunity.^{[2]XResearch source}
- For example, if you’re writing a post for a sales clerk at a boutique, you may write, “You will be the face of our company and assist each customer as they come in. Each day, you will provide exceptional care by styling outfits and recommending products for customers, work the register, and help keep our store tidy and clean throughout the day.”
3
Describe job responsibilities with bullet points so they’re easier to read. Only list 1 responsibility per bullet point so it isn’t confusing for someone to read. Start each bullet point with an active verb to make each one sound more important. Pick around 5 of the most important responsibilities the applicant can expect to do regularly in the position and include them in your posting.^{[3]XResearch source}
- For example, for a sales clerk, some example responsibilities could be: “Provide product recommendations based on customer style and preferences,” “Ring up customers and handle money with a point-of-sale system,” and “Maintain store cleanliness.”
4
List the skills and educational requirements needed for the job. Make a list of all of the skills you’d like the applicant to have for the position. From your list, pick the skills that are absolutely required if the person wants to be considered for the opening. Then, use whatever you have leftover as preferred skills that the applicant doesn’t need, but would make them more qualified. If the position requires any specific education, be sure to include it in the list.^{[4]XResearch source}
- For example, you may require things like, “1-year experience working in customer service,” “Advanced knowledge using Microsoft Office,” or “Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality or a related field.”
- You may also require certifications for nannying or housekeeping positions to ensure that you’re finding someone who’s qualified.
5
Request a resume and cover letter from applicants. Include a sentence at the bottom of the job listing asking the applicant to submit their forms so you can screen them. Have them list their previous experience in the resume and write why they want the position for the cover letter. That way, you can look through the potential candidates so you select someone that’s qualified and fits the company culture.^{[5]XResearch source}
- Many job sites allow users to upload a copy of their resume and cover letter, but you can also list an email address if you want candidates to send you the information.
- You may not need both a full resume and cover letter if you’re looking to fill a part-time position.
6
Include an About Us section to describe yourself or your company’s culture. Job candidates want to know if they’ll fit well with you or your company, so write a small section at the bottom of the job listing to showcase it. You can give a brief overview of yourself or your company’s history and goals. If you can offer benefits, include them at the end of the About Us to sell the position even more.^{[6]XResearch source}
- For example, you could say something like, “Fay’s Art Store is an independent shop providing quality art supplies to the Bay Area since 1995. Fay’s also gives space for local artists to share and sell their work to support the community. We pride ourselves on our small dedicated team of employees and our support for arts in the community.”
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Choosing Where to Post

1
Post the opening on Indeed for free to reach the widest audience. Indeed is one of the most popular job search engines, and best of all, it’s completely free. Click the “Post a Job” button on the top of the page to start filling out the form. Write the company, job title, and description in the corresponding text boxes, and check that you’ve spelled everything correctly. When you’re finished adding the description, click the “Post” button to make the listing public.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Indeed also has email notifications so you’re aware when new candidates submit an application.
- Indeed may have a lot of spam listings since it also pulls information from other online job boards.
2
Post on LinkedIn to connect and network with professionals. LinkedIn is a social networking site for employees and employers to network and make professional connections, but it also has a dedicated job board. Click on the Jobs tab at the top of the screen and select “Post a Job” to start your listing. Fill out the description and skills required for the position and click “Continue”. Enter your billing information and set a daily budget you want to spend on your post to make it visible. When you’re finished, submit the post to make it public.^{[8]XResearch source}
- You can see the LinkedIn profile for each candidate as they apply so you can see who’s in their network and what experience they have.
- Many people on LinkedIn are already employed, so they may not be actively seeking new opportunities and you might not get as many responses as other job boards.
3
Try adding the job to Craigslist for local gigs or freelance work. Select the Craigslist region closest to the company’s location and click the “Post to Classifieds” link on top of the page. Select the job category that best matches the position from the list and add the job description in the text boxes. When you’re finished with the ad, click the “Continue” button to see a preview of the posting. If you’re happy with how it looks, click the “Publish” button to submit it.^{[9]XResearch source}
- Craigslist lists items in reverse-chronological order, so your listing may be hard to find the longer it’s posted.
- You can also post full-time positions on Craigslist, but you may get more responses from unqualified candidates.
4
Opt for a specialized job board to find candidates in a specific industry. While general job boards are good for finding a wide pool of candidates, you may find more qualified applicants on sites for your industry. If you’re posting a tech-based job, you may have luck posting on AngelList. For nannying or housekeeping positions, try posting on Care or a similar site.^{[10]XResearch source}
5
Use Glassdoor or ZipRecruiter to pay for more visibility. Glassdoor and ZipRecruiter are job boards where applicants can find new openings and read company reviews from other employees. Click on the “Post a Job” button near the top of the window to start filling out the form. Put in the job description you wrote into the text boxes and go to the next page. Select the billing plan you want to use for your posting before submitting your credit card information.^{[11]XResearch source}
- Glassdoor and ZipRecruiter offer a free trial so you can try it out before spending any money.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Promoting Your Listing

1
Share the opening on your social media page for the largest audience. Make the opening line of your post engaging and attention-getting so people keep reading it. Mention the job title and a brief overview of what the job entails. Copy a link leading to the job posting or include an email address where applicants can submit their forms. Be sure to reshare or continue posting reminders until you’re able to fill the position.^{[12]XResearch source}
- For example, you may write something like, “We’re hiring! If you’re a people person, love styling outfits, and want to join a fun team of employees, our boutique is hiring! We’re looking for a sales clerk and stylist to help with our customers. Check out our full job description here!”
- Ask other employees to share the post as well to help reach even more people.
- Include an image or hashtags with your post so it’s more eye-catching.
2
Promote the listing on the job board to reach more qualified candidates. Many job boards have paid promotions where they make your listing more visible and show it to more users. While you can usually pay to promote right when you post the job, you can also add promotions later on. Select the amount you want to pay and how long you want to promote it. Once you enter your billing information and submit it, more people will be able to see your post.^{[13]XResearch source}
- Rates will vary between different job boards.
3
Advertise on social media to target people with specific interests. Look for the “Ads” menu on the social media platform you want to use and write the post about the opening. Select the number of days you want the promotion to run and how much of a budget you have. Then enter the age range, location, and any interests or skills that you want potential applicants to have so they see you're posting more frequently.^{[14]XResearch source}
- You can also pay to promote a post that you’ve already made from the company’s account.
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Tips

Many job boards only list the position for a 30- or 60-day period before removing it, so you may need to repost the position if you don’t find any new hires.
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Warnings

Be careful not to be too vague when you write your job posting so you don’t get applications from unqualified candidates.
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