Jobs Ads 101: When, Where, and How to Use Them [Free Template]

A major part of owning a service business is staffing it with skilled and reliable workers. Whether its subcontractors or employees, who you hire will impact your professional reputation, profitability, and even the loyalty of your customers. That’s why having a great hiring strategy from the get-go is so important.

The job posting you create is the very first step in building a solid process for attracting new and qualified talent. But, you need to make sure that it communicates the right message and reaches the right people.

That’s where we come in. In this resource, you’ll learn:

• The differences between job postings vs descriptions
• What a job ad is
• What a job ad template is
• How to use written job ads
• How to use job ad posters and flyers
• Where to share job ads for free online

What’s the difference between job postings and job descriptions?

If you think you’re ready to hire, you probably already have a role in mind for your next employee. Chances are, you have a list of job duties you need them to take on and you have a good idea of what kind of person you want to bring into your business.

That’s the beginning of a job description. A job description is what you use to determine what exactly you’re looking for in a new hire. Is the position full-time or part-time? Is it seasonal? How much experience do you want the person to have?

A job description is what describes your dream employee for the role you’re looking to fill. It’s used internally to help you craft a job posting. You can even refer to it when using a job ad template to help fill out important sections.

A job posting is what you share publicly on job search websites and your website and social media pages. It’s how you communicate to job searchers that you’re hiring, and it tells them things like the job responsibilities and qualifications as well as information about your company.

Where a job posting entices and informs job seekers, your job description supports you through the hiring process. When you’re ready to review applications and conduct interviews, you can use it as a guide to determine which candidate is closest to your ideal hire.

What is a job ad?

When you’re getting ready to hire, a job ad is what you use to tell potential candidates what you’re looking for in a new employee. It should describe things like:

• The job duties and responsibilities
• Required qualifications and previous experience
• The type of employment (part-time, full-time, employee, subcontractor, or seasonal)

As well as company information, screening requirements, and more.
A job ad is posted publicly so that job seekers can review it, respond to it, or share it.

What is a job ad template?

A job ad template is a tool you can use to organize, display, and share the information from your job ad.

Some job ad templates are simple text-based tools that separate the information into sections and bullet points. Others are more like flyers or posters and include company colors and branding.

You may choose to stick with a basic written job ad or use a mix of both, depending on where you plan to advertise your job posting.

For example, text-based job ads work well for sites like Indeed and Craig’s List. Flashy, colorful posters and flyers are great to share on your company’s social media pages, or community bulletin boards.

Using a template can help you:

• Save time creating job ads
• Make your job ads look consistent
• Ensure you don’t forget important information
• Keep your job ad content organized
• Streamline your hiring process

How to use written job ads

Think of the job postings you see on Indeed or Craig’s List. They’re usually divided into a few different sections (like job details, qualifications, responsibilities, etc.), and filled in with bullet points.

After you write out a job ad, you’ll need to share it with your network to start spreading the word. You can do this by posting it to free job search websites, sharing it on social media (like Instagram, or Facebook for Business), and sending it to your email connections.

Another great way to expand your reach is to post in local professional groups, attend hiring fairs, and reach out to industry connections during professional meetups.

Some business owners even advertise that they’re hiring on their trucks as a way to constantly look for new employees.

Sometimes it’s a matter of getting a bit creative with how you advertise your employment opportunities.

How to use posters and flyers for job ads

Posters and flyers are another way to advertise that you’re hiring. When done right, they’re eye-catching, easy to share, and describe the perfect amount of information.

Flyers and posters should never replace your written job ads but instead, complement them. It’s important that you still offer more in-depth details about your company, the position, and the person you’re looking to hire through a job posting.

However, if you’re creating a job posting flyer or poster to share on social media, simply link to the detailed job posting in the introductory text of your post.

In a job ad poster, you don’t have to be as detailed as your written job posting. Instead, include basic information, like:

• A headline that tells people you’re hiring
• The title (or titles) you’re hiring for
• Your company name, logo, and contact information
• Where to find more information about the job
• A call to action, like “apply now!”

Unlike a written job ad, a job ad poster or flyer can be designed with brand colors, images, and logos.

You don’t have to be a designer to create a beautiful job announcement, there are plenty of free platforms you can try, such as:

• Jobber
• Pablo
• Canva
• Adobe Spark

Pro tip: print out a few copies and keep them in your truck. You never know when you could meet a great hire!

Where can I share my job ad for free online?

Whether you use a job ad template or not, you’ll need to do a little work to get the word out.

After you write a job ad, you’ll need to post your ad on popular job search websites to get it in front of potential hires.
Written job ads can be posted for free online on the following websites:

• Indeed
• Facebook
• Craig’s List
• Reddit
• Your company website

But you’ll want to use a different strategy for job ad posters or flyers. They work best on social media platforms, such as:

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Instagram

Building a solid team from the ground up

As your business grows, so will your processes and administrative needs. Eventually, you’ll likely need to start managing things like scheduling and dispatching, time tracking, and job forms and checklists on top of all your other day-to-day tasks. Though it might not seem like it, all of this is influenced by your hiring process.

By growing a team of trustworthy and qualified employees, you’re benefiting your business, and your customers. Better candidates are more likely to do good work, follow the processes and procedures you put in place and help to build a glowing reputation for your company.

Finding those workers all starts with an accurate, far-reaching job post. So, be sure to include it in your hiring strategy!