Recruitment

4. Attracting Candidates

4.1 Carefully write your job advertisement, or agency brief. (See Writing an advertisement.)

• Model your own ad on the best advertisements for similar jobs.
• Describe your business. State what you do and where you are located.
• Detail the important elements of the job. Remember to mention attractive features. For example, explain what makes the job interesting and why your company is good to work for.
• Indicate the salary involved. Specify a range so that you can vary your final offer according to what a candidate seems worth.
• Include any training and promotion opportunities.
• State what you want from a candidate (eg indicate what experience is required).
• Tell candidates how to apply (see 4.2), and the closing date for applications.

4.2 Invite applications in a form that helps you assess each candidate (see 5.1).

• A CV and covering letter should give you the information you need to draw up an interview shortlist.
• Using your own application form can help you get more specific information, and provides an easier and fairer way to compare candidates.