4 JOB POSTING STRATEGIES TO ATTRACT TOP CANDIDATES

Jeff Mignault • August 10, 2017

If you want to attract top candidates in your industry, then you need to write a top notch job posting. Most of the time, what you put into the job post is what you will get out of it. Short and vague job posts that say little about the company or position will provide you with little benefit.

In addition to including the required information about roles and responsibilities, the following job posting strategies can help you attract the right candidates for the roles you want to fill:

1. Focus on the applicant

Most companies focus on what they are looking for rather than the opportunities they can offer applicants. Focusing on the applicant, the career opportunities you can offer, discussing the great company culture, what they can accomplish, who they can work with, and how they will be rewarded for their hard work are all important factors in getting top candidates to apply.

2. Leave them wanting more

The goal of a job posting is to make people want to apply for the job. Therefore, it’s important to make sure you do a good job of selling the role to them. You can always fill in the details of the role during the hiring process when you call them for an interview.

3. Get to the point

Long winded job posts with large paragraphs and mountains of information will cause people to stop reading your job post and move on. People have short attention spans, and they want you to get to the point. Use subheadings and bullet points to break up the job post to make it easy to scan. Highlight important information and key selling points of the role.

4. Include multiple calls to action

Not all top candidates will be immediately interested or will want to take action and apply. Sometimes, they need a little encouragement in the form of a call to action. Ask them to apply, and if they are not interested, ask them to share the post with others or to refer other professionals they think would be a good fit for the job.

While job posts are important, they are only a part of your larger recruiting strategies. Used in conjunction with referrals, effective job interviews, and working with recruitment firms, you can find and retain the talent you need to run your company successfully.

More Recruiting and Job Posting Tips

Jeff Mignault
7 workforce alternatives employers can consider before layoffs
October 21, 2026
Facing tariff pressure or weaker demand? Explore seven workforce options Canadian employers can consider before layoffs, from redeployment to work-sharing.
Three blocks representing tariffs and trade barriers affecting Canadian employers
October 14, 2026
Learn 5 ways Canadian employers can prepare for workforce disruption caused by tariffs, including workforce planning, skills development and retention.
Vacation planning calendar with beach chair.
October 7, 2026
Learn how vacation pay is calculated in Canada and what employers need to know about provincial requirements.
Manager addressing a challenging employee situation.
September 30, 2026
Learn how new managers can address difficult employee behaviour, manage performance and handle challenging conversations.
Employees disengaged during corporate training.
September 16, 2026
Learn eight signs your corporate training program isn't working and how to improve its impact.
Pay equity and equal pay comparison represented by male and female figures.
September 2, 2026
Learn the difference between pay equity and equal pay and Ontario's requirements for employers.
Employee receiving career transition support after a layoff.
August 26, 2026
Are outplacement services worth the cost? Explore the benefits for Canadian employers and employees.
Illustration of a robot carrying office equipment while an employee leaves with a box
August 12, 2026
Discover why AI can't replace human HR expertise. Learn where AI adds value and when experienced HR professionals are essential.
Man making woman uncomfortable in an office representing workplace harassment.
August 5, 2026
Learn Ontario's workplace violence and harassment training requirements to stay compliant and create a safer workplace.
HR professional reviewing an employee termination checklist on a laptop.
July 22, 2026
Follow this employee termination checklist for Canadian employers to reduce legal risk, meet compliance requirements, and manage employee exits professionally.