Your Job Posting Probably Sucks (Here's How to Fix It)

I've read hundreds of job postings in the last few months. Most of them are terrible.

Not because the jobs are bad — the postings just make it impossible to tell what the job actually is.

Here's what I've learned about what works and what doesn't.

Why Most Job Postings Fail

1. They lead with corporate fluff

"We're a dynamic, fast-paced organization looking for a rockstar to join our world-class team..."

Nobody cares. This tells me nothing about the actual job. People want to know: what will I DO? How much will I make? Where is it?

2. They hide the salary

California law requires salary ranges in job postings now. But some companies still put "$15-$100 DOE" which is useless.

If you're embarrassed by the salary, that's a different problem. If you're competitive, showing the number helps you stand out.

3. They list 47 "requirements"

"Must have 5+ years experience in our exact industry with expertise in 12 software platforms..."

Qualified people read this and think "I only have 3 years, guess I shouldn't apply." Unqualified people ignore the requirements entirely. You filter out the good candidates while keeping the bad ones.

4. They're just boring

Generic bullet points copied from some template. Zero personality. Nothing that makes someone think "this sounds like a good place to work."

What Good Job Postings Look Like

Let me show you the structure that actually works:

1. Start with the basics

In the first 3 sentences, tell me:

• What the job is (actual title, not internal jargon)
• Where it is (city, or "remote")
• What it pays (real range, not $15-$100)
• The schedule (full-time, part-time, shifts)

Boom. In one paragraph, I know if this job could work for me. No scrolling required.

2. Describe what they'll actually do

Skip the corporate-speak. What does a typical day look like?

Now I can picture the job. I know what I'm signing up for.

3. List only what actually matters

Requirements should be things you'll actually screen for:

That's it. You don't need 5 years of experience to pack boxes. Be honest about what actually matters.

4. Sell what makes you different

Why should someone work HERE instead of at Amazon or the other warehouse down the street?

• Better schedule?
• Room to grow?
• Good team culture?
• Air conditioning?
• Free lunch on Fridays?

Whatever it is, say it. Small things matter when people are choosing between similar jobs.

The Template That Works

Here's a fill-in-the-blank structure:

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't say "competitive salary"

This means nothing. Every company thinks their salary is competitive. Just post the number.

Don't require a degree for jobs that don't need one

Unless you literally need specialized knowledge, a degree requirement just filters out good candidates who learned through experience.

Don't copy/paste from Indeed templates

Everyone uses the same templates. Your posting ends up sounding exactly like 50 others. Write like a human.

Don't make it hard to apply

"Email your resume to jobs@company.com" is fine. Making someone create an account on your website, fill out 47 forms, and take a personality test? You'll lose good candidates.

Real Talk

A good job posting takes maybe 30 minutes to write. But it can be the difference between getting 10 qualified local applicants and getting 50 spam applications from people who didn't read the post.

When you post on 209.works, we actually review job postings and will suggest edits if something's unclear. We want you to get good applicants — that's how we all win.

Need help writing your job posting? Email me: paul@209.works