How To Make Your Job Posting Stand Out on Indeed—The Ultimate Guide

When you post a job listing on Indeed, the most popular job board in the world, you enter fierce competition against other companies just like yours, striving for the same goal—hiring top candidates. 

There are hundreds, even thousands of other listings. Some will sport a fancy logo of a big name everyone wants to work for. Others will lure top talent with promises of attractive financial compensation. Getting qualified candidates to notice you is no easy task. 

Luckily, there are some tried and true ways to get your job ad noticed on Indeed. Sometimes, you will also need to resort to creativity to woo the best of the best and make them click on that tiny Apply button. To that end, here’s how to make your job posting stand out on Indeed. 

Indeed Job Posting Best Practices

Before you hit the Post button and make your vacancy public, you must compose a killer job description. That is your most powerful tool in getting qualified candidates to pick you over your competitors.

Here are some tips for writing an attractive job description to keep in mind:

1. Be super specific and clear
2. Be concise
3. Share your company culture and values
4. Be positive, personal, and unconventional
5. Pay attention to the visual appeal

Be Specific and Clear

Every job description on Indeed consists of three crucial elements. The table below shows what they are and what they include:

When writing each section, use clear language without convoluted phrases and be as specific and factual as possible. 

Be Concise

When writing a job ad for Indeed, you have to keep two things in mind:

1. Most jobseekers will browse through listings on their mobile phones
2. Most people have short attention spans

You must keep your job description short and sweet and include all the vital information. Long, descriptive paragraphs will only overwhelm candidates, so find a perfect balance between being concise and informative. 

Share Your Company Culture and Values

To make your job posting stand out on Indeed and get qualified candidates to apply, you should speak about your company and values. Your future hires should meet your basic requirements but also fit in with your organization and your current employees. Present your brand and your message as best as you can. 

Only candidates who share similar values and believe in your business’s vision can be valuable additions to your company and remain dedicated employees for longer periods. 

Be Positive, Personal, and Unconventional

A positive tone will make your job ad stand out on Indeed. Often, hiring managers write job descriptions focusing on the challenges candidates will face, which usually doesn’t resonate well with applicants and hardly ever attracts top talent. You want to present your company as a positive work environment. Promote a positive vibe to show how fun working for your company is. 

You should also consider who your target audience is. Think about their age and specific skills and use the tone that would speak to them. If you target younger candidates, you may benefit from a friendly, more direct tone. 

Source: Indeed

Besides positive language and tone, you can add a promotional video to your job posting on Indeed. A video can even help boost the credibility of your company. It can also help attract top talent.

Whichever method you go for, always address applicants directly. Each potential candidate will feel like you are talking to them personally and making them feel special. 

Pay Attention to the Visual Appeal of Your Indeed Job Posting

Aesthetics plays an important role when composing your job ad on Indeed. Visuals attract people’s attention and inspire curiosity. They will want to see what your company is about and what you have to offer. The visual appeal will be like a hook that makes them pay attention to the textual aspect of your ad. 

Whatever type of visuals you use—images, videos, or infographics—make sure that the colors match your brand and logo. 

How To Get the Most Out of Your Indeed Job Posting

Once you have finished writing a job posting that will stand out on Indeed, you can increase the chances of your ad getting noticed by:

1. Having the job ad reviewed before publishing
2. Using screening questions
3. Sponsoring your ad

Have Your Indeed Job Ad Reviewed

Before you make your job listing live, you should ask a colleague (your manager, for instance) to review it. The second pair of eyes will spot possible mistakes and unclarity and suggest revisions. 

The rest of the hiring team, people who will work directly with the new hire, and those who have already worked in the same position should also give their two cents about the job description. Perhaps they can help fine-tune the requirements and responsibilities, give a more accurate depiction of the role, and maybe even anticipate the potential applicant’s reaction to it.

Use Screening Questions

Adding screening questions to your listings is a powerful vetting tool that will save you time while searching for qualified candidates. They let you quickly determine if an applicant meets your basic criteria, allowing you to focus more on connecting with qualified candidates. According to Indeed, job listings with screening questions are 40% more likely to result in a successful hire. 

This works by having candidates who apply to your ad on Indeed to answer a question or more. If they respond unfavorably, you can automatically decline them. 

Indeed offers many ready-made screening questions based on the job title you are advertising. Some examples are:

• How many years of experience do you have in [field]?
• Do you have a college degree?
• Are you willing to relocate for work?
• Why do you want to work for [Company Name]?
• Do you have a valid permit to work in the U.S.?

You can also create your own questions, and there are no limitations regarding the number of screening questions you can use, whether you use your own or the ones provided by Indeed. 

Sponsor Your Indeed Job Listing

Indeed lets you post ads for free, but if you want to increase visibility and reach a wider audience, sponsoring your ad on Indeed will undoubtedly help it stand out. 

Sponsoring is the right option if:

• You need to fill the role quickly
• You need a candidate for a hard-to-fill position that requires a specialized set of skills
• Your job description is not attracting suitable candidates
• The market is highly competitive, and the best candidates get hired fast

Source: Indeed

With a free posting option, your ad will likely get lost among the sea of other ads. If you sponsor it, you basically advertise it, and Indeed presents it to more people. The table below shows how free and paid posting options on Indeed differ:

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that you know how to make your job listing stand out on Indeed, let’s address a few of the common questions that people who use this job board often have. 

What Are the Best Days To Post Jobs on Indeed?

There is no best or worst day to post a job ad, but ads published on work days tend to get more immediate views. 

Can I Outwit the Indeed Job Posting Algorithm?

Like all other search engines, Indeed relies on algorithms to provide users with the most relevant search results. It screens the keywords you use in the ad, the locations mentioned, and the skills and qualifications of candidates. If you exploit these principles and repost the same role in a short timeframe or in more locations than the job offers, visibility will be degraded. 

How Much Does It Cost To Sponsor a Job Ad on Indeed?

Sponsored ads on Indeed function on the pay-per-click principle, which means you can set a budget that works for you. However, you won’t pay whenever an applicant clicks on your ad. Indeed only charges you for candidates you end up considering for the position and won’t count the ones you reject. 

How Does Indeed Calculate the Cost Per Application?

Indeed considers several factors when determining the cost per application, such as:

• The job title
• Location
• Local market conditions

It means that the cost may change as the market conditions change. 

The good news is that you are always in control. You will see the price upfront and decide if you want to sponsor your job posting. 

Does Indeed Offer an Applicant Tracking System?

When you post a vacancy on Indeed, you gain access to the technology that lets you track applicants free of charge. From your Employer Dashboard, you can manage all your applications, schedule interviews, and see recommended candidates. 

Which Applicant Tracking Systems Does Indeed Integrate With?

Indeed seamlessly integrates with a long list of applicant tracking systems, including:

• AcquireTM
• ApplicantPro
• Workable
• Google Hire
• SmartRecruiters

What Are Some Alternatives to Indeed?

As an alternative to Indeed, you can try posting your job ad on:

• Ladders
• Mashable
• CareerJet
• Dice
• Monster
• CareerBuilder
• ZipRecruiter
• LinkedIn
• Juju
• Snagajob