Why Having a Great Career Site is Important
Let’s face it, your career site is like the shop window for your company, but instead of mannequins, you’ve got job openings and company culture on display. It’s where job seekers come window-shopping for opportunities. Get it right, and they’re walking through the door; get it wrong, and they’re strolling on by to the next site.
In today’s digital age, your career site is often the first impression potential candidates have of your company. A well-crafted site can be a magnet for top talent, making them think, “This is it. This is where I want to be!” On the other hand, a poorly executed site can send them running for the hills—or worse, to your competitors.
But it’s not just about attracting candidates. It’s about attracting the right ones. A career site that resonates with your company’s ethos and values will help filter in candidates who are a good fit. Think of it as the bouncer at the door of your recruitment nightclub, ensuring only the best and brightest make it onto the dance floor.
Now, let’s talk turkey about how you can make your career site not just good, but great.
Career Site Best Practices
1. Clear, Compelling Content is King
Your career site should be a beacon of clarity in the murky waters of job searching. Keep your language straightforward, engaging, and free of corporate jargon. Remember, you’re not writing a legal document; you’re telling a story about why your company is an amazing place to work. This is your chance to spark interest, to connect emotionally with potential candidates.
Use a conversational tone that makes readers feel like they’re having a chat over coffee, not sitting in a stuffy boardroom. Highlight what sets your company apart, whether it’s your innovative projects, your commitment to work-life balance, or your office’s unbeatable snack selection. By creating content that resonates, you’re not just filling positions, you’re building relationships.
2. Reflect Your Brand’s Personality
If your company was a person, what kind of personality would it have? Quirky? Professional? Innovative? Whatever it is, let that personality shine through in every aspect of your site. Your brand’s tone should be like a well-made cup of tea; it’s all about finding that perfect blend that feels just right. Let the colours, images, and words on your site be a true reflection of who you are as a company.
Are you the bold espresso shot of innovation or the comforting chamomile of reliability? Use your unique flavour to connect with like-minded candidates who aren’t just looking for a job, but a place where they feel they truly belong. Your career site is not just a platform, it’s the storybook of your company’s character.
3. Showcase Your Company Culture
Culture is the heartbeat of your company, and candidates want to feel the pulse. Include employee testimonials, day-in-the-life videos, and snaps from team events. Show off the unique aspects that make working for your company special—whether it’s rooftop yoga sessions or team hackathons. Don’t just tell; show how your office buzzes with creativity, collaboration, and coffee aficionados.
Let potential candidates see how birthdays are celebrated, how achievements are applauded, and how every Friday might just be the best day of the week. Your company culture isn’t just a part of your business, it’s the soul of your workspace. Give candidates a virtual tour of what makes your team tick, laugh, and innovate together.
4. Make Navigation a Breeze
Ever been lost in a website? It’s like being stuck in a maze with no cheese at the end. Your career site should be as easy to navigate as a well-organised supermarket aisle. Job openings should be front and centre, with clear paths to company information, employee stories, and application processes. Ensure that every click brings candidates closer to their destination without unnecessary detours.
Think like a candidate: what would they want to know and how quickly can they find it? Make sure your menu is as intuitive as a familiar song, leading them smoothly from one section to another. By eliminating the guesswork in navigation, you’re not just building a site; you’re building a pleasant journey for your future team members.
5. Mobile-Friendliness Isn’t Optional
In an age where smartphones are practically an extension of our bodies, if your career site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re living in the dark ages. More than half of job seekers are likely browsing on their phones, so make sure your site looks just as sharp on a small screen as it does on a desktop. Remember, a pinch-and-zoom affair is as frustrating as a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces.
Your mobile site should offer the same seamless experience, with easy-to-read text, swift loading times, and buttons big enough to tap without a magnifying glass. In a world where your next star employee could be swiping through your site on their commute, mobile optimisation isn’t just nice to have; it’s a must.
6. SEO: The Key to Being Found
It’s not just about building a great site; it’s about making sure people can actually find it. Incorporate keywords like ‘jobs at [your company name]’ and ‘work at [your company name]’ throughout your content. Think of SEO as the breadcrumb trail leading Hansel and Gretel—aka your potential candidates—right to your gingerbread house. But it’s more than just sprinkling keywords like fairy dust; it’s about weaving them into a compelling narrative. Use them in your headlines, in your job descriptions, and in those sneaky meta tags
Align your content with the terms job seekers are actually using to search. SEO isn’t just a technicality; it’s a key player in the match-making game between your company and your future employees. Remember, being on the second page of Google is like winking in the dark – you know what you’re doing, but nobody else does.
7. A Picture Speaks a Thousand Words
Humans are visual creatures. Include images and videos that portray the life at your company. But please, no stock photos of people in suits high-fiving. We want authenticity, not a scene from a 90s corporate brochure. Use real photos of your actual team – in meetings, during coffee breaks, at company events.
Let candidates peek behind the curtain to see the real magic of your workplace. A candid shot of a brainstorming session or a team celebration can speak volumes about your work environment. These visuals are not just decoration; they are powerful tools that convey your company’s essence and energy, making your site not just a page, but a window into your world.
8. The Application Process: Keep It Simple
Ever filled out an application form that felt like running a marathon with no finish line? Your application process should be more like a pleasant stroll in the park. The easier it is, the more likely candidates will complete it. Long, complicated applications are as enjoyable as a toothache. Ask for essential information only and streamline the steps as much as possible (read more about what makes a good application form).
Remember, every additional field or complex requirement is a hurdle that might trip up your potential candidates. Make it user-friendly and considerate of their time. Imagine you’re inviting them into your company’s home; you wouldn’t want them to get lost in the hallway, would you? A smooth application process not only respects the candidate’s time but also reflects your company’s efficiency and respect for simplicity.
9. Use Data to Your Advantage
Gather insights about how visitors interact with your site. Which pages do they visit the most? Where do they drop off? Use this data to make informed adjustments. Remember, a career site is not a ‘set it and forget it’ roast; it’s a dish that needs constant tasting and tweaking. Like a master chef, use analytics to refine your recipe.
Discover what attracts candidates, holds their attention, and motivates them to apply. Is it the compelling employee stories or the detailed descriptions of your work culture? Adjust your strategy based on these insights. By analysing patterns, you can optimise your site to not just attract, but also engage and convert visitors into applicants. It’s a continuous cycle of learning, adjusting, and improving – ensuring your career site remains a delectable treat for job seekers.
10. Regular Updates Keep It Fresh
An outdated career site is like last year’s calendar—useful once, but not anymore. Keep your content fresh and updated. Regularly post new job openings, company news, and employee stories. It shows that your company is active and thriving, not stuck in the past. Updating your site is like watering a plant; it keeps it alive and growing. Showcase the latest projects your team is working on, celebrate recent successes, and highlight new initiatives.
This not only keeps your site dynamic but also paints a picture of a company that’s constantly evolving and moving forward. A career site that’s regularly refreshed indicates a workplace that values progress and innovation. Let your career site be a living, breathing representation of your company’s journey and growth, continually inviting candidates to be a part of your exciting future.
How to Easily Build a Career Site with Teamdash
Now that you’ve got the blueprint for an amazing career site, you might be wondering, “How on earth am I going to build this masterpiece?” Enter Teamdash. Our career site builder tool is so intuitive, even your grandma could use it (no offence to tech-savvy grandmas).
With Teamdash, you can create a career site that’s not just functional but fabulous. Our customizable templates let you reflect your brand’s unique flavour without having to write a single line of code. And yes, they’re as mobile-friendly as a new best friend.
But that’s not all. Our custom application forms allow you to tailor the application experience to your company’s specific needs, ensuring a perfect fit for each role. Plus, our job ad landing page builder helps you create compelling, branded pages for each job opening, making it easier to attract and engage top talent.
Want to schedule interviews or automate your GDPR compliance? We’ve got you covered. Plus, our social media recruitment tools make attracting top talent as easy as pie. In a nutshell, Teamdash is the secret ingredient to cook up a career site that not only attracts candidates but wows them. So, what are you waiting for? Book a product tour and start building a career site that candidates can’t resist.
