Finding the right employees is key to the success of your farm or food business. Like we’ve said before: people are your most valuable asset.
It would be amazing if you could hire once, automatically find the perfect employee, and then they stayed working for you forever. Unfortunately, that’s not how things go.
People don’t work out. People leave. You decide to expand and need more help. There are always scenarios where you need to hire.
The first step towards a successful hire is a good job posting. Potential candidates use the posting to assess whether or not to apply for your position. You want a posting that attracts the kind of people you want to hire.
Here are our top tips for a strong job posting:
1. Be specific
Instead of listing generic skills and adjectives, give specific examples of how those skills will be applied in the role. For example, instead of saying “creative thinker,” say “This position requires creativity for tasks like brainstorming names for new jam flavors.”
2. Be truthful
You want to hire an individual who is ready and willing to do the job that you have open. When you’re honest in the posting, you get qualified and excited candidates. For example, make it clear if the job requires non-traditional hours, involves working outdoors in the elements, or has a specific busy season where more hours are expected.
3. Be complete, not overly complex
Too many requirements can scare away great candidates. Make sure you have enough requirements to make it clear what the position entails, but don’t overwhelm the job searchers. The requirements section of the posting should not be the longest one.
4. Be yourself
Job searchers use the posting to assess your company’s culture. Make sure you sound natural and friendly. Use the company profile and job description portions of the posting to showcase who you are and why an individual would want to work for you.
5. Be creative
Resumes and cover letters give a good sense of candidate experience, but they can be formulaic. Consider a creative alternative to a cover letter such as a series of questions that get at the information you really want from candidates. Especially in the farm and food business world, creativity can really pay off.
Once you’ve crafted your job posting, post it as soon as you know the position will be open. Between sifting through resumes and scheduling interviews, it can take a month or more to complete the hiring process. Giving yourself ample time allows you to select a candidate who will truly be an asset for your business.
Resource
Good Food Jobs has created a valuable guide to writing equitable job postings. Check it out here.