How to Double the Applications to Your Job Postings

Here’s a reality check: the job posting you spent hours crafting might not be delivering the results you expect. The reason? It hasn't been tested. A/B testing in recruiting has been used to help you attract more qualified applicants by comparing two versions of a job post to determine which performs better. Here’s the data-driven playbook that could transform your recruitment efforts.

The Tests That Transformed Our Results

Test #1: The Title Effect

A study by ZipRecruiter revealed that small changes to job titles can lead to a significant impact on applications (Technology Advice, 2022):

• Changing “Administrative Assistant” to “Receptionist/Administrative Assistant” resulted in 65 additional applications.
• Job titles should use common keywords rather than abbreviations or obscure terms to attract more applicants.

Test #2: The Job Description

The length of the job description also plays a crucial role in driving applications (LinkedIn, 2018):

• Short job posts (1-300 words) generate 8.4% more applications than average.
• Medium posts (301-600 words) attract 3.4% fewer applications than average.
• Long posts (601+ words) lead to just 1% more applications than average.

Test #3: The Employer Branding

Including a company description significantly increases the likelihood of candidates applying (Skynova, 2021):

• With a company description: 72% likelihood to apply.
• Without a company description: 56% likelihood to apply.

Test #4: The Salary Strategy

Salary transparency also impacts application rates (Skynova, 2021):

• Fixed salary: 72% likelihood to apply.
• No salary listed: 72% likelihood to apply.
• Salary range: 57% likelihood to apply.

Surprising Findings:

1. Day of Posting Matters
   
   Monday is the most effective day for job postings, with 20% of applications submitted on this day. Tuesday and Wednesday follow closely with 19% and 18% respectively. Applications drop below 15% for posts on other days (LinkedIn, 2018).
   
   
2. Word Choice Impact
   
   Certain words have a positive or negative influence on job seekers:
   
   
   • Words like “Growth,” “Challenge,” and “Creative” leave a positive impression on over 36% of job seekers.
   • Words like “Guru” and “Competitive” lead to negative perceptions in around 25% of applicants.
   • 71% of candidates react positively to achievement-related terms.

Quick Win: The 5-Minute Fix

Simply posting a job opening is not enough in competitive labor market. Optimizing job titles, using positive language, and posting on the right days can significantly improve your reach and application rates.

With BlindStairs’ AI assistant, it is easy to maximize your job postings without the hassle of doing A/B testing yourself. Creating effective job posting is effortless. The AI knows what to optimize, so you can attract the right talent in the most efficient way possible. Let BlindStairs handle it for you - boost your applications with smarter job posts today.

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