Why Isn’t Anyone Applying to My Job Ad?

Your company is hiring. You’ve determined the position’s requirements, written a job ad, and published it on a job board. It’s out there for throngs of job seekers champing at the bit to apply to your opportunity, so all you have to do now is sit back and wait.

And wait. And wait. It’s been weeks, and instead of waves of applicants, you only get a handful (or worse, zero) qualified candidates. What gives? Where have all the job candidates gone?

The Times They Are A-Changin’

You may not be receiving tons of applications simply because there aren’t as many candidates looking for jobs as there used to be.

As per BLS data, the job market has changed dramatically in the past 15 years. In July 2008, there were about 2.5 unemployed persons per job opening, and this figure spiked to 6.6 in July 2009. The ratio trended downward until the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, but since then, the ratio has fallen to less than one unemployed person per job opening.

Job market seasonality and business cycles play a role in employment numbers, of course. But it’s clear that when there are less unemployed people looking for jobs, employers will have to try even harder to win the “war for talent” and tap into a variety of talent pools beyond those actively seeking a new job.

So how do you attract qualified candidates with your job description, especially if your perfect hire is likely a passive job seeker and/or already employed?

Here are 6 hiring tips to increase your job ad response rate:

1. Double-Check Your Info

Review your job ad to be sure the title, location, HR contact information, and URLs are all correct. Something seemingly minuscule, like a typo, could be keeping you from getting responses. Make sure you cover the basics of what makes a good job ad when posting it.

2. Sell Your Company & The Position

Starting a new job – especially if it requires leaving a current one – is a big life decision. Does your job description “sell” your company and the open position well enough to convince top talent to apply? Brevity is essential (aim for 500 to 1,000 words), but make sure you’re being persuasive and not just descriptive. Why is your company a great place to work? What makes your culture unique? What will the person in this role be doing, who will they be working with, what will they be able to accomplish, and how will they be recognized? In short, why is this position their dream job?

3. Use the Right Keywords

Speak the same language job seekers do and include relevant keywords. This will help search engines AND qualified candidates find your posting. When you post a job on iHire, our AI-powered Job Ad Builder will suggest the right keywords to include based on the specific industry and job title.

4. Leverage Your Network

Share your job description with your network to tap into an excellent source of hires: referrals. Your current employees may know someone who would be perfect for the job, but that person isn’t actively looking and would never find your job ad otherwise. Spread the word with this helpful email template.

5. Use Clear & Simple Application Instructions

Keep your application process as straightforward as possible. If you ask great candidates to jump through hoops and provide everything but the kitchen sink before they even have a chance to speak with you, chances are your abandonment rates – especially with passive job seekers – will be high.

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6. Be Quick to Respond

Don’t make potential hires wait or they’ll move on to their many other prospects. According to iHire’s 2023 What Candidates Want survey, 66.1% of job seekers want to hear back from an employer within 24 hours of applying for a job, following up on an application, or sending other types of correspondence. Providing a positive candidate experience is so important when qualified candidates are hard to come by. Once you do get responses, be considerate to all applicants and keep them in the loop. Build and maintain a solid employer reputation and increase your chances of winning the war for talent by simply following the golden rule.

If you aren’t getting responses to your job ad, take a step back and follow these hiring tips to ensure you’re putting your best foot forward, making the most of your job ad’s content, and providing the right candidate experience to attract top talent.

For more job ad writing tips and tricks, head to iHire’s Employer Resource Center or enroll in our self-paced course, iHire Masterclass: Build Better Job Ads.