Best Practices for Job Postings Fed to Indeed.com

Introduction

SchoolFront has an integration with the job posting website Indeed.com. Job postings created in SchoolFront can be automatically sent to Indeed by checking the "Post to Job Board" checkbox on the Details tab of the Job Posting in SchoolFront. If you want to ensure that your job posting "performs" well on Indeed, adhering to the following best practices when you create your job posting in SchoolFront will help:

• Avoid Frequently Reposting Jobs
  Reposting a job is relisting a position that’s active within your account (or has been recently). While reposting a job makes sense if you’re struggling to fill the spot or you have frequent turnover in that role, doing so too frequently could result in decreased visibility on Indeed. So, before you repost, consider:

  • How long has the original post been active? If it’s been quite a while with no productive activity then it is probably worthwhile to repost it despite the fact that it may be less visible on Indeed.
  • Can the job post be improved? Modifying the title and job description may be enough to attract the candidates you need. Best practices for creating good job posting content are detailed later in this article. 
  • Why is turnover so high at this position? Answering and addressing this question in the job post may alleviate the concerns of job seekers who might otherwise not apply.
     
• Change the Content of Long-Running Job Postings Each Time You Repost Them
  You can post job perpetually in SchoolFront and such jobs will never be removed or "buried" in RecruitFront until you deactivate the job posting or it expires. This is not true on Indeed though, so if you repost long-running/perpetually-active job postings (e.g. postings for substitute teachers) because you want them listed on Indeed and don't want them buried or removed, change the content in the job posting so that it is different enough from the previous posting that Indeed doesn't flag it as a repost.
  Note: This may not be enough to prevent Indeed from burying the job posting, but it's worth it to try.
   

• Avoid "Location Blasting"
  Each of your job posts must represent a specific vacancy in your organization. That means you should avoid posting the same role in multiple cities (also known as “location blasting”) - Unless you actually need to fill that position in every location (i.e. you have multiple discrete positions open). If caught location blasting your posts may be removed and you may have to sponsor those posts (instead of publishing the listings for free). Make sure that the locations you list on job postings that are otherwise very similar (or identical) are clearly/obviously different. To further protect your job posts from being buried or ignored on Indeed, make changes to the content of each post so that they are more-obviously different.
   

• Include Important Keywords in Job Titles and Descriptions
  Ensure your job post is included in Indeed search results by including content that is specific, clear, industry-appropriate, and keyword-rich.
   

• Create an Informative and Easy to Read Job Description

  Job description should the responsibilities, requirements, and benefits of the job. Job postings should also be scannable and easy to read.

• Do Not Include Links to External Content in the Job Description Indeed will strip links contained within the job description. Instead of linking to an external site to include more details about the job, put those details right in the job description. Having as much relevant content as possible within the job description will aid in enhancing searchability via search engines, Indeed and within RecruitFront.

• Keep Content Simple, Upbeat, and Welcoming
  According to Indeed, the average job seeker is short on time. They’re looking for jobs on their breaks and after dinner. The simpler and easier-to-read you can make your job post, the more likely you are to attract the right candidates. Content should maintain an upbeat tone that feels welcoming for job seekers. Try to stick to an accessible vocabulary that anyone can understand.
   

• Use Formatting to Make Content Easily Scannable by Job Seekers
  When formatting your job description:

  • Avoid big blocks of text – break it up into smaller 3-4 sentence paragraphs. 

  • Use lists (bullet points) to make info easy to scan.

  • Add sections (qualifications, benefits, etc.) for scannability.

  • Don't overuse font colors, multiple fonts, or font sizing such that legibility or scannability are diminished.
     

• Avoid Discriminatory and/or Offensive Language
  Indeed reserves the right to ignore or remove any job post it deems inappropriate for or harmful to job seekers, but some language that doesn't necessarily violate Indeed's rules may still discourage certain job seekers. Make sure you use inclusive, accessible, welcoming and explicitly non-discriminatory language in your job posting content. 
   
• Include Content that is Most Valued by Job Seekers (According to Indeed) 
  The following are the six most important things to include in a job description according to research done by Indeed and including them typically increases the likelihood that job seekers will apply to a position: 

  • Pay range

  • Benefits

  • Shift info

  • Location (or remote)

  • Required qualifications

  • Type of job: full-time or part-time