dMFK Studio in West Hampstead, London. Photo by Ellen Hancock

Writing a job ad can seem like a toneless task. Just get it out it out there as fast a possible, we need people, some might think. But, really, the desired outcome is to attract the best talent, and that takes some finesse. Especially in our current market, where job-seekers have a plethora of opportunities to choose from, firms more than ever need to approach their search for new talent with a spirit of excellence and creativity.

Like a job seeker's application package, a firm's job ad is essential in its search for quality candidates. Templated formats don't usually work here. Rather, one must craft an impactful representation of the opportunity at hand and creatively display what makes a particular place of work worth pursuing. 

This is the first in our How to Craft an Effective Job Ad series. Be sure to check out all of the articles for a comprehensive look at composing the perfect Job Ad.

Of the several details a job ad needs to cover, lifestyle (what some might call "work/life-balance"), especially in architecture, is one of the factors many job seekers consider in their search for a career change. Every job post should contain some mention of the lifestyle values of the office to help candidates visualize the bigger picture of their lives and its relationship to this new career opportunity.

Office hours

The actual hours might be something you discuss in the interview, it's up to you. But, prospective team members want to have a sense of the time culture at your office. Does everyone come in at the same time and leave at the same time? Or is the schedule more loose? 

For a job ad, try to highlight what makes your office unique. Perhaps team members are able to work from home 2 days out of the week. Or maybe you do a 4-day work week, or a 9/80 schedule. These are models that will set you apart from the competition and catch the attention of prospective candidates.

Time-off / vacation

What does your time-off policy look like? The basics can go here (vacation days, holidays, sick days, etc.), but as always, anything that sets you apart should take precedent. Some firms are boasting especially unique perks, like unlimited vacation days, as offered by Boston-based Saam Architecture. 

"We wanted to adapt to the schedules and needs of the team members rather than the older model where the employee has to adapt to the schedule and needs of the firm," explained Ed Bourget, a principal at the practice, in an interview.

Mentorship

This is a big one for all levels of experience. For the entry-level job seeker, structured mentorship will be of value. Those making progress toward licensure, in a more intermediate level, will want to know that you support that endeavor. And the more senior seekers might have an interest in providing mentorship to younger staff. Communicating how mentorship fits into the overall values of your office will elevate your potential for quality responses.

Location / urban context

What cool food or coffee spots are nearby? Can I take public transport to work? What's parking look like? Is there an interesting public space or park that I can walk to on my breaks? Any unique location-centric component will play into the intrigue of working at your firm. When a job seeker can visualize themselves in your environment, you've sucked them in.

Perks and quirks

How can you communicate your office culture? What kind of music is played in the office? Do people bring pets? Perhaps, there are team lunches every week. Ping-pong tournaments? Finger-painting contests? Whatever anchors your team's existence as a group of people collaborating in a friendly environment can help orient a candidate to see themselves working in your firm.

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Ultimately, a job ad needs to tell a job seeker how his or her life will fit into the day-to-day work of the firm. Talking about lifestyle will accomplish this and aid them in seeing this new opportunity as a part of the bigger picture of what they aspire to accomplish. As with any approach, the method will modify based on the target audience, but overall, human beings want to live, and it's a safe bet to present your job as something that can support that desire.

This is the first in our new How to Craft an Effective Job Ad series. We'll be covering all of the major areas of focus in composing an effective and results producing job advertisement. Some items covered will be copy editing, how reputation influences response, representing your firm well, and many others. To stay up to date, be sure to follow our how to craft an effective job ad tag.

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Are you searching for new team members? Archinect Jobs offers the industry's most popular job board, attracting the most in-demand firms and the top job-seeking talent. Post a job on Archinect Jobs and search our database of 40,000 active job seekers in Talent Finder. Questions? Reach out to us any time at jobs@archinect.com or (833) 327-2446.