How to write a job post people answer

A job post is a sales page written by somebody who does not think of themselves as selling. That is why so many of them read like a list of demands.

Say what the work is, in one line

The first line decides whether anybody reads the second. "Video editor for a finance YouTube channel, eight videos a month" tells somebody in twelve words whether this is their job. "Seeking a rockstar creative" tells them nothing at all.

Put the pay near the top

The single most common reason a good freelancer does not apply is that they cannot tell whether it is worth their time to find out. Stating the pay is not a negotiating weakness: it is a filter that works while you sleep.

Pay on this platform is only ever shown to freelancers who have passed the ID check, so stating it is not the same as publishing it to the open web.

Describe the work, not the person

There is a version of every job post that lists twenty adjectives about the ideal candidate and three sentences about the work. Invert it. People decide whether they can do a job by reading about the job.

Ask two questions, not ten

Screening questions are useful and they are also a cost you are charging applicants. Two good ones, one that shows judgement and one that shows relevant experience, will tell you more than a form that takes an hour.

Say what happens next

"I read every application and reply within a week" is a small promise that costs nothing and makes people take the post seriously. Then keep it.

When you are ready, the form is here: post a job.