Job postings are a candidate’s first introduction to a role and, sometimes, the first introduction to your company and its culture. They set the tone for your application and hiring process and play a major role in your employer branding. An appealing and accurate job posting will help you get the most experienced, relevant, and qualified applicants into your candidate pool.
But the hiring world is different now. Applicants expect more from companies and companies expect more from applicants.
How Job Posts and the Hiring Market are Changing in 2025
Each year, the hiring landscape changes to reflect new attitudes of workers, economic shifts, technology advancements, and more. And 2025 is no exception.
A Dwindling Labor Supply
According to Indeed’s 2025 US Jobs and Hiring Trends Report, “Slowing labor force growth, an aging population, and an expected decline in immigration suggest that the supply of workers will weigh heavily on the job market in the coming years.” Many teams are planning how to do more with less and becoming flexible with previous needs, like degree and experience requirements.
A Renewed Focus on “What’s In It For Me?”
There’s a real split among job seekers about how the market will treat them in 2025, but one thing is certain…after the last few years of instability, job seekers know now more than ever what they’re looking for in a company and are becoming hyper-focused on their needs.. Job seekers want benefits like flexible working schedules, better pay, and professional development opportunities. The companies that stay on top of giving job seekers what they’re looking for will see more qualified talent pools.
Changes to How People Find Roles
With the advent of AI, the job search process is continuously evolving when it comes to efficiency, personalization, and the overall experience.
Given all of this, networking is still tracking as the most valuable way people find roles. With that in mind, job seekers are investing more in growing their online presence and embracing a mix of working arrangements like fractional work or contract projects.
How to Optimize Your Job Posts
Build a Story Around the Role
As I shared recently, storytelling will be key in 2025 for marketing and beyond, “It’s about painting that picture, or narrative, in a way that is memorable and one that others can relate to.”
Build a story with an opening paragraph about the role, not on your company. Summarize the role and its impact on the team then lead into the details.
Use the Right Keywords in Job Titles and Beyond
Many excellent candidates find roles simply by searching for the job title on Google. Make sure your job posting has a title that matches what they would be looking for. There’s no need to be clever or unique. While it may seem like a way to bring fun and levity into a job posting, overly unique job titles lead to confusion.
Be sure to include SEO-optimized keywords in your job description as well, like “entry-level” or job industries like “data analysis” and “marketing.” Remember that SEO is all about matching what you write to the searcher’s intent so make sure you’re using the words they’re using in their search.
Be Clear on the Details and Non-Negotiables
Should applicants have particular experience with a specific software? Or maybe they need a particular license or certification to get the job done? Is this a 5-day-a-week in-office role?
Whatever the non-negotiable might be, be clear about it.
Share the Salary and Benefits
Many states have already made salary information required on job postings. Regardless of the legal requirement, job seekers appreciate compensation transparency to make more informed decisions.
According to a ResumeLab study, 87% of survey respondents believe job postings should always include a salary range.
Don’t forget to share other benefits like paid time off, medical insurance, retirement contribution matching, etc.
Focus on the Impact Alongside Tasks
People want to do work that matters. The job posting is your first chance to show them how this role matters to the team and the company. Who will they be working alongside? Are there goals that the team is working towards that you can share? What sort of impact will they make?
Highlight the Team and Culture
In addition to focusing on the impact, what more can you share about the company and culture? Share a bit more about the team, expectations, and company culture in a quick paragraph to give applicants a feel for their potential new workplace.
Share the Next Steps
What happens after someone applies? How many interviews are there? Are there any skills tests or work assignments they should be prepared for?
The most appealing job postings out there are the ones that are clear, not only about the role and the role’s requirements but also about what happens after an application is submitted.
A Step-By-Step Checklist for a Stellar Job Posting
I’ve created a downloadable checklist with all of the above suggestions and more to make sure your job postings get the job done.
Download the checklist here!