In reading through more sales ads this morning, I kicked up an example of an ad without clarity about the position. Here are the qualifications:
-Hard working and dependable
-Sales experience is necessary (____________ industry, preferred)
-Must have no travel restrictions in covering assigned multi state territory
-Must be computer literate
-College Degree preferred
-Strong Relationship building skills
That is it. The remainder of the ad is filled with the compensation and benefits the salesperson will earn in this role. The few bullet points provide no specific traits or skills for a candidate to qualify. I suspect that almost every salesperson who reads the ad will believe they fit these qualifications.
The net outcome of a poorly constructed ad is voluminous responses from grossly unqualified candidates. Hiring is only a “numbers game” when you don’t know what you are looking for. Successful hiring involves writing an ad that eliminates the unqualified and clearly describes the ideal candidate. This ad lacks that clarity.