U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

Flaws and Solutions

Here are the top 5 common problems in job announcements and their solutions:

Flaw 1:
Information is presented in a manner that is not intuitive for applicants.

Solution 1:
Make it easier for job-seekers to find the details they are looking for by organizing information according to these headings:

• Overview
• Duties
• Qualifications and Evaluation
• How to Apply
• Benefits and Other Information

Flaw 2:
Introduction is not welcoming and contains excessive jargon.

Solution 2:
The overview is the initial introduction to the vacancy announcement for job seekers.  Use this area to market the agency and the position.  Refer to the Career Patterns Guide for attractors and other features to highlight including policy, programs and work environmental features to draw attention to your job posting with a concise, appealing summary that conveys an immediate sense of the position and entices job-seekers to keep reading.

Flaw 3:
Description of job requirements and duties looks too dense and uninviting to read.

Solution 3:
Use bullet points and white space to break up extended paragraphs and run-on sentences. It's more pleasing to the eye and easier for job-seekers to follow.

Flaw 4:
Instructions for submitting an application are complex and off-putting.

Solution 4:
Provide clear, step-by-step application instructions and describe what an applicant can expect throughout the hiring process.

Flaw 5:
Essential information is cluttered with supplementary content.

Solution 5:
Link externally to information that is not directly related to the job or agency, such as CTAP/ICTAP and other legally mandated information.

User Instructions:
Select Next for an example of common flaws and solutions.