Small companies cannot outbid large ones on salary. They can beat them on clarity and honesty, and most job posts fail on both.
Lead with the work. Describe what the person will do in their first week, first month and first three months. It tells a candidate more than a list of requirements.
State the pay. Posts with a range get more and better-matched applicants. Leaving it out mostly filters out the people with options.
Be honest about the stage. Team size, revenue, runway. The right person finds a small team appealing.
Cut the requirements. List the three things the person truly must be able to do. Long lists put off good candidates who meet most of them.
Say what is unusual. Hours, autonomy, the problem itself, who they will work with.
Describe the process. How many steps, how long it takes, whether any test task is paid.
Avoid
- "Rockstar", "ninja" and "wear many hats"
- "Competitive salary"
- Unpaid test projects of more than an hour or two
- A list of perks in place of pay
Reply to everyone who applies, including the people you turn down.
Post a draft of your job ad below for comments before it goes live.