Every day at Jooble, millions of people search for their next role. We bring together vacancies from more than 140,000 sources — job boards, company websites, and social channels. Yet, despite all that visibility, many adverts still go unnoticed. The reason? The wording doesn’t grab attention.
In a market where candidates move quickly, your job ad needs to cut through just as fast.
If you feel like your postings are being ignored, you’re not the only one.
I’m Kateryna Cherniaieva, Country Manager for Jooble in the DACH region. Having reviewed millions of adverts across our platform, I’ve seen clear patterns in what works — and where most recruiters go wrong.
The reality is simple: too many adverts fail before a candidate has even read the first line.
Picture this: you’ve just published a new vacancy. The title looks sharp, the benefits are listed, the copy feels polished. But something still doesn’t land.
On the candidate’s side of the screen, you have about eight seconds to convince them it’s worth a click. That’s less time than it takes to skim a headline — and shorter than a goldfish’s attention span.
At Jooble, we call this the Swipe Effect. If your job ad doesn’t answer a candidate’s key questions instantly, they’ll scroll straight past.
Think about your own habits: when did you last click on a job that didn’t grab you straight away?
One ad that crossed my desk recently was for a “Digital Rockstar”. Quirky? Yes. Effective? Not at all. It drew almost no clicks and very few applicants. The reason is simple: no job seeker is typing “rockstar” into Google. They’re searching for “Digital Marketing Manager”. And that’s where so many recruiters trip up.
1. Titles Nobody Searches For
Labels like “Office Ninja” or “Growth Hacker” might sound clever, but they don’t appear in candidate searches. Our data shows it clearly: job titles under 50 characters get around a 2.6% click-through rate, while those over 200 characters drop to 1.8%.
And here’s the double standard — recruiters often expect applicants to stuff their CVs with the right ATS keywords, yet forget to apply the same logic to job titles. A clear, keyword-friendly title isn’t dull; it’s smart. It ensures your vacancy shows up where candidates are actually looking.
2. No Salary, No Clicks
Nearly 9 out of 10 candidates want to see salary information upfront, and more than a quarter will skip an advert if it’s missing. When pay is published, applications rise sharply — in some cases by 28% or more. Transparency builds trust and drives response.
3. Drowning in Jargon
Phrases like “dynamic team”, “fast-paced environment” and “self-starter” don’t tell candidates anything useful. Applicants want to know what the job involves — not generic buzzwords.
4. Walls of Text on a Mobile Screen
Unbroken paragraphs can feel overwhelming, particularly on a phone. Job seekers are far more likely to read (and apply) if adverts are short, structured, and easy to scan.
Read also: ‘One Click Better’: How a Small Tweak Drove a 16% Jump in Active Subscribers
From analysing thousands of adverts on Jooble, we’ve found a few rules that consistently deliver results:
Skip the gimmicks. A title like “Customer Happiness Hero” might sound fun, but it won’t appear in search. Compare that with “Customer Success Manager (Remote) – £45,000–55,000”. One is invisible; the other attracts the right candidates. On Jooble, clear, optimised titles have lifted mobile applications by over 30%.
The opening lines of your ad should give candidates the information they want most:
What’s the role?
Where is it based?
How much does it pay?
What type of person are you looking for?
Answer these upfront and you’ll earn the click.
Instead of writing: “Great growth opportunities in a collaborative team.”
Say something concrete: “You’ll work remotely four days a week, meet in our Frankfurt office every Friday, and have a direct say in shaping our product roadmap.”
One is vague. The other gives candidates a real picture of the role and what life in the job would look like.
At Jooble, we know job seekers are often overwhelmed. That’s why we spotlight the details that matter most — salary, flexibility, location and purpose — right where people are scanning.
But here’s the catch: we can only highlight what recruiters provide. When employers set out clear, specific benefits and working conditions, Jooble turns that information into bold, benefit-driven tags that stand out immediately in search results. The clearer the input, the stronger the impact.
Presentation matters. The best job ads are easy to skim:
Keep paragraphs short (two to three lines at most)
Use bullet points for key details
Add clear subheadings
Leave enough white space so it doesn’t feel cluttered
| This week ✅ | Review your last five job adverts. Are they straightforward, scannable and keyword-friendly? Do they include pay details? |
| This month ✅ | Run an A/B test. Put a transparent, detailed advert up against your usual format. Don’t just track the number of applicants — measure the quality. |
| Long term ✅ | Before publishing, ask yourself: Would I apply for this role? If the answer is no, go back and refine it. |
At the end of the day, job postings aren’t written for algorithms — they’re written for people. Behind every click is a person weighing up their options, placing a little trust in your words. Make it worth their time.
Read also: Why 30% of Job Seekers Can’t Find the Right Role — and How We’re Fixing It
Jooble isn’t just another job site — we act as a true recruitment partner.
By gathering vacancies from over 140,000 sources — from leading job boards and company websites to social media and public portals — we give your roles instant reach and targeted visibility. Simple, quick, effective.
What our partners gain:
📈 +31.5% more applications via mobile
💼 +28% uplift in conversions with optimised ads
🎯 Higher-quality candidates thanks to smarter targeting
Every industry has its own challenges, and every employer has different goals. The right talent is out there — our job is to connect you.
📩 Get in touch with Jooble today and let us design a recruitment solution tailored to your needs: sales.teamwork@jooble.team
