How to write a job advert that gets 10x more applicants

Why your job advert is getting ignored

Finding decent tradespeople to hire is one of the hardest problems in the industry. Post a job and you either get silence, or a flood of unsuitable applications.

The difference almost always comes down to the advert.

Most trade job adverts look like this:

"Plumber wanted South London. Must have own tools and van. Call Mike."

That advert tells a potential applicant almost nothing. Why would they apply rather than the next ad they see?

What good applicants actually want to know

Experienced tradespeople — the ones you actually want — are choosing between opportunities. They want to know:

• What exactly the job involves day to day
• What area they will be working in
• What the pay is (or at least a range)
• What the team is like
• Whether there is stability and progression

The best applicants will scroll past your advert if it does not answer these questions.

The structure that works

Headline: Be specific. "Qualified Plumber — South London — £45,000-£55,000" beats "Plumber Wanted" every time.

The role in one paragraph: What will they actually be doing? Domestic? Commercial? Emergency callouts? New builds? Maintenance?

What you offer: Pay, van (if provided), tools, holidays, sick pay. The more you list the more serious you look.

What you need: Qualifications, experience, specific skills. Be realistic — asking for 10 years experience for a semi-skilled role will cost you good applicants.

How to apply: Email, call, or a simple form. Make it easy.

A real example

Bad: "Electrician needed in Brixton. NICEIC registered preferred. Contact us."

Good: "Qualified Electrician — Brixton, South London — £42,000-£52,000 + Van. We are a well-established electrical contractor based in Brixton looking for a qualified electrician to join our team of 6. The role involves domestic and light commercial work across South London — mostly maintenance, rewires and consumer unit upgrades. No weekends unless emergency callout (overtime paid). We provide a fully equipped van, all PPE and ongoing training. You will need your 18th Edition and ideally NICEIC registration. Apply by emailing your CV to hi@draftedapp.co.uk."

The second advert will get you 10 times the applications. Guaranteed.

How Drafted helps

Drafted's Ad Writer generates professional job adverts from your rough notes. Tell it the trade, location, pay and what you need — it writes the full advert in seconds.