Diversity and inclusion are more important than ever. Not only because being a diverse and inclusive company is the right thing to do. Also, because diversity plays an essential role in the profitability of a company. And because the qualified candidates you want to attract value a diverse and inclusive workplace.
To attract candidates from different backgrounds, everyone needs to be able to understand your job ads. That is not as straightforward as it might sound. Because did you know that a lot of people have difficulty reading? Research in England has shown that 1 out of 8 job ads are too difficult for most people to understand. A real problem. Because if people don’t understand something, they don’t read it. And they won’t apply, either.
What you need are job ads that are written at language level B1.
Language level B1
In Europe, the CEFR specifies three language levels: A, B and C. These are divided into two sublevels: 1 and 2. Language level C2 is the highest (most difficult to understand) and A1 is the lowest (easiest to understand). The language level that the majority of the population (60%) are able to read and understand is B1. Do you want as many people as possible to understand your job descriptions? Then you need to write them at a B1 level.
3 ways to increase the readability of your job ads
Chances are that the language you use in your job ads is too complex for most people to understand. And that’s a shame. Because due to this, a big part of your target candidate pool won’t apply for your jobs. What you need to do is increase the readability by writing at language level B1. This is how you keep it simple:
- Reduce the length of words and sentences to 15 to 20 words per sentence.
- Write in an active tone of voice instead of a passive one.
- Use “you” instead of “the candidate” and “we” instead of “the company.”
By writing at language level B1, most people will be able to fully understand the requirements of the job.
Language level B1 and Textmetrics
The importance of job ads written at language level B1 is clear. It’s necessary to reach your entire target group. And that’s essential if you want to reach your diversity and inclusion goals. To write at language level B1, you can follow the tips and tricks above. But it’s easier to use the Textmetrics platform. It uses AI algorithms to assess the readability of your job description. And it then gives you suggestions to reach the desired B1 level. This is as easy as it sounds. Before you know it, a diverse range of people will be applying to your job ads.