Did you know that a lot of people have difficulty reading? And have you considered what this means for you? More specifically, for the written communication you publish? It may be more troublesome than you think. Research in England has shown that 1 out of 8 job ads are too difficult for most people to understand. And when people don’t understand something, they don’t read it. Since it’s difficult to find qualified candidates, this is a real problem. And it sure doesn’t help your company become more diverse and inclusive. For that, anyone should be competent to understand and read your job ads. A first step is writing them at B1 level.
Increase the readability of your job ads with
The readability of your job ads is affected by many factors. The reading level B1 just means that approximately 60% of readers can understand your job ads. To reach this level in your job descriptions, you need to:
- Reduce the length of words and sentences.
Longer sentences are more difficult to understand. You should keep it short and simple. A maximum of 15 to 20 words per sentence. And you should try to mix longer sentences with shorter ones. Keep your words short and simple, too. Avoid jargon and outdated words that very few people understand.
- Write in an active tone of voice.
A passive tone of voice is often used in written communication. A sentence like “Your performance will be monitored” is passive. The active alternative to this sentence is easier to read. Just try it yourself. “We will monitor your performance.” That’s a lot clearer, right?
- Use “you” instead of “the candidate” and “we” instead of “the company.”
In your job ads, you should always speak directly to the reader. That is easier to understand. And it gives candidates a better picture of the job. So, they can imagine what the role is like.
Textmetrics and writing at language level B1
The readability of your job ads is so important. It’s a problem if potential candidates don’t understand them. Because they won’t read them. Leaving you with a limited group of candidates to choose from. Not great if you want the best talent. Or if you want to reach your D&I goals.
Writing at B1 level increases the readability of your job ads. But since that can be more difficult than you might think, Textmetrics is here to help. It uses AI algorithms to assess the readability of your job ads. Then gives you suggestions to reach the desired B1 level. This is as easy as it sounds. All you need to do is follow the instructions. Before you know it, a diverse range of people will be eagerly reading your job ads.