14 Creative Ways to Advertise Job Openings
We’ve seen firsthand how difficult it can be to cut through the noise and reach quality candidates, especially in today’s competitive job market. The best candidates aren’t spending their days scrolling job boards. They’re busy working, networking, and living life, which means you need creative tactics to grab their attention.
We help our clients rethink traditional recruiting every day, from leveraging overlooked advertising platforms to launching campaigns that resonate with real people. If you’re looking to bring in better applicants, build stronger teams, and differentiate your company from competitors, these creative ways to advertise job openings are a great place to start.
Why Creative Job Advertising Can Be Beneficial
Broaden your talent pool
If traditional job advertising is delivering strong candidates, great, keep doing what works. But for many employers, it’s a flood of unqualified applicants or, worse, no response at all. Creative advertising helps you break through to new audiences, increasing the odds of connecting with candidates who have the skills, experience, and mindset you’re looking for.
Differentiate your company
When every competitor is using the same job boards, you need a new way to stand out. Creative advertising lets you bring your brand to life using visuals, video, storytelling, and authentic employee voices. It’s an opportunity to move beyond job descriptions and showcase what makes your company a desirable workplace for candidates.
Communicate company culture
Think of your job ad like a handshake: it’s often a candidate’s first impression of your company. By using creative tactics, you’re giving job seekers a glimpse into your values, team dynamics, and what daily life on the job looks like. It’s one of the best ways to attract candidates who align with your culture from day one.
Creative Ways to Advertise Job Openings That Will Attract Top Talent
1. Go big on billboards
Billboards aren’t just for fast food and car insurance. They’re a high-impact way to get your job openings in front of thousands of people each day, especially in areas with heavy commuter traffic. If you’re hiring locally, a well-placed billboard can be the nudge someone needs to consider a new opportunity, particularly if they’re stuck in traffic dreaming of a better job.
Keep your message short and your call to action crystal clear. Think: “Tired of the drive? We’re hiring remote customer service reps. Apply at [Your Site].”
2. Get personal with text messaging
Text message recruiting gives you a direct line to candidates, and unlike emails, your messages are almost guaranteed to be read. SMS is ideal for high-priority, time-sensitive openings or reconnecting with promising candidates already in your pipeline.
Because texting feels personal, it works best when your message is too. Skip the bulk blasts and focus on short, tailored outreach like, “Hey Jamie, we have a new marketing analyst opening that matches your background. Want to hear more?”
3. Include it in your packaging
Your customers might just be your next great hires. If you ship products, slip a recruiting insert into your packaging. Think a small card or flyer with a headline like, “Love our brand? Come work with us.”
It’s a low-cost way to connect with people who already like what you do. Include a QR code that links to your careers page or a dedicated landing page featuring current openings.
4. Use QR codes
QR codes are ubiquitous, and job seekers are familiar with their use. Whether printed on flyers, receipts, or your company’s delivery vans, QR codes can link candidates straight to your job listings, careers page, or a specific hiring campaign.
They’re perfect for physical spaces where people might have a few minutes to browse. Bonus: They also give you trackable data on engagement.
5. Paper the neighborhood
Sometimes, old-school tactics still work. A well-designed flyer or “We’re Hiring” sign in your storefront window, employee break room, or neighborhood coffee shop can capture the attention of passersby who may be looking for work (or know someone who is).
Keep it simple, include a QR code or short URL, and don’t underestimate high-traffic spots like elevators, laundromats, or gym bulletin boards.
6. Create a social media campaign
Posting a job description on Facebook is easy… but not enough. A full social media campaign gives your openings personality and staying power. Utilize a combination of formats and platforms to showcase various aspects of your workplace: employee testimonials on TikTok, behind-the-scenes Reels on Instagram, posts highlighting perks and culture on Facebook, and job announcements with niche hashtags on X or Threads.
Tailor your messaging to each platform’s strengths and audience. And don’t forget to engage, answer questions in the comments, and repost employee shares to extend your reach.
Related: We Are Hiring Social Media Captions
7. Leverage live streaming
Live streaming adds a human touch to your recruiting strategy. Hosting a live Q&A, virtual office tour, or leadership spotlight can make candidates feel more connected to your company before they even apply. It’s also a great way to showcase your culture in real-time.
Add interactivity with polls, live chat, or AMA (ask me anything) sessions. Save your stream and repurpose clips across platforms for added reach.
8. Capture eyes with a pop-up
Pop-ups on your website aren’t just for discounts; they’re a smart tool for recruiting, too. Whether it’s a slide-in banner or timed pop-up, you can promote current job openings directly to site visitors who are already engaged with your brand.
Want to take it up a notch? Use behavioral targeting to show different messages to visitors who’ve browsed your careers page, viewed open roles, or come from recruitment ads.
9. Host a virtual event
Virtual hiring events are a flexible, scalable way to meet candidates where they are – literally. Whether you’re running a virtual job fair or hosting a webinar on career growth, these events help you engage with job seekers nationwide without the cost or logistics of in-person events.
They’re also perfect for building brand awareness with passive candidates who aren’t actively applying but are open to opportunities. Keep the format simple, the messaging clear, and follow up with attendees to continue the conversation.
Related: Tips and Best Practices for Hosting a Virtual Hiring Event
10. Take advantage of free advertising
Not all great recruiting strategies require a big budget. Community bulletin boards, both physical and digital, can help you connect with local candidates who might not be actively job hunting. Think of coffee shops, gyms, community centers, and places of worship.
Colleges, alumni groups, and professional associations often offer free or low-cost job boards as well. These are especially useful when targeting entry-level applicants or industry-specific talent.
11. Take it on the move
Transit ads offer high visibility in densely populated areas, making them a smart choice for local hiring campaigns. Whether it’s a message on a city bus, rideshare vehicle, or inside a subway car, you’ll reach commuters who may be open to a job closer to home (or one with better hours, pay, or benefits).
You can also tailor your message by route or neighborhood, targeting candidates who are already accustomed to commuting or living near your office or job site.
12. Advertise in newsletters
Email newsletters are an underrated channel for recruitment marketing. Whether it’s a popular industry publication or a lifestyle newsletter with a niche audience, these curated emails can deliver your message straight to the inboxes of potential candidates.
Partner with newsletters that align with your audience; for example, an HR digest for talent roles or a remote work newsletter to source flexible workers. Native placements or sponsored spots can both work, depending on your budget.
Related: How to Create a Recruitment Newsletter That Engages Talent
13. Amplify openings with podcasts
Podcasts let you speak directly to engaged listeners in your target audience. You can sponsor traditional pre-roll, mid-roll, or post-roll ads, or opt for host-read native ads, which often feel more authentic and generate better results.
With so many niche podcasts available, it’s easy to find one that aligns with your industry, location, or ideal candidate profile.
Bonus: Many podcast hosts also promote their sponsors on social media, expanding your reach even further.
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Speak with our recruiting professionals today.
14. Rely on word of mouth
Referral hires consistently outperform other candidates, and they tend to stay with the company longer as well. Encourage your employees, clients, and personal network to share open roles, and make it easy for them to do so with copy-and-paste email templates or social media posts.
Sweeten the deal with an employee referral bonus or recognition for those who bring in successful hires. A little incentive can go a long way!
How to Measure Success and Optimize
Creative job advertising can open new doors, but to know what’s working, you need to track the results. Measuring the performance of your recruitment campaigns helps you double down on what’s effective and cut what’s not. Here’s how to do it right.
Track the right metrics
Start with core recruiting KPIs that align with your goals. These might include:
- Click-through rate (CTR) on job ads and landing pages
- Application conversion rate (how many viewers actually apply)
- Qualified candidate rate (how many applicants meet your standards)
- Time to fill (how long it takes to make a hire)
- Source of hire (where your best candidates come from)
If you’re using social media or QR codes, platform-specific data, such as impressions, engagement, and scan rates, will also be valuable.
Related: How to Leverage Recruiting Metrics to Improve Your Hiring Process
Use UTM parameters and tracking tools
Adding UTM parameters to your campaign links enables you to track the source of clicks and what’s driving applications. This data can be easily viewed in tools like Google Analytics, helping you determine which creative channels and messages are delivering results.
For more advanced tracking, consider using recruitment marketing platforms or CRMs that integrate campaign analytics with your hiring pipeline.
A/B test your messaging
Don’t just try one version of a post or flyer; test multiple formats to see which one performs best. Change up headlines, visuals, or CTAs to see which performs best. A simple tweak, such as rewording a headline or featuring a different employee photo, can significantly boost response rates.
Refine and repeat
After each campaign, take time to review what worked and what didn’t. Identify your highest-performing channels, narrow in on your best sources of hire, and build future campaigns around those insights. Optimization isn’t a one-time task but an ongoing part of a smart recruiting strategy.
Additional Tips to Help Your Job Openings Get Noticed
Use strong imagery
Creative advertising provides the opportunity to utilize rich media, such as photos and videos, to enhance your message. Rather than relying on generic stock photos, showcase real employees in their actual work environments whenever possible. People connect with people, especially when they can see themselves in the workplace. Even short, informal video clips can outperform text-based content in terms of engagement.
Write captivating headlines
You only have a few seconds to grab a candidate’s attention. A strong headline should be clear, concise, and centered on what’s in it for them. Use action words and highlight unique selling points, such as flexible schedules, high-growth potential, or standout benefits. Not sure where to start? Tools like ChatGPT can help you quickly brainstorm fresh headline variations.
Customize, customize, customize
The best job ads speak directly to the candidate you want to hire. Use candidate personas to understand what motivates your ideal applicant, then craft messages that reflect those values. Whether it’s work-life balance, career development, or company culture, tailoring your content increases the odds that it resonates and drives the right kind of clicks.
By tapping into these creative ways to advertise job openings, you’ll expand your reach, strengthen your employer brand, and boost the effectiveness of your hiring efforts.
Do you have an idea we didn’t cover? Connect with us on LinkedIn and share your favorite recruiting strategy!
Turn Creative Job Ads Into Real Recruiting Results
A great job ad sparks interest, starts conversations, and connects you with the right people. Using creative ways to advertise job openings helps your brand stand out, builds trust with candidates, and drives stronger hiring outcomes.
If you’re ready to enhance the quality of your applicants and fill roles more quickly, it may be time to reconsider how you promote your openings. Whether you’re hiring for a single position or scaling your workforce across multiple locations, creative advertising (combined with a smart strategy) can give you an edge in today’s market.
Need help executing your recruiting strategy? 4 Corner Resources can help. We work with companies nationwide to attract, evaluate, and hire the right talent through customized staffing solutions. Contact us today to discover how we can help you achieve your hiring goals.
