A misused word in a job ad can be deadly to your recruiting efforts. Take a look at this recent job ad posted in New York by the FOX News Channel as detailed at the Chicago Tribune:
Freelance Fact Writer
New York
Requirements/Responsibility:
FOX News Channel, a fast-paced 24-hour television news operation in New York City, is seeking a Freelance Fact Writer for its information center.
Responsibilities include writing on-air facts and press conference quotes for daytime programming. Individuals must have strong writing skills, be able to handle multiple assignments and deadlines, and work well in a team atmosphere. Excellent communication and writing skills are also required.
What’s primarily wrong with this ad is the implication that the writer will be “writing facts and press conference quotes” as opposed to researching, re-typing or copying them. By calling this position a writer, it sounds as if the person will be making up these facts and quotes whole cloth, which I’m sure is not the intention of the producers.**
Lesson to be learned here? Check you ad with others to make sure it says what you want it to say and can’t be misconstrued. You’re liable to miss out on some stellar candidates
**Please, let’s not discuss the journalistic ethics of FOX news, this job ad came from the HR department and never crossed paths with the editorial department or on-air personalities. This blog has no opinion about the integrity of the stories on this channel because, quite honestly, we don’t watch it.
