This is going to hurt a little 🩻 EBH

Even computers write better job postings than most recruiters

I asked ChatGPT to “Write a generic job announcement for a data scientist” and this is what it came up with:

We are seeking a highly skilled Data Scientist to join our team. The successful candidate will be responsible for analyzing large and complex data sets, developing predictive models, and utilizing advanced statistical techniques to solve real-world problems. As a Data Scientist, you will be responsible for creating data-driven solutions that will help us make better business decisions.

That sounds like most job postings, right? Well, it should, because ChatGPT is literally reading millions of generic job postings to write this stuff. Bland in, bland out, right?

So then I asked it to “Write a job announcement for a data scientist that focuses on the opportunity” and this is what it returned:

Exciting Opportunity to Make a Big Impact!

We are excited to announce an opportunity for a talented Data Scientist to join our team and make a significant impact on our company's success. As a Data Scientist with our organization, you will have the opportunity to use your skills and expertise to develop data-driven solutions that will inform our business strategy and drive growth.

First off, good on you, ChatGPT for adding a headline! You are already writing better job posts than most recruiters and hiring managers.

Second, notice how different the language feels. All I did was change one word of the ask and suddenly the posting feels different.

So I asked it, “Write a job announcement for a data scientist that focuses on the culture.”

Join a Collaborative and Innovative Culture

We are looking for a passionate Data Scientist to join our team and help us continue to build a culture of innovation and collaboration. Our organization values diversity and creativity, and we are committed to creating an environment where our team members can thrive and grow.

Look, this isn’t poetry. In fact, this is about as deep as a sheet of tin foil. But you can see how even minor adjustments in the language (passion, collaboration, values, diversity) can suddenly change how you perceive the role and the company.

New request: Write a job announcement for a data scientist that focuses on the mission

Join Our Mission to Make a Difference

We are seeking a highly motivated Data Scientist to join our team and help us achieve our mission of making a positive impact on society. As a Data Scientist with our organization, you will have the opportunity to work on projects that have real-world implications and contribute to our efforts to create a better future.

Again, this is pretty plain language, but this is very different from the previous examples. In fact, if you didn’t know it was all from ChatGPT, you would be forgiven for thinking that these postings are describing three different companies.

Because, in a way, they are.

When you orient your writing, your videos, your career site, and your job postings to a common brand, it changes what message you’re trying to convey and how you share it. When you know what motivation you’re intentionally trying to reach, it informs what you say.

In other words, your brand is telling you who to target, what to say, and how to say it. Even a minor adjustment in brand leads to major shifts in how you communicate with candidates.

New request: Write a job announcement for a data scientist that focuses on professional development

Opportunity for Professional Development and Growth

We are seeking a Data Scientist to join our team and help us drive innovation through data analysis. As a Data Scientist with our organization, you will have the opportunity to work on challenging projects and develop your skills while contributing to the success of the company.

This isn’t to say, “all hail our new binary overlords.” Far from it. With five minutes of thinking, you or I could mop the floor with this robot with far more interesting, engaging, and effective language.

What I want to make clear is how important the brand is in helping decide what language to produce.

And if even ChatGPT can figure that out, so should you.

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Six days until launch!

This is the book that will turn any recruiter, HRBP, or junior marketer into a strong employer brander. It is filled with walk-throughs and guides to building better content, telling better stories, and setting up your talent acquisition ecosystem so that you are attracting and hiring better people faster.

***This Newsletter Contains No ChatGPT (except where clearly identified)***

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