16 May 2026 · 4 min read
Writing charity job adverts that work
How to make charity roles clearer, easier to scan, and more likely to reach the right candidates.
Clear job adverts help candidates decide quickly and reduce weak-fit applications. The goal is not to make the role sound bigger than it is. It is to make the opportunity specific enough that the right person can recognise it.
Start with the work
Open with the practical shape of the role: the problem the person will help solve, the team they will join, and the outcomes they will own. Candidates should understand the job before they reach the person specification.
Make requirements explicit
Separate essentials from useful extras. If a qualification, system, or previous sector background is genuinely required, say why. If it can be learned, keep it out of the essential list.
Keep the application route visible
Put the closing date, interview dates, salary range, location expectations, and application format near the top. Those details often decide whether someone can apply at all.
Write for scanning
Use direct headings, short paragraphs, and concrete bullets. A strong advert should be easy to assess in under a minute and still give enough detail for a careful read.