Advertising
How and where to advertise to let people know what you need
- You need to sell your vacancy - the advert is your way of persuading someone they should contact you.
- Use the information you've put together for your application pack. If you put something in your advert that isn't in the application pack then ask yourself why?
- Decide where you are going to advertise - this will influence the wording and presentation of information. Decide if you want to advertise only in the UK or also internationally.
- Consider networking opportunities where you sell your vacancy - conferences, events, meetings etc. See Rural GP Recruitment Yearly Wheel. (Link)
- Decide if you want to do a series of adverts.
- Understand what your limitations are (size of space, budget)
- Decide when you are going to advertise - consider avoiding holiday periods, can you link to a relevant event or conference?
- Decide on a closing date.
- Come up with an interesting headline for your advert - something that will grab attention.
- Be specific about what you're saying - don't be vague. You're trying to get the attention of a specific group of people so use language and references that will appeal to them.
- Include key clinical advantages and challenges, ensuring you mention support mechanisms, including the human dynamics of the local team.
- Describe the maximum potential remuneration package which will include any additional income or earning opportunities e.g. OOHs. Show it as a whole time equivalent so it's easier to compare, but also state clearly what the remuneration will be if it's a part-time job.
- Include some information about the local community and the rural environment, but do this after you've described the job. You are advertising a job – tell them about the job!
- Decide who will be named on the advert as the first point of contact. This is a critical role because it's the first opportunity the candidate will have to assess you and your Practice and for you to assess them. This a precious opportunity to sell your vacancy. (see Before Advertising)
- Provide links to relevant websites and video content – with strong visual elements. Macduff Medical Practice video.
- What should you do if you have no applicants? Review your strategy and information. Seek feedback – especially from individuals that showed initial interest but didn’t apply. If using a website or social media, review your analytics. Consider re-advertising, but ensure you make changes in your strategy – it didn’t work the first time.
- If you have to re-advertise it's probably because your advert didn’t work so consider changing the headline and the advert content.
GP Jobs has been developed by NSS (NHS National Services Scotland) and the Scottish Government for the benefit of all Practices in Scotland. It pulls in vacancies from SHOW but displays them in a more contemporary and accessible way. The GP Jobs website also has lots of supporting information intended to help candidates (and their family) get a better understanding of what it's like to live and work in Scotland. It also highlights opportunities for ongoing training and education.
Ensure that your vacancy is listed in the page about your Health Board region. Also ensure that the information on the page is up to date and tells the story you need to be told. If it isn't, encourage your Health Board to change it.
To advertise on GP Jobs, please contact the SHOW help desk on nss.nisgservicedesk@nhs.scot. Advertising on GP Jobs will also mean that your vacancy appears on the national NHS Scotland jobs website, jobs.scot.nhs.uk.
Using Facebook is one way to direct people to the main advert. It gives an opportunity for a good picture, a chance to write the introductory paragraph of the advert, the ethos of the team, what you are looking for etc. before providing a link to full advert and the practice.
You can use it to publicise and invite people to an event