April 24, 2023

How to create a job advert that will attract top cybersecurity sales talent to your company

In today’s digital landscape, cybersecurity is more important than ever before. Cyber threats are becoming increasingly complex, so businesses across all industries are reinforcing their cybersecurity strategy with keen investment in cyber protection.

With their products and services in hot demand, companies offering cybersecurity systems and services have found themselves in recruitment overdrive – especially for sales roles.

However, as the demand for cybersecurity sales talent grows, so too does the competition in terms of attracting candidates for cybersecurity roles. That means it’s essential that companies in the cybersecurity sector create compelling job adverts.

Writing effective job adverts in cybersecurity will be critical to the success of your recruitment strategy. So, if you’re actively recruiting for cybersecurity positions and or hiring cybersecurity sales professionals and want to know more about job advert best practices in cybersecurity, what it takes to create effective job listings for sales jobs and / or how to write compelling sales job descriptions, keep reading.

Making first impressions count

A job advert is the first impression you give a potential candidate, an introduction, a green flag – or a red one…

So, it pays to get it right. As cybersecurity sales recruitment experts, we’re here to offer you a handy guide that will show you how to create job adverts with real impact.

An effective cybersecurity job advert will differentiate your cybersecurity company in a crowded marketplace, communicate why your business is a place everyone wants to work, and ultimately attract the talented salespeople that will shape your future business growth.

Here’s a guide on what to include in an effective cybersecurity sales job advert. Use it to create a job advert template that gets you better results.

When writing a job advert, clearly and succinctly explain the tasks, duties, functions, and responsibilities of the position. Include the specific type of work the candidate will be performing, where and how that work is to be completed, and whether it’s a temporary, permanent, part-time, or full-time opportunity.

Don’t just include the basics, though. Relate individual roles and responsibilities to your overall company mission, to make the candidate feel excited about potentially becoming a valuable part of your organisation’s bigger picture.

Clearly define ‘must have’ job requirements to attract the right type of candidates and help save time with unsuitable applicants. Keep it short and simple and think about things like:

  • Specific knowledge
  • Work experience
  • Soft skills / technical knowledge
  • Education level and type
  • Professional licences, accreditations, and certifications
  • Personal qualities and attributes
  • Languages
  • Physical abilities
  • Availability to work extended or uncommon hours

Once you have clearly defined the skills that a candidate must have, list the desirable (but not necessarily essential) traits of your ideal candidate. This is an effective way in narrowing down a shortlist of candidates to simplify and speed up your hiring process, whilst also attracting those with transferrable skills.

What makes you a better employer than your competitors? The likelihood is that the candidate can get a similar salary elsewhere, so demonstrate to candidates why specifically they should join your organisation.

This is your opportunity to really sell your company, so fill your job advert with information about award wins, profit headlines, pioneering policies, famous ‘alumni’, training schemes, coaching and mentorship programmes, flexible/remote working practices and anything else you are proud to offer your staff.

Does your company offer perks, such as complementary or subsidised meals, gym membership, company car, help with travel costs, trips abroad, social events, team-building days, volunteering schemes, or rewards e.g. shopping vouchers or extra days off? Highlight as many incentives as you can in the job advert to set yourself apart.

For most people, job satisfaction isn’t just about turning up and carrying out your duties well – it’s about forging meaningful relationships with team members. When the company culture is strong and the right people are working together, employees are more productive and more likely to stay with the organisation for the long term.

You’ll want your job advert to stand out to candidates that share your company values and have compatible personalities with existing members of staff. To do that, use a tone of voice that fits your culture – because your vibe attracts your tribe. Relaxed and real? Powerful and dynamic? Write the job advert in a way that reflects that. Tailor your messaging to your target audience.

Another top tip is to frame the candidate experience by including reasons why people love working for your organisation, as well as the type of personality you’re looking for (not just desirable skills and experience).

Demonstrate that you are interested in making the best possible experience for your employees – today and tomorrow.

Talk about company growth and where the company wants to be, as well as growth potential for the candidate, outlining how you see them growing and learning with the company.

List study and training opportunities, as well as ways in which they will improve their cybersecurity sales knowledge ‘on the job’ and collaborate with influential people within your organisation that will be able to help them progress.

Will the candidate get the opportunity to work with cutting-edge cybersecurity technology or the chance to develop new marketing strategies for innovative cybersecurity solutions? Show off about anything that will help enhance their career development.

Put yourself in the shoes of a candidate. Think about your aspirations and what would be important to you.

Be clear about your Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) policies and your commitment hiring people from all backgrounds.

Having an inclusive and diverse professional environment allows wider perspectives to be integrated when brainstorming, problem-solving, and developing new ideas in business.

Everyone has different skills that they can provide and help to enhance a business, so make sure your job advert is written and presented in a way that’s inclusive to all.

Money isn’t everything but it’s a key factor for most job seekers, especially in a hard economic climate. You may not want to explicitly advertise the salary in the job advert – but companies that do generally have more applications.

If you are really against stating the salary, then consider including a wider salary bracket.

Job adverts often state ‘salary is competitive’ – but this is too vague and could mean your advert gets missed by top talent.

Don’t forget to add information about other important financial benefits such as commission, bonus schemes, pension, health insurance, life insurance and death in service.

Use your job advert to give some indication of next steps and what happens if the candidate is successful, or not. Candidates are often messed around and not notified if they are unsuccessful so this could be a selling point for some candidates.

A simple timeline could be:

  1. Application
  2. Screening call with recruiter
  3. Telephone interview with company sales Director
  4. Face to face interview with CEO
  5. Offer

Tips for promoting your cybersecurity job advert

Once you have crafted a compelling job advert for your sales or marketing role in the cybersecurity sector, the next step is to promote it to ensure it reaches the right candidates.

Here are a few cybersecurity job posting tips…

Leverage social media

Social media is a powerful tool for promoting job adverts, especially on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter, which are popular among professionals in the cybersecurity industry. To effectively promote your job advert on social media, be sure to use relevant hashtags, tag relevant industry organisations, and include visuals or videos to make your advert stand out.

Partner up

Partnering with cybersecurity industry organisations can help you reach a wider pool of qualified candidates who are passionate about cybersecurity. Also consider attending relevant cybersecurity conferences to promote your job advert and network with potential candidates.

Use targeted advertising

Targeted advertising can help you reach candidates who may not be actively looking for a new job but are still interested in the cybersecurity industry. Consider using platforms like Google Ads or LinkedIn Ads to target candidates based on specific keywords, job titles, or interests related to cybersecurity.

Monitor and adjust your strategy

Finally, be sure to monitor the effectiveness of your job advert promotion strategy and make adjustments as needed. Use tools like Google Analytics or social media analytics to track clicks and engagement and adjust your messaging or targeting as needed to reach your desired audience.

Now you know how to create a job advert that will attract top cybersecurity sales and marketing talent to your company

By following these best practices and tips for promoting your cybersecurity job advert for sales and marketing roles, you can attract a pool of highly qualified candidates who are passionate about cybersecurity and ready to help drive your business forward.

For more help with creating compelling job adverts, please contact The Cyber Bench, experts in cybersecurity sales recruitment success.

Outsource your cyber security sales recruitment to our specialists and let us take the weight off your shoulders by managing candidate search, selection, communications and placement on your behalf. To discuss your requirements, get in touch with The Cyber Bench today.