Job Description Best Practices
Optimize your new and existing job descriptions to reach more candidates
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What are Sponsored Jobs on Indeed?
Sponsored Jobs are paid job postings that help increase the visibility of your open roles across Indeed. Compared to non-sponsored jobs, Sponsored Jobs appear more often in relevant search results, job alerts and other placements where job seekers discover opportunities.
For employers hiring in competitive markets or filling specialized roles, Premium Sponsored Jobs combine the visibility of Sponsored Jobs with additional targeting, matching, branding and time-saving functionality to help you reach candidates who fit your hiring criteria.
What are Premium Sponsored Jobs?
Indeed’s Premium Sponsored Jobs package is for employers that combines standard job sponsorship with extra targeting, matching, AI and branding features to help them hire faster and get quality candidates.
Premium Sponsored Jobs are designed to help employers achieve three important hiring goals: improving candidate quality, reducing time to hire and increasing visibility for open roles among job seekers who could be a good match.
Quality
Features like location-based candidate targeting, Matched candidates and AI-powered Advanced matching help put your opportunities in front of people who are more likely to be a strong fit for your role.
These features engage both passive and active job seekers as they explore listings on Indeed. Matched candidates can be used to identify and invite quality candidates to apply, while Advanced matching surfaces your jobs in search results to people most likely to be a strong fit.
Premium Sponsored Jobs receive 95% more quality applications than non-Premium Sponsored Jobs.
Speed
Hiring quickly often depends on connecting with quality candidates before they accept another opportunity. Premium Sponsored Jobs include matching and outreach features that help streamline candidate discovery and speed up screening.
Features like the “Urgently Hiring” label let job seekers know that you’re actively reviewing candidates and aiming to fill an open role quickly.
Worldwide, Premium Sponsored Jobs reach a hire three days faster than non-Premium Sponsored Jobs.
Visibility
Writing a strong job description is important, but it also needs to reach the right candidates. Premium Sponsored Jobs increase your jobs’ visibility with additional branding opportunities and Advanced matching’s AI-powered targeting to help your roles stand out in competitive search results.
Premium Sponsored Jobs appear in the top three search results 2X more often than Standard Sponsored Jobs.
Premium Sponsored Jobs vs. Standard Sponsored Jobs
Both Standard Sponsored Jobs and Premium Sponsored Jobs help increase the visibility of your open roles on Indeed. The difference is how each option helps you connect with candidates.
Standard Sponsored Jobs focus on increasing visibility by promoting your job in relevant search results, job alerts and other placements where active job seekers discover opportunities. Employers can also use automated messaging to engage candidates during the hiring process.
Premium Sponsored Jobs include all the benefits of Standard Sponsored Jobs while adding features that help you connect with candidates who meet your specific job requirements and location preferences, surface matched candidates you can invite to apply and strengthen your employer brand through branded job posts and additional visibility features. As a result, Premium Sponsored Jobs posted directly on Indeed receive 7.4x more applications than non-sponsored jobs.
It also includes tools designed to help speed up candidate screening and outreach. This makes it easier to move quality candidates through your hiring process.
These additional capabilities can make a measurable difference. Compared to Standard Sponsored Jobs, Premium Sponsored Jobs posted directly on Indeed in the US also moved forward in the hiring process with 28% more applicants.
What are the features of Premium Sponsored Jobs?
Each Premium Sponsored Jobs capability is designed to support a different stage of hiring—from reaching relevant candidates to engaging them more efficiently.
Premium Sponsored Jobs includes the following features:
Location targeting
Location targeting helps display your job to candidates within your preferred commute distance. If your role supports relocation, remote work or a broader search, you can also reach candidates outside your immediate hiring area.
How it helps you find quality candidates: Location often plays a crucial role in hiring success. By increasing your job’s visibility among candidates who can realistically work in your location or are willing to relocate, you can build a more relevant applicant pool.
Whether you’re hiring locally or recruiting nationally, location targeting helps you reach candidates who are more likely to be a practical fit for your role.
Matched candidates
Matched candidates surfaces candidates from Indeed’s diverse database of sourceable job seeker profiles to deliver quality candidates whose resumes on Indeed match your job description. You can review these matches and determine if they match the criteria for your open role. With these candidates identified, you invite them to apply directly, helping you get right to interviewing and hiring.
Note that access to Matched candidates through Premium Sponsored Jobs is limited to a specific job and can be accessed via your Candidates tab in the employer dashboard. Premium Sponsored Jobs also have a daily matched candidate contact limit. For access to additional contacts that can be used across all jobs, consider a Smart Sourcing subscription.
How it helps you find quality candidates: Instead of relying only on incoming applications, matched candidates features help you proactively connect with quality professionals who may not have discovered your job posting yet.
Matched candidates you invite to apply are 15.1X more likely to apply to your job than job seekers who only see it in search[6].
Reviewing recommended matches and inviting strong candidates to apply can help you build a stronger applicant pool while reducing the time spent searching for quality talent yourself.
Advanced matching
Advanced matching analyzes your job requirements and automatically surfaces your job to active job seekers who already have the specific skills. This process occurs in the background, requiring no manual searching or filtering.
How it helps you find quality candidates: When your job reaches candidates who already have relevant qualifications, you’re more likely to receive applications from people who meet your hiring criteria.
Since this selective matching occurs based on the details in your job description, your listing can be shown to the “right” candidates, not just more candidates. Designed to reduce the noise of application overload, Advanced matching can help you dedicate more time to evaluating candidates who may be a strong fit.
Priority placement
Priority placement enhances your job’s visibility in relevant search results. This could help your role be seen sooner by candidates who are actively searching for jobs like yours.
How it helps you find quality candidates: Increased visibility can lead to more opportunities to connect with quality candidates while they’re actively searching.
Premium Sponsored Jobs posted directly on Indeed appear in the top three search results 20x more often than non-sponsored jobs, helping your roles stand out in competitive hiring markets.
Time-saving AI features
Candidate highlights summarize why an applicant may be a good fit, while message drafts help you communicate with candidates more efficiently.
How it helps you find quality candidates: Hiring often moves quickly, especially for competitive roles. Candidate highlights help you identify promising applicants faster by surfacing relevant qualifications, while message drafts make it easier to begin personalized conversations without starting from scratch.
Faster screening and outreach can help you engage quality candidates before they accept another opportunity.
Urgently Hiring label
Sponsored Jobs posted directly on Indeed with the Urgently Hiring label receive 74% more applications than Sponsored Jobs without the label.
This is because the Urgently Hiring label informs job seekers that you’re actively reviewing applications and hiring on a shorter timeline.
How it helps you find quality candidates: Candidates may be more likely to apply when they know an employer is actively hiring rather than collecting applications for future review.
The Urgently Hiring label can encourage quality job seekers to apply sooner, helping you build momentum for time-sensitive roles.
Branded jobs
Indeed data shows that displaying a branded jobs logo on a job card results in a 49% higher application start rate[9].
Branded jobs include your company logo and a company image to your job posting, helping reinforce your employer brand throughout the candidate experience.
How it helps you find quality candidates: A recognizable employer brand can help candidates feel more confident about applying. Company branding helps your job stand out while giving candidates a better understanding of who they’re applying to work for.
This can encourage more intentional applications from candidates who identify with your organization’s mission and culture.
Tech Network
Across a range of international markets, employers using the Tech Network experienced a 2.1x increase in started applications per job for technology roles.
The Tech Network extends your job’s reach to technology-focused websites and professional communities, helping connect your roles with candidates who spend time on industry-specific platforms.
How it helps you find quality candidates: Some specialized professionals spend more time within industry communities than on general job boards.
The Tech Network expands your reach to these audiences while allowing you to manage your hiring through Indeed.
SMS messaging
On average, job seekers who receive SMS messages respond 63% of the time.
SMS messaging delivers employer messages by text to candidates who have SMS messaging turned on in their Indeed communication preferences.*
How it helps you find quality candidates: When you’ve identified a strong candidate, timely communication can help keep the hiring process moving.
SMS messaging provides another way to reach candidates quickly, making it easier to continue conversations while they’re actively considering opportunities.
*SMS messages are delivered only to candidates who have SMS messaging enabled in their Indeed communication preferences. Job Seekers must have toggled on “Employer responses and interview updates” under “Text message” inside their profile’s Communication settings in order to receive SMS messaging.
Tips for getting the most out of Premium Sponsored Jobs
Premium Sponsored Jobs include features designed to help you reach and engage the right candidates, but how you set up your hiring campaign also influences your results. These best practices can help you get the most value from your investment.
Write a detailed job description : The more clearly you define your role, the better advanced matching can identify relevant candidates.
Include the skills, experience, certifications and responsibilities that are most important for success. If you need help getting started, Indeed’s free AI Job Description Generator can help.
Set a competitive budget: Indeed’s budget recommendations can help you receive applications at a pace that aligns with your hiring goals.
Indeed data shows that Sponsored Jobs posted directly on Indeed using the recommended budget receive 90% more applications than Sponsored Jobs using minimum budgets.
Add your employer branding: Uploading your company logo and images helps reinforce your employer brand throughout the hiring process. Consistent branding can help your jobs stand out and encourage quality candidates to learn more about your organization.
Respond promptly to candidates: Once candidates apply or respond, timely communication can help keep them engaged. Using AI-supported message drafts and SMS messaging*, when available, can help streamline outreach while maintaining a personalized experience.
*SMS messages are delivered only to candidates who have SMS messaging enabled in their Indeed communication preferences. Job Seekers must have toggled on “Employer responses and interview updates” under “Text message” inside their profile’s Communication settings in order to receive SMS messaging.
Review matched candidates regularly: Matched candidates update as new professionals become available. Reviewing your recommended candidates regularly can give you more opportunities to invite quality people to apply before they pursue other opportunities.
Use the Urgently Hiring label when appropriate: If you’re actively reviewing applications and hiring on an accelerated timeline, the Urgently Hiring label can help communicate that urgency to job seekers and encourage faster engagement.
Using Premium Sponsored Jobs to build a stronger hiring strategy
Premium Sponsored Jobs adds to the visibility of Sponsored Jobs with additional targeting, matching and branding features designed to help you connect with quality candidates more efficiently.
If you’re hiring for specialized roles, expanding into competitive markets or simply looking to improve the quality of your applicant pool, Premium Sponsored Jobs offer multiple ways to reach candidates who align with your hiring criteria. By combining greater visibility with tools that help you identify and engage the right candidates faster, you can spend less time searching and more time moving your hiring process forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Standard Sponsored Jobs and Premium Sponsored Jobs?
Standard Sponsored Jobs help increase the visibility of your job postings across Indeed through placements like search results and job alerts.
Premium Sponsored Jobs include those same visibility benefits while adding features such as location targeting, matched candidates, advanced matching, priority placement, branded jobs, the Urgently Hiring label, Tech Network distribution, SMS messaging and time-saving candidate review and outreach tools.
How do Premium Sponsored Jobs help me find quality candidates?
Premium Sponsored Jobs combine increased visibility with additional targeting and matching capabilities. Features like location targeting, advanced matching and matched candidates help connect your jobs with people whose qualifications align more closely with your hiring criteria, helping you spend less time reviewing mismatched applications.
How much do Premium Sponsored Jobs cost?
Premium Sponsored Jobs use a flexible, budget-based pricing model rather than a fixed subscription fee. You choose the budget that aligns with your hiring goals, and you can start, pause or stop sponsoring your jobs as your hiring needs change.
Budget recommendations can also help you receive applications at a pace that supports your hiring timeline. For specific pricing details, talk to an Indeed specialist who can walk you through options based on your role, market and hiring needs.
How quickly can I expect to receive applications with Premium Sponsored Jobs?
Results vary depending on factors such as your role, location, hiring market and budget. However, Premium Sponsored Jobs posted directly on Indeed receive 7.4x more applications than non-sponsored jobs, and jobs posted directly on Indeed using the Urgently Hiring label make a hire five days faster than non-sponsored jobs.
For those looking to engage job seekers and hire quickly, employers utilizing Premium Sponsored Jobs can invite matched candidates to apply to their open role as soon as they post their opportunity.
Do I need to sign a long-term contract to use Premium Sponsored Jobs?
No. Premium Sponsored Jobs use flexible budgeting, allowing you to adjust your spending as your hiring needs change. You can start, pause or stop sponsoring your jobs without committing to a long-term contract.
Can I target candidates by both skills and location with Premium Sponsored Jobs?
Yes. Premium Sponsored Jobs includes location targeting based on commute distance. You can also broaden your search to include candidates who are open to relocating, helping you reach professionals who fit both your role and your location requirements. Premium Sponsored Jobs also includes access to Indeed’s AI-powered matching (also known as “Advanced matching”,) allowing you to reach more qualified candidates who fit your job description and hiring needs.
*Indeed provides this information as a courtesy to users of this site. Please note that we are not your recruiting or legal advisor, we are not responsible for the content of your job descriptions, and none of the information provided herein guarantees performance.
This article is based on product information available at the time of writing, which may change at any time. Indeed does not guarantee that this information is always up-to-date. Please seek out your CS/Sales rep for the latest on this topic.
