How to Write an Effective Advertisement
Part 1: Heading
In writing an ad, your first objective is to attract the eyes of the prospective assistant(s). For example, you should highlight the most important or attractive points. For example:
“Bi-weekly salary, flexible schedule, free furnished room (if you choose a live-in assistant)”
Watch the wording of your heading carefully. Sometimes when you advertise for a “home health aide or caregiver” you may find that some applicants are more prepared to take care of you as a patient than to work with you in an employer-employee relationship.
Part 2: Further interest
Your next line should reinforce your heading with further interest.
Part 3: Description of duties
The third part of the ad should be a brief but fair description of duties. Do not “sugarcoat” this – you only want applicants who are mature, serious, and ready and able to provide the services you desire.
The ad should also include the days of the week, whether it is full- or parttime, and whether you prefer a live-in assistant. A brief description of the duties expected, sex of the person with the disability, and nonsmoker if required, as well as any other important things to you, such as “must like animals.” Providing this information up front will cut down on the number of inappropriate phone calls you will receive if the interested assistant already knows what you are looking for.
Part 4: Additional information
You can include salary, phone number, and time to call. If you attend school or have any other special hobbies or interests that you may need assistance with, such as artwork or ceramics, you may want to word your ad differently. Remember to make your ad specific to your needs. Because of discrimination laws you cannot ask height, weight, preference of sex, age, or race. You may however ask if they are able to do lifting.
Benita Nease is shown providing personal assistant services to Devron
Yoakum while he was a student at the University of Missouri-Columbia.