A lot of small businesses assume they have a candidate problem when a role does not attract the right people.
The advert goes live, applications come in, but most of them miss the mark. We see this often with SMEs across Worthing, Brighton and the wider Sussex area. It is frustrating, especially when the role matters and the team needs someone in place.
But the issue often starts before anyone applies.
If the advert is too vague, too broad, or too far removed from the real job, good candidates do not get enough to work with. They cannot see what the role involves, what kind of person would do well, or why the opportunity is worth their time.
That is where a strong job advert example can help. It shows how to present a role clearly and honestly, so the right person can recognise themselves in it and feel confident enough to apply.
A good advert gives people a proper feel for the role, the business, and what success would look like. It also gives you a better chance of hearing from candidates who are genuinely suited to the job.
This guide explains how to write a job advert, how a job description should support it, and what a good job advert example looks like for a Sussex business.
Why the job advert affects the whole hiring process
If it is vague, you will usually attract vague-fit applications. If it is overloaded with jargon or internal wording, strong candidates may switch off before they have understood the opportunity. If it is clear and grounded in the real job, the quality of applications tends to improve because people can judge much earlier whether the role suits them.
That is why learning how to write a job advert properly matters. It saves time, improves the quality of applications, and gives your business a stronger starting point.
For local businesses in Worthing, Brighton, and across Sussex, it also helps your role stand out in a market where candidates are often comparing several options at once.
The difference between a job advert and a job description
A job description and a job advert are connected, but they do different jobs.
A job description is usually an internal document. It covers duties, reporting lines, responsibilities, and the structure of the role. It gives the business a clear record of what the job involves.
A job advert is written for candidates. It needs to be clearer, shorter, and easier to engage with. Its purpose is to explain the role in a way that helps the right people understand it quickly.
That means a job description should inform the advert, but it should not be copied straight across. In most cases, a job description is too dense, too formal, or too broad to work well as candidate-facing copy.
How to write a job advert that attracts the right people
If you are working out how to write a job advert, the starting point is to be clearer than you think you need to be.
Candidates do not know your business from the inside. They cannot fill in the gaps if the advert leaves too much unsaid. They are scanning quickly, comparing options, and trying to work out whether the role makes sense for them.
That is why each part of the advert needs to earn its place.
Start with the role
What does this person do each day? What pressure points will they handle? Who do they support? What does success look like after three months?
This sounds obvious, but it is where many adverts go wrong. The title says one thing, the job description says another, and the actual day to day job is broader still.
If the role includes admin, coordination, customer contact and internal follow-up, say that. If it is a small team and the person will need to be self-sufficient, say that too. The clearer you are at this stage, the better the advert will be.
Use a title people will actually search for
A good title makes a bigger difference than many businesses expect.
If the title is too vague, too internal, or too clever, the right candidates may never find the role. A strong job advert example uses a title people are already searching for, such as Office Administrator, Customer Service Advisor, Personal Assistant, or Account Coordinator.
That matters even more when you are hiring locally in Worthing or Brighton, where candidates may be searching by both job title and location.
Explain the business and the context
Candidates want to know what kind of business they are joining.
Your job advert should explain who the business is, what sort of environment the candidate is stepping into, and why the role is worth paying attention to. A short, grounded introduction helps people understand why the role exists and where it fits.
Explain what the person will actually do
This is where a lot of adverts fall down.
They use broad phrases like great communicator, team player, or able to thrive in a fast-paced environment, but they never explain the real work.
Candidates need a more practical picture than that. Tell them if they will be supporting customers by phone and email, managing bookings, handling office admin, chasing updates internally, or working closely with a small team. The more clearly you describe the work, the more likely you are to attract people who can genuinely do it.
Be realistic about what you need
Some adverts ask for far too much.
The role may be mid-level, but the advert asks for years of experience, specialist knowledge, advanced systems skills, and a long list of personal traits. That usually narrows the pool for the wrong reasons.
If you want to know how to write a job advert well, a big part of it is knowing what is essential and what can be learned. Candidates respond better when the brief feels realistic.
Include the practical details
Salary, hours, location, flexibility, reporting line, and contract type all matter.
Candidates are often making quick decisions about whether a role is worth their time. If those details are missing, many will move on. This is especially true for local roles in Sussex, where commute, parking, office expectations, and flexibility can all shape whether someone applies.
What a good job advert example looks like
Here is a simple job advert example with a clear title, grounded intro, real day to day tasks, realistic criteria and enough detail for someone to picture the role.
Customer Service Coordinator
Worthing, West Sussex
£26,000 to £30,000 depending on experience
Full time, office based
If you enjoy keeping things organised, communicating clearly, and making sure customers feel looked after, this could be a great role for you.
We are working with a growing Sussex business looking for a Customer Service Coordinator to join their team in Worthing. This role sits at the heart of the office, supporting customers by phone and email, keeping updates moving internally, and helping the wider team stay organised.
You will be the person making sure queries are handled properly, follow-ups happen when they should, and customers feel confident in the service they are receiving.
What will you be doing?
- responding to customer queries by phone and email
- managing updates, follow-ups and internal coordination
- keeping records accurate and up to date
- supporting the wider office team with admin and communication
- helping resolve issues calmly and professionally
Who are we looking for?
- someone with previous experience in customer service or office support
- strong organisation and communication skills
- a calm and reliable approach
- confidence juggling a range of tasks
- someone who enjoys working as part of a close-knit team
What is in it for you?
- a stable office-based role in Worthing
- the chance to join a growing Sussex business
- a supportive team environment
- a role where your contribution will be noticed and valued
This job advert example works because it explains the job in a way that feels direct and believable. It does not try to impress with jargon. It gives the candidate enough detail to decide whether they can see themselves in the role.
Why local detail matters in Sussex
Localising an advert is not about forcing place names into every paragraph. It is about including the details that matter to local candidates.
If the role is in Worthing town centre, say that. If it is Brighton based with hybrid working, say that. If the office is easier to reach from surrounding Sussex areas, mention it where relevant.
This makes the role easier to picture and can also help visibility in search, especially when people are looking for opportunities close to home.
That is one of the simplest ways to strengthen a job advert example for a local audience without making the copy feel forced.
Final thought
A better advert usually starts with a better conversation internally. When the role is clear, the advert becomes clearer. When the advert is clearer, the response tends to improve. You spend less time sorting through poor-fit applications and more time speaking to people who actually make sense for the job.
If you are hiring in Worthing, Brighton or elsewhere in Sussex and want a second pair of eyes on the role before it goes live, we are always happy to have a conversation.
