Writing a job ad without an HR team means focusing on the basics: the role, hours, pay range and what a good applicant looks like, rather than formal HR language. A free employer account on FindMeAJob gives a simple template and one free 15-day listing to get the ad live quickly.
What actually goes in the ad if there's no template on hand?
Start with the plain facts before you worry about making it sound impressive. The job title as people would actually search it, not an internal name nobody outside the business would recognise. The hours, written as real shifts, not "flexible" which tells an applicant nothing. The pay, or at least a range, because a number does more work than a paragraph of adjectives. And one or two lines on what a normal day looks like, because that's the thing most job ads leave out entirely and it's the thing applicants actually want to know before they bother applying.
Do I need to sound corporate to be taken seriously?
No, and trying to usually backfires. An ad that reads like it was written by the person who'll actually be standing next to the new hire on their first shift tends to get better applications than one stuffed with phrases like "dynamic team environment" or "fast-paced culture." If you're the shop owner writing this between doing the banking and covering someone's lunch break, write it in that voice. It reads as more trustworthy, not less professional.
What's the minimum I have to get legally right?
Wages are the one part where there's no room to wing it. If the role sits at the adult minimum, that's $23.95 an hour, and if you're using the starting-out or training rate for someone eligible, that's $19.16 an hour. State the rate honestly in the ad rather than leaving it vague, because a wrong number here isn't just a bad look, it can breach the minimum wage requirements outright.
Source: Minimum wage rates
If you're a business with fewer than 20 employees, you also have the option of a 90-day trial period, which needs to be written into the employment agreement correctly to actually count. That's worth getting right before the offer goes out, not after.
Source: Trial periods
What actually puts good applicants off an ad?
Vagueness on hours and pay is the biggest one. So is a long list of "essential requirements" for a role that doesn't actually need them, which just discourages someone who'd have been fine but assumes they don't qualify. If the role is genuinely open to someone with limited experience, say so plainly rather than burying it under a wishlist that reads like a much more senior job.
Where do I actually post it once it's written?
This is the part that trips people up who've never done it before, not the writing. A free employer account lets you post one active role at a time for 15 days at no cost, which is enough for most small businesses filling a single vacancy. There's no card needed and the listing goes through a review, usually live within 24 hours, faster again once your NZBN is verified.
Key takeaways
- Lead with plain facts: job title, real shifts, a pay figure or range, and a sentence on what the day actually looks like.
- Write it in your own voice rather than borrowed HR language, it reads as more credible to someone deciding whether to apply.
- Get the wage rate right against the legal minimum, $23.95 an hour for adults or $19.16 for the starting-out rate, before the ad goes live.
- The free plan covers one listing at a time for 15 days through a free employer account, which is enough for most single-vacancy small business hires.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need HR software or a template to write a job ad in NZ?
No. A free employer account on FindMeAJob includes a simple structure to work through, covering the role, hours, pay and requirements, so you don't need existing HR software or a formal template to get started.
Should I put the pay rate in the ad if I don't have an HR policy on it?
Yes, a figure or honest range helps applicants self-select, and it's a stronger signal of a legitimate ad than leaving it out. Just make sure whatever you state meets the legal minimum for the role.
How long does it take to get a job ad approved on FindMeAJob?
Listings are reviewed before going live, usually within 24 hours. Once your NZBN is verified, future listings from your account go live instantly without that review step.
What if I only need to hire for one role right now?
That's exactly what the free plan is built for: one active listing, live for 15 days, through a free employer account, with no card required.
If the ad's written and you're ready to get it in front of people, you can advertise a role at no cost and have it live within a day.