Hiring signs are a quick and easy way to let people in your area know that you are looking for new employees. These are a good way to attract potential candidates from people who know your business—and it can even generate word-of-mouth referrals from there.
Knowing how to create a hiring sign is important, as a poorly done one can impact your brand, and consequently, the applicants you attract. In the simplest sense, these should be easily readable, straight to the point, and catchy. Read on for more hiring signs ideas for an effective recruitment campaign.
Hiring Sign Ideas for Content
An effective “Hiring Now” sign needs to be easily readable while having the essential information to motivate someone to ask for an application or find it online. You also need to give viewers enough information to get them interested—but not so much that they won’t take time to read.
Here are some of the things you should include:
- Company name
- Job title
- Must-haves: This might be the willingness to work the shift you’re hiring for, or certifications, like a commercial driver’s license.
- Is training provided: If you provide on-the-job training, saying so can open up your candidate base.
- Motivation: This could be starting salary, benefits, or even your company mission.
- How to apply: You may say “Inquire within” if you have paper applications, or you might include a website, tear-off tabs with the website, phone number, or address, or a QR code that leads to the application site.
- Call to action: Words like “Apply at” “Learn More” or “Ask within” tell the potential candidate what to do next.
You don’t need a lot of words to do this. For example, “Starting Salary $14.75” is sufficient motivation, while “Exterminators wanted – training provided” covers two areas in four words. You also don’t need to include everything—just pick the most important elements. Also, let the location of your sign provide some information. For example, you don’t need your company name for a sign that sits by your cash register or right beside your store frontage.
A hiring sign does no good if no one notices it. Take a little time to consider color, images, graphics, and fonts that will draw the eye.
- Use color wisely. Use your brand’s colors or a color like red or yellow that attracts attention. Font colors should stand out without clashing. Don’t use too many colors or it gets hard to look at. Two or three is generally enough for graphics and fonts.
- Include your logo. This is especially important when you are placing your sign off-premise.
- Use a couple of simple but attention-getting fonts. Avoid Comic Sans or anything that looks handwritten. It usually comes off as cheap and lazy. Ditto for a Now Hiring Sign printable done in standard computer fonts. Use one larger, bolder font for words that should stand out, and a smaller contrasting one for the peripheral information.
- Use graphics that speak to your brand or culture. Pictures of your employees or products impart visual and emotional information that attracts candidates.
- Add a QR code. QR codes make it easy for a viewer to get the information on their phone to apply on the spot or pass on to someone who might be interested. We list the best QR code generators, some of which are free to use.
- Size for visibility. Keep in mind the constraints of your location, but make sure your sign is large enough that all the information is readable at the appropriate distance. For example, a sign in the window may be larger than one on a college bulletin board.
Hiring Sign Tips
Simply knowing the basics of creating hiring signs is only the first step. You’ll need more than just words on a board to really make your sign stick.
Here are a few tips when designing your hiring sign:
- Take a little time with your sign: Even if you have a Now Hiring Sign printable from your computer, make use of fonts and word art to make it stand out and include essential information. A slapdash hiring sign makes you look desperate and not especially concerned about who applies.
- Be creative: Have a little fun with images. Incorporate a pun or a standout image. Play off your brand.
Humor can make your Help Wanted sign stand out and show that your company is a fun place to work. (Source: TribLive)
- Seek Now Hiring sign examples from your industry: Hiring signs in a restaurant will have different information and focus than those of a call center. Pay attention to the information listed.
- Use a Now Hiring sign template: You can find Now Hiring Sign templates from printing companies like VistaPrint or stock photo companies. You can modify the templates or design a Now Hiring Sign printable on illustration software like Photoshop or Canva.
Some printing companies offer templates you can easily modify. (Source: Signs.com)
- Place it where you will find qualified employees. Tacking your sign to random telephone poles or on street intersections may improve visibility, but isn’t likely to generate qualified candidates. Plus, it doesn’t speak well to your brand.
- Don’t leave “We’re Hiring” signs up too long: This can give the impression that you have high turnover or aren’t somewhere that people want to work.
- Don’t depend on hiring signs alone: “We’re Hiring” signs should be part of your overall recruitment strategy that includes job ad boards, social media promotions, employee recommendations, and more.
- Track your hiring sign’s success: Keep a record of how many applications come in as a result of your Now Hiring sign as opposed to other recruiting methods so you can decide whether to use them in the future.
Pros & Cons of Now Hiring Signs
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Good for reaching foot traffic | May come off as desperate |
| Inexpensive | Low success rate |
| Easy to create | Takes up space you could use for advertising |
| Works for attracting passive job seekers | |
Overall, a “We Are Hiring” sign is best used as part of an overall recruiting strategy. It is inexpensive and works to attract passive job seekers who might not be looking to your company for employment but are willing to change jobs. However, it’s limited to local foot traffic or visitors to your store. As such, it has a low success rate—in some cases, even below 1%. Plus, the sign takes up space you could be using to advertise a product or menu item.
Customizable Help Wanted signs are not especially inexpensive. You can also design and print your own. (Source: Google)
Hiring Sign Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The absolute basics are something that indicates you’re hiring and a way to apply, like a website or QR code. Recommended additions are the specific position or positions and a reason to work there (salary, benefits, mission, team).
Here are some alternatives to saying “Now Hiring” but if you can come up with something clever and on-brand, do it!
- Looking for great employees
- Join our team
- Start your career with us
- Need a change? Work for us!
- Help wanted
- Hiring for (position name)
- We’re hiring
- Be part of (your mission)
- Apply now
Hiring flyers are different from signs. They can hold more information, so in addition to the basic facts you’d put in a hiring sign, add a brief description of the jobs available, a quick About Your Company, and some details about the pay and benefits. You can also add more information about where to apply. A QR Code is great for signs and flyers.
First, have a clear job description and competitive pay and benefits. Next, promote the job opening in multiple ways (signs, job sites, social media) to reach a wide audience. Also, ask for referrals from current employees. Lastly, use an efficient applicant tracking system as you collect and interview candidates.
To learn more, check out our article on finding employees you’ll love.
Now hiring signs are inexpensive and easy, but they can come off as cheap—and in some cases, desperate. If you are hiring for a technical or very high-paying position, you could be doing your brand a disservice. Also, these are best used for local candidates. Otherwise, look to job ad boards, social media, or recruiters. After all, these signs are not effective if you don’t get a lot of foot traffic.
Hiring signs are only part of the recruiting process. Indeed lists these seven stages:
- Planning
- Strategy development
- Search
- Screening
- Interview and selection
- Job offer and onboarding
- Evaluation of the recruiting process
Our article on hiring employees lists six steps (evaluating the process would be the seventh):
- Determine the type of employee you need
- Create a detailed job description
- Advertise and recruit
- Evaluate resumes
- Interview candidates
- Create a job offer
Bottom Line
A hiring sign is only one tool in your recruitment toolbox, but it can be a good way to find local talent and promote your business. When you create a sign, be sure it’s uncluttered and clearly worded while having the essentials of what you need and what you offer. Include your logo and add a little on-brand creativity in phrasing or images. A QR code leading to the application site makes it convenient for candidates. Finally, post it somewhere that it gets attention without being disruptive.
