Joblisting: The job title – Why the first line of your listing decides everything
The job title is the only element of your listing that appears outside your page. It decides whether you’re found at all – before anyone even clicks.
Corrado types "Renovation Staff" into the title field. Sounds like his job to him. A week later: three applications, none of them suitable. What he doesn't know – "Renovation Staff" doesn't appear when someone searches "Painter Winterthur" or "Painter full-time". The listing is live. But for the right people, it's invisible.
The job title is the only element of your listing that appears outside your page: in search results, on job portals, in push notifications. It decides whether you're found at all.
Why the job title is more than a heading
When someone searches for a job on Google, they see three things: job title, company, location. That's it. The same applies to job portals, email alerts and mobile push notifications. The rest of your listing – the tasks, requirements, work model – isn't visible at this point.
That means: anyone who writes the job title for internal use rather than for search will lose reach before anyone clicks. "Renovation Staff" won't appear when someone types "Painter Zurich" or "Painter full-time". The role exists – but it's invisible to the right people.
The formula: What belongs in every job title
A good job title has four elements – not all are always needed, but the more you include, the better the title filters before the click.
Job title — Write the way people search: "Painter", "Cook", "Accountant". Not "Staff", not "Specialist", not internal names. If a qualification is relevant, include it directly.
Workload — The percentage belongs in the title, not just in the listing. If someone is looking for full-time and your role is 60%, they should see that immediately – and vice versa. "Cook 60%" saves both you and the candidate time.
Location — City or region, specific. Not "Central Switzerland", but "Lucerne" or "Zug area". Someone who'd need to commute an hour each way should be able to assess that straight away.
Work model — Only if it differs from on-site. "Hybrid" or "Remote possible" belong in the title, because for many candidates they're a deciding factor. If the role is standard on-site, no mention needed.
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| Renovation Staff | Painter 80–100% | Winterthur |
| Chef wanted | Cook 60% | Zurich | Hybrid |
| Accounting position | Accountant 80% | Bern |
| Gardener | Gardener (qualified) 100% | Olten area |
Do's & Don'ts
| Do ✅ | Don't ❌ |
|---|---|
| Standard job title, the way candidates search | Internal names ("Renovation Associate") |
| Workload as % directly in the title | "Flexible hours" or no mention |
| Specific location: city or region | "Nationwide" or "various locations" |
The job title isn't a required field to fill in quickly – it's your most important word. Write it the way the person you're looking for would search, and you'll be found. Think internally, and you'll stay invisible.
