Let’s be real — writing a great job ad should be straightforward, right? You list the requirements, throw in a few bullet points about the company, maybe drop in a perk or two, and hit post. Then you wait for the top-tier candidates to roll in, glowing with certifications and ready to bring order to your infrastructure chaos.

But instead? Crickets. Or worse — an inbox full of mismatched applications and irrelevant CVs. So what gives?

If you’re struggling to attract strong Infrastructure talent in 2025, it’s not just you. The market’s hot, the candidates are savvy, and attention spans are shorter than ever. The good news? A few tweaks to your job ad can make all the difference. Let’s dig into the common culprits—and how to fix them.

❌ Pitfall 1: It reads like a spec sheet, not a story

Listing every possible technical requirement from here to eternity might seem thorough, but to a seasoned engineer, it reads more like a checklist from an IT graveyard.

“Must have experience with 12 different systems. Must be on-call 24/7. Must enjoy long walks through legacy code.”

No thanks.

✅ Fix it: Highlight the why, not just the what.
Why is this role exciting? What kind of projects will they work on? Is your team migrating to cloud, rebuilding from scratch, or playing with bleeding-edge tech? Paint a picture. People want to know what they’re walking into before they lace up their boots.

❌ Pitfall 2: You're selling the company, not the role

We love a good company culture blurb—but if your ad spends more time talking about beanbags and Friday beers than actual job content, you’ve lost the candidate.

Infrastructure professionals are pragmatic. They care more about the tech stack, leadership style, and clarity of expectations than a table tennis tournament in the lunchroom.

✅ Fix it: Get real about the role.
Be clear on what success looks like in 3, 6, 12 months. Outline the systems they’ll be working on, how mature your infrastructure is (warts and all), and how much autonomy they’ll have. Don’t bury the important bits under generic fluff.

❌ Pitfall 3: You forgot what top talent actually wants

Spoiler: it’s not just salary. It’s flexibility. Progression. Tools that don’t make them want to throw their laptop out the window. A team that isn’t stuck in 2012.

✅ Fix it: Address the real motivators.
Mention hybrid working if it’s genuinely part of the deal. Talk about L&D budgets, cloud certifications, career pathways. Infrastructure folks want to grow, not stagnate. If you invest in them, say it — and mean it.

❌ Pitfall 4: You're not speaking their language

“Dynamic rockstar engineer needed to join our fast-paced disruptor”?

Need we say more?

✅ Fix it: Keep it human.
Speak like a person, not a jargon bot. Use straightforward, respectful language that reflects your company’s tone and values. Bonus points if you throw in a pun or a little personality — it makes your ad more memorable (and makes you seem like someone they might actually want to work with).

❌ Pitfall 5: You’re asking for a unicorn

Three cloud platforms, five scripting languages, a networking certification, and a decade of experience — all for a mid-level role with a mid-range salary?

Candidates can spot a unicorn hunt from a mile away.

✅ Fix it: Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves.
Be realistic. Focus on the core capabilities needed to do the job well, and be open to transferable skills. A solid engineer who’s missing one cert but eager to learn will often outperform the mythical “perfect” candidate who’s burned out and already halfway out the door.

Final Thoughts

If your job ad isn’t bringing in the right people, the good news is…it’s not permanent.

A clear, honest, well-written ad is one of the most powerful tools you’ve got to attract top Infrastructure talent in a competitive market. It shows respect. It shows intent. And it shows you actually understand the people you want to hire.

And if you’re still stuck? Well — lucky for you, we can help!

📞 Need help hiring top Infrastructure talent?

We’re The Recruitment Company— Ireland’s tech recruitment specialists — and matching IT Infrastructure legends with awesome companies is kind of our thing.

Get in touch with our IT Infrastructure expert Sara O'Toole at


📩 [email protected]

📞 +353 89 433 2865

The Recruitment Company – Making people enjoy the recruitment experience again

We are a specialist IT Recruitment agency located in Dublin servicing clients and candidates across Ireland, Europe and the UK in the following communities: Cloud and Platform, Cyber Security, IT Infrastructure, Data Analytics and AI, Software Development, Project services, IT Leadership, ERP and Applications.