Your job description is your chance to connect with potential candidates. And first impressions matter. Effective job descriptions are engaging and inclusive, prompt the right people to apply and help you trim down yourtime-to-fill.
Writing an effective job description is so important because it gives you a much better chance of attracting, and subsequently hiring, talented professionals. Put yourself in their shoes
Keep these pointers in mind:
Talent Branding
A concise and compelling job description will play a major role in attracting qualified candidates. With resources like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and email, the ability to post and share jobs is instantaneous and has exponential reachability.
Set expectations
A clear job description will set everyone up for success. Prospects will understand what is expected of them, more qualified candidates will apply, under qualified applicants will move on and you will save loads of time sifting through applications and communicating with potential candidates.
Preparation is key
A well-crafted job description can help both applicants and interviewers prep for the big day. Applicants will be able to prepare for likely topics of conversation and interview teams will be equipped to ask questions that will accurately gauge the candidate’s qualifications.
First impression is everything
Job descriptions are often the first point of contact candidates will have with your company and can shape their first impression.
Keep it simple
Searching for jobs is incredibly time-consuming, especially for the 73% of candidates who are passive and currently employed. Clear and concise job descriptions help prospects compare salaries, benefits, perks and even company culture to determine what roles are worth applying to.
Establish a baseline
Once a candidate is hired, the job description will stand as a baseline to measure growth, reference during performance reviews and consider future training opportunities.
Now lets get started. Always start with the Job Title and work your way downwards
Job Title
Make the job title clear and concise. People will be searching terms they know, so don’t stray from the standard industry language of common job titles. Be sure to include specific terms, like the programs required for the role.
Company Mission
Most companies have a lengthy mission statement with core values and a culture code. Slim that down to about two to four sentences. For candidates looking at multiple companies and open roles, the missions start to sound the same, and they can read about the company’s full profile on the website if they decide to pursue the position.
Role Summary
Write a brief three to five sentence summary about what the candidate will do in their role, who they’ll work with and any general qualities your team is looking for in the individual.
Job Function
Give five to 5+ bullet points on what the candidate can expect to do in the role. Here are a few tips:
- Write in complete sentences.
- Be thorough. Candidates will be better prepared for the interview and role if they know what exactly is expected of them.
Must-Have Skills
List five to seven bullet points that are absolutely necessary for a candidate to be successful in the role they are applying to.
- Include quantities when applicable, like years of experience.
- Be sure to clarify what the application requires, like a portfolio, resume, CV, cover letter, etc.
- Other important information includes education, experience, certifications and knowledge of specific platforms.
Nice-to-Have Skills
If there are any other qualities that are nice to have, include those here. Don’t feel like you have to include this section, but it may help candidates know what to include in the application or interview to stand out.
Compensation
61% of job seekers consider compensation information to be the most important part of a job description. Many companies still refuse to provide this information in job descriptions, but it’s time to get over your discomfort.
Time
It’s best to be upfront about the time frame you need employees to work. Flexible work hours are more common for full time employees, time zones may play a role, and certain industries and markets work around different schedules.
Location
Candidates will consider commute time or relocation efforts in their employment decision, so help them determine fit before they embark on the application process. Embedding a Google Map onto your website is really quite simple and can be done with this guide.
Environment
People want to know what to expect in their future work environment. Are there any physical requirements for the role? What is the expected dress code?
Call To Action
Make sure it is blatantly obvious where a candidate is supposed to apply. Do not make it complicated or frustrating to apply because that’s just going to reduce your applicant pool for the wrong reasons.
Access free job description templates
We have a variety of ready-made job description templates that have been expertly designed. Simply download the one most relevant to your vacancy, fill in your content in line with what has been mentioned in this article and be prepared for your hiring process to step up a notch!
