MightyRecruiterWhen you are trying to fill an open position in your company, one of the most important things you need to do is write a good job description. An effective job posting can make the difference between attracting high quality candidates who will make a positive difference and spending hours of wasted time sifting through resumes of unqualified individuals. The following will lay out what is important to include in a job description and some overall guidelines and tips.
Main Points to Include
- Job title and summary- Along with a catchy title, write a one to three sentence summary about what the job is about and some of the main responsibilities.
- Main responsibilities- List the job responsibilities that the individual will be doing on a regular basis. For most positions, there will be five to 10 responsibilities listed. Be specific so that job applicants get a good idea of what a typical work day would look like.
- Job skills and qualifications- In order to attract applicants with the right abilities, you need to be clear about what is required for hire. Include education level, certifications or licenses, years of experience, people skills, computer proficiencies, and any other expertise that is relevant to the job.
- Company description- One thing that can attract the perfect teammate is the culture and personality of the organization. Include things that add value to the individual, the vision and mission of the company, the type of people who work there, and/or special and unique perks such as a casual dress code, pet-friendly offices, or paid training.
- Call to action- Some job descriptions fail to attract job candidates because they don’t encourage them to apply for the actual job. At the end, include a statement such as “apply now” or “send in your resume” to give applicants a little push to take action.
Refine Your Description
Once you have written your job description, look it over and make sure it is ready to be posted. The following guidelines will help tweak it so that it stands out.
- Use bullet points to help focus the reader’s attention. They should definitely be used in the responsibilities and qualifications sections, but they can also be used elsewhere if you think they would improve the format.
- Use keywords to help your job description show up on the first page of search engines. Think about the words and phrases that applicants would use to search for your listing and include them in the job title and throughout the description.
- If you think that including salary and benefit information would be beneficial, check with your company’s policy. Some don’t allow that information to be publicized, while others do.
- Make sure that your job description is concise. You want to include enough information to portray what is important, but you don’t want it to go on for too long. Do your best to keep it under 700 words.
- Don’t be afraid to show your company’s personality. For example, if it has a laid back vibe, show that within the job description with the words you use and how you describe things. If you make it sound too professional, there is a good chance you will be attracting the wrong individuals.
- Include the name of the hiring manager or recruiter as well as an email or mail address so that applicants know where to send in their resume and application.
- Always proofread your work. No matter what the job is or what your company’s culture is, misspelled words and grammatical errors will more than likely turn away the perfect candidates.Writing an effective job description is an important part of the hiring process. Take the time to write a good one so that you attract top talent from the beginning.
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The content on our website is only meant to provide general information and is not legal advice. We make our best efforts to make sure the information is accurate, but we cannot guarantee it. Do not rely on the content as legal advice. For assistance with legal problems or for a legal inquiry please contact you attorney.