If you’re a small business owner or HR manager, your primary goal when you conduct a round of hires is to attract applicants that are good fits for your open positions.
Outside of personal contacts and networking, job postings represent your primary way of attracting applicants. This means you need to focus on writing job descriptions that sell!
When hiring for an open position, there are several goals you need to meet:
- Attract a large number of applicants that are a good fit for the position.
- Compare applicants to decide which ones to interview.
- Interview a variety of applicants in an attempt to make a final decision.
- Bring the right person on board at the right time.
Before you do any of the above, you must first write a job description that provides the necessary details and attracts the right type of talent.
A solid job description will help you attract interest from the most qualified candidates. Conversely, if you cut corners, you are only harming your company.
Why the Job Description Matters Most
Whether you realize it or not, the job descriptions you release for openings at your firm are one of the most important factors for attracting the right talent. Here are three of the reasons why carefully crafted job descriptions matter so much:
Increases accuracy – A great job description ensures the right people apply for the job. You’re much less likely to get an array of under-qualified or confused applicants. For the most part, the people who apply will be candidates that clearly understand the position and are at least minimally qualified for it if you’ve published a solid description of the post.
Reduced the number of uninterested candidates – A good job description gets potential applicants excited. It ensures qualified and interested people don’t get the wrong impression about the position and decide it’s something they wouldn’t be interested in. An accurate and well-crafted description tells them exactly what the job is and encourages them to apply.
Reduces questions – Finally, a good job description removes ambiguity and eliminates repetitive questions. It can greatly diminish unnecessary communications and enables you to focus on reviewing promising applications and resumes, not answering basic questions about the job.
Nine Essential Tips for Writing Great Job Descriptions
With those goals — increasing accuracy, preventing a lack of interest, and reducing the number of questions — let’s take a look at nine ways you can write better job descriptions.
Focus on a Descriptive Title
The title is the first thing a job-seeker will see, so you should spend some time developing a descriptive yet accurate heading. Avoid using vague or over-flowery job titles; instead, home in on accurate descriptors.
For example, instead of saying “Store Manager,” use something along the lines of “Part-Time Store Manager for XYZ Location.”
Clearly Outline Duties
This is where you can either hit the proverbial nail on the head or completely miss out. The key responsibilities and duties should be comprehensive and succinct.
Begin each duty with an action verb (present-tense) and mention how frequently the duty will be conducted (hourly, daily, weekly, quarterly, etc.). A good example would be: “Research new B2B marketing trends and develop a weekly report.”
Generally speaking, this part of the job description should contain anywhere between five and ten key responsibilities.
Explain the Chain of Command
One thing that’s commonly left out, but applicants usually want to know, is the chain of command, which gives them a sense of reporting lines and working relationships. Who will they report to, and who will work beneath them?
This is particularly informative for higher-level positions because some seasoned professionals reach a point where they prefer not to have a complex chain of command above them. If you briefly indicate where the position ranks in the overall organizational structure, you will help potential candidates see where they would fit in.
List all Educational and Career Requirements
