Great talent ultimately makes a huge difference in the success of your business. And that begins with the hiring process. It’s essential to use the proper vetting, interviewing, and onboarding practices to ensure you are getting the best employees to work for your company.
One of the first steps of the hiring process is writing a job description. Write a great job description and you will attract the right people for the position. Write a ‘not so great’ job description and you will spend a lot of time and money interviewing people who may not be the fit you were looking for.
So what does it take to write a great job description? Here are the steps that are required.
Include Clear and Direct Job Titles
Applicants need to see the job title and instantly say, “That sounds like me” or “That doesn’t sound like me”. Using an unclear title like ‘producer of output’ is not recommended. You are better off using something simple like ‘Administrative Assistant at an Electrical Company’ or ‘Marketing Director at a Retail Outlet’.
Use an Exciting Company Description to Engage Applicants
Finding someone for the job is not just about applicants selling themselves to the company; it’s also about the company selling itself to the applicants. Therefore, you will want to highlight what you have to offer which may include things like ‘competitive pay’, ‘benefits’, ‘good work-life balance’, ‘fun company culture’ ‘room for growth’, etc. Although many companies don't include salary as part of their job description - your applicants will thank you for doing so.
Be careful not to go on too much about your company upfront. Add a few sentences and then get to the job description. This will ensure the applicant doesn’t lose interest. You can add more details about your company at the bottom of the ad.
Give Examples of Duties and Responsibilities
It’s important to be clear when describing the duties and responsibilities of the position. Provide several examples of what the applicant will be doing if hired. This way they will know if they are suitable for the job before applying. It will weed out those who don’t have the right experience.
Provide Past Experience Examples That Make an Applicant Right for the Role
No two job positions are the same. You may find certain qualifications of a different position will qualify an applicant for this role as well. Providing examples of job experience that makes an applicant right for the role will give them a better idea of what the job entails.
Define What it Takes to Excel in the Role
Your job description should include the hard skills and soft skills you are looking for. Hard skills are technical skills such as an understanding of certain software programs, writing, and speaking different languages. Soft skills refer to personality traits such as timeliness, attention to detail, etc.
Final Thoughts
If you combine all the elements listed in this article when you write your job description, you are likely to find the talent that helps your company grow. It will also aid with an efficient hiring experience saving your business time and money. Good luck finding the people that will take your firm to the next level.
You can use Craft's free job description template to quickly create and share beautiful job descriptions online.
