How to create an effective Job Descritpion
Job Descriptions
One of the most asked questions from my clients is "Can you help me with the job description?". It amazes me how something so simple is yet so crucial in the hiring process.
For those who don't know me yet, I worked in the Staffing and HR industry for over 10 years and after that continued to assist in the hiring process with other employers. I am currently heading up the Hiring Services Division for Inner Circle University. We are a full service business coaching and mentoring firm where we help the business owner with all aspects, including hiring to ensure their success.
So, what does it take to create an effective Job Description?
When you are preparing to write your job description, I want you to think about several things. These are all PARTS that go into a whole job description; there are more components, but these are the biggies:
1. Job title - needs to be clear, concise, descriptive, but not lengthy
2. Wage range - needs to include any base, potential commission
3. Essential duties & responsibilities: talk about what the gist of the job is
4. Required education & experience: Tip - if you desire a college degree but do not require it, don't include that here - you could be missing out on candidates!
5. Preferred education & experience: here is where you can put what you desire, but isn't necessarily required
6. Additional benefits: with how competitive the job market is these days it's extremely important to include any extra benefits in your description. PTO, health benefits, life insurance, retirement options, flexible scheduling, remote work opportunities, etc.
There are a few other details to include in your final posting, but this list includes the most important areas you cannot forget when writing your job description.
72% of hiring managers say they provide clear job descriptions while only 36% of the candidates agree1
Don't fall into the latter category - make sure you think about your job description, and ensure it is clear, concise and includes all the necessary information.
If you are using an online job posting board, such as Indeed or Monster, they have templates that can help you with the job posting and I would highly recommend getting any and all help you can.
Getting your Job Description to stand out and attract the right candidates
A job posting is a window into your job opening, and your office - it should tell a story about your organization, the actual position and include compensation information.
Be sure to proofread your job description to ensure accuracy. Misspelled words or incorrect formatting can lead candidates to think you do not work in a professional environment, and may deter them from applying.
Do's and Don'ts for writing an effective job description
Do include a short synopsis about your organization - applicants should have a basic understanding of what you do as a company as well as a basic understanding of the actual job you are hiring for just by reading your job description.
Don't give a full background bio on every employee at your organization. This can waste very important space that should be used for talking about the actual job!
Do use bold and/or italicized fonts to emphasize sections within your job description (i.e. Duties, Responsibilities, Compensation, etc.)
Don't use fancy fonts that may not be recognized by the site you are using to post your job description.
Do your research!
Have you looked to see who else in your market is hiring? How does what you are offering compare to them? A recent study by Monster2 indicates that 93% of all companies plan to hire in 2022. Some are offering sign on bonuses, or referral bonuses to their current staff who refer new employees, some have full benefit packages, some offer a great amount of flexibility. Check out what you are up against and make any necessary changes.
Still need help?
If you are finding that after reading this, you are not confident in your ability to write an effective job description, click here to get access to my job description template. I am always happy to help!
Sources:
1. https://www.hrdive.com/news/survey-applicant-quality-continues-to-plague-employers/423310/
2. https://hiring.monster.com/?blog_category=labor-statistics
Read more about Tasha Mills here
