The art of writing a good job description to attract the right candidates
It all starts with a job description… this is the candidate’s first impression of your company and what entices them to apply for a position at your company. With this in mind, it is obvious that the job description itself needs to give a good first impression and set the tone of what your company stands for to get the best applications possible.
Is your job description clear and concise, does it describe the position well and is it enticing to the applicants you are trying to reach?
Here are some tips on how to write an enticing job description from CIO:
- Ensure that your job title is correct
Don’t try and catfish your audience with flashy titles that don’t describe the correct position. Using ‘interesting’ titles can indicate a laid back work environment but the downside is that it can hinder candidates from finding the posted position. Candidates will more than not, search for actual job titles that they would want to apply for. - Start at the very beginning
An overview description of the job at the start, including the main function and how it fits into the company ecosystem will help the candidate know whether or not they would fit into that position. - Write like a human
Don’t use over-the-top language in your description – candidates are turned off by inflated language that ‘brags’ about the company. They want to know facts and expectations. - Growth and development is key
Don’t make your job description boring with a long list of responsibilities. Make it engaging and interesting by showing the opportunities for growth at the company and they can be a part of the company and its transformation. - Get help from team members
The best people to help write job descriptions are the people within your organisation. They know the culture of the company first hand and also know what skills are required by the candidate, especially the people in the team the candidate will potentially fit in to.
In writing an effective job description, honesty and transparency is key, you can also add creative touched like video and animations to catch the attention of potential candidates.
Now go on and write that winning job description.