Elements of a Perfect Job Description Guaranteed to Secure the BEST Employee Talent
Not all job descriptions are created equal. The perfect job description is neither too descriptive nor too vague, uses clear language and represents the ethos of the company. Here are a few formatting tips for improving your company's job descriptions:
Bullet Point When Possible: Make your job description easier to skim by using bullet points within the responsibilities and qualifications sections and anywhere else that makes sense.
Be Specific: While brevity is a much-appreciated art, it's also important to be as specific and transparent as possible in your job description. Vague descriptions make it difficult for potential applicants to imagine themselves in a role and to decide whether they are qualified for or would enjoy the job.
Use Direct Language: It's important to give potential applicants a clear idea of the responsibilities and qualifications necessary for the job. Steer away from fuzzy descriptors, such as "sometimes" or "often" when describing duties. Opt for organizing job responsibilities by hours or percentage of time spent on each.
Embody the Company's Personality: When putting the job description together, choose a writing style and words that match your company's ethos. If your business is a startup with a very distinct company culture, be sure to communicate that sentiment with the way you format your description, the words you use and the general feelings your description evokes. If that means straying from the norms, so be it. In the end, the goal is to attract people who are right for the position and the company.