Are you puzzled as to why you’re not receiving stellar job applicants? The issue might lie in the way you’re drafting your job descriptions.
For every exceptional job description, there are countless others that merely regurgitate keywords pertaining to job duties, qualifications, and experience prerequisites. Although it’s simple to compile job descriptions as lists of keywords, such descriptions are arduous for applicants to digest and comprehend. Additionally, they tend to draw in job seekers who indiscriminately apply to numerous positions, potentially resulting in hires who aren’t the best fit for your organization.
Instead of fixating on accumulating a vast number of applications, it’s imperative to focus on attracting the right talent. Your job listing serves as the initial impression many candidates will have of your company. While you should steer clear of stuffing your description with keywords, you should also refrain from inundating it with clichés or superfluous content.
So, how can you craft a more compelling job description to entice suitable candidates? Business owners, recruiters, marketing managers, and career experts have outlined the fundamentals.
What to Include in Your Job Description
A compelling job description delves deeper than a standard enumeration of skills, tasks, and role requirements. To captivate the best applicants for your position, offer them insight into your company culture, suggests Jean Cook, former business coach for The Alternative Board.
Rebecca Barnes-Hogg, founder and CEO of YOLO Insights, shares a similar sentiment, asserting that quality employees gravitate toward businesses that align with their own interests and values.
“They want to comprehend your products and your ethos,” she explained. “Your advertisement should convey that. The opening lines should seize the candidate’s attention. Similar to any effective sales pitch, make it about them and their interests.”
Jaynine Howard, founder and career strategist at JJ Howard & Associates, advocates for transparency regarding salary in a job description. Many candidates may decline an offer upon learning the pay details at the eleventh hour, she added. Addressing this upfront prevents both you and your applicants from wasting time.
Michael Lan, senior resume consultant at Resume Writer Direct, advises incorporating application instructions featuring a specific call to action. Whether it entails emailing a designated individual, leaving a voicemail, or including a specific keyword in their cover letter, requesting applicants to take an additional step can expedite the process of winnowing down your interview pool.
A clear call to action like this “serves as a built-in screening mechanism, enabling you to sift out applicants who fail to adhere to instructions and exhibit a blatant lack of attention to detail,” Lan remarked.
Key Takeaway
Regard your job listings as sales pitches – the job seeker is investing in a role with your organization. As with any elevator pitch, clear facts and a compelling call to action are pivotal.
Presenting a Job Description
When composing your job description, adopt a tone that mirrors your company’s brand, advises Joseph Terach, co-founder of Resume Deli. For instance, if you’re seeking creative personnel, infuse your job post with whimsy and levity. Conversely, detail-oriented tech professionals may prefer succinct lists of requisite skills.
Given that many individuals are distracted and pressed for time, they are likely to respond more favorably to listings that are easy to peruse or scan, particularly on mobile devices. Avoid overwhelming your candidates with extraneous information or verbose paragraphs.
Steve Dempsey, COO of staffing firm Aquent, suggests organizing primary responsibilities using bullet points and delineating sections with descriptive headers.
“Most job seekers scan,” he noted. “They are on the lookout for the right job and will glance over the details of a job post before deciding whether to apply or disregard it.”
Jan Hudson, COO of Surf Search, echoes this sentiment. “Most job candidates now browse job boards on their smartphones. Keep it straightforward, and utilize bullet points liberally.” She also recommends prefacing bulleted lists with headings such as “Responsibilities” and “Requirements” for added clarity.
Lastly, injecting humor can leave a lasting impression on candidates and motivate them to apply. Chris Mindel, marketing manager at Dexter Edward LLC, incorporates subtle humor in his job descriptions. “It brings a smile to the applicant’s face when they contemplate your company,” he observed. “They’re more inclined to apply.”
Writing Your Job Description
Incorporating all of this advice may seem daunting.
For your next vacant position, contemplate employing a two-sentence introductory pitch about your company, two bulleted lists beneath the headings “Responsibilities” and “Requirements,” and a concise call to action prompting the applicant to click a link to complete an application.
For enhanced readability and a heightened response rate, ensure that the crucial details regarding job duties, skills, tasks, and requisite experience are encapsulated within the “Responsibilities” and “Requirements” lists.
Tip
Keep your job listing succinct, with a brief introductory pitch and two bulleted lists delineating the role and your ideal candidate. Conclude with a succinct call to action.
Job Description Templates
Hudson provided the following job description, which attracted highly qualified candidates in the life sciences field:
[The provided template goes here]Dustin Diehl, director of content marketing at Digital Current, shared this quirky job post targeting a creative content marketer. Note the use of headings and a lighthearted tone.
[The provided template goes here]5 Job Posting Sites
Once your job description is finalized, it’s imperative to disseminate it across potential hire platforms. Here are five prominent job posting sites:
[Descriptions of LinkedIn, Indeed, Monster, Google for Jobs, and ZipRecruiter]How to Make Job Descriptions Work for You
Whether you’re recruiting a senior engineer or an entry-level marketing specialist, it’s essential to compose succinct job descriptions that highlight the most crucial aspects of the position.
Utilize headings, bullet points, and clear calls to action to enhance readability and response rates.
Don’t shy away from aligning your job listing with your company culture. Doing so will attract candidates who are a better fit for your organization.
