Between social media and online job boards, you’d think that finding top talent for your company would be easier than ever. Just write a stellar job description, post it and you’re done. Right?
Except it doesn’t seem to work that way.
That’s because knowing how to write job descriptions that stand out requires a bit of know-how. Knowing everything about your company and the position isn’t enough. You also need to know how to present all that information to potential hires.
Sounds hard? It’s actually not. Here are some tips and ideas you can use right now to write stellar job descriptions and attract top talent.
Here we go.
be clear about requirements – including location.
A common issue with job descriptions is that requirements that go beyond the absolute basics aren’t clearly defined. The result? You either get a bunch of applicants who don’t meet your criteria or you lose potential hires who might be perfect but they didn’t know it. Or both.
To make sure neither one happens, here are some factors to keep in mind:
- Experience. Make it clear which, if any, kinds of experience are deal breakers and which would just be nice to have.
- Skills. Are there specific tech skills the position requires? If so, are you adamant about potential hires coming in with those skills or are you willing to offer or participate in the cost of training? Spell out the options (or lack thereof).
- Location. This is a big one. It’s no longer enough to say that a position is “in-house” or “remote.” Does in-house mean you need the candidate to live within a certain radius of the office? Does “remote” mean anywhere in the world, anywhere in your time zone or anywhere in your country or state? And does it mean fully remote or hybrid? You get the idea.
- Equipment. If the position is partially or fully remote, think if it requires special equipment or tech accessories like headsets, a high-quality webcam, an extra-wide screen or anything else. Be as specific as you can, including whether or not the company shares or picks up the tab.
- Meetings. Is this a position that requires attendance at regularly scheduled meetings — whether virtual or in-person? If yes, say so. This is something that’s a potential deal-breaker, so making it clear will go a long way to making sure you get the applicants you want.
want to write stellar job descriptions? know what makes your company a stellar place to work.
Why should a candidate with top talent choose your company? That’s one of the first questions any potential hire is going to ask. Here are a few more:
- Why is this position important to the company? How does the position merge with the company’s story?
- Why should I want to work for these people? What makes them company stand out? Are they offering a generous benefits package, free trainings, a fun company culture, an opportunity to make a difference?
- What will I achieve in personal or professional growth by joining this company?
If you don’t know the answers to these questions, that’s okay. Ask your colleagues. Email management. Do an in-office survey or whatever else it takes. But make sure you have those answers before you write a job description.
want your job description to stand out? throw in a test.
One great place to draw a potential hire’s attention to your job description is the section where you tell them how to apply. Whether you’re requesting a cover letter or they need to fill in an online form, leave yourself room to throw in a test.
Why? Because tests accomplish three things: They make the job application more fun, they make your job description stand out and if done right, they can give you valuable information and insights about job candidates. Win-win-win.
Not sure how to do it? Here are some ideas:
- Find 2 spelling/grammar errors in this job application.
- Mention your favorite color in your cover letter at least once.
- Solve a riddle (provided in the description) and include the answer.
So the next time you want to write a stellar job description, keep these tips in mind. As a matter of fact, if you have descriptions that are still live, revamp them — and see what a difference it makes.