When it comes to writing a job description for any job, it’s important to follow a few ground rules.
Not only should each employee have a clear job description as part of the HR process, crafting the perfect job description can actually help you to secure the best talent. But it’s not just that! A poor job description, or none at all could actually be preventing you from hiring the best talent.
Whether you are hiring in finance, HR, marketing or office support, here’s our top tips to make your next job description the best yet
Job title – stay away from buzzwords
Ensure that you keep your job title simple by using keywords that accurately describe the role. Keep away from using complicated jargon. For example, stick to using standard experience levels such as ‘senior’ rather that ‘VI’. Calling your job ‘social media guru’ may make i feel like you are standing out from the crowd. But, the result is quite the opposite. Whilst it’s important to stand out when recruiting, keep the job description as factual as possible to avoid room for confusion.
To begin with, focus on the job title. A job title is the start of the process and will be used to advertise your role. According to research conducted by Indeed, job titles with 80 characters or less are likely to receive more clicks.
Job summary – the start of a job description
Standing out in a crowded market can be hard. The demand to talent across the UK is on the rise.
Begin by capturing a candidate’s attention with a short and engaging summary. This should include the expectations of the role and a brief overview of your company. Why are you unique and why is working for you such a fantastic opportunity?
Many sectors have seen considerable growth, even during Covid-19. And, in the current market where more and more that candidates are looking to give something back, this could be your chance to shine. Ask yourself ‘How does this role contribute to making people’s lives better, or solve existing problems?’ then fill in the blank – ‘come and join a team dedicated to…..’ You may be surprised how effective this can be.
Include clear responsibilities and duties
Less is most definitely more! Whilst you want to clearly define the main responsibilities of the position, make them detailed yet concise. If there is a lot of responsibilities with the role, why not group them into categories? This will make them much easier to read and absorb.
It’s also important to think long-term too. We advise thinking about how this position will contribute to the goals and business objectives of the company. Is there the potential for advancement for candidates? By presenting the whole opportunity, you will attract the best candidates.
Refresh often
When you look to hire, do you go to HR and dust off that old job description again? Has the experience needed changed? Is the culture different now? Many companies have changed their approach to flexible working and this needs to be reflected in the job description. It’s important to make sure that you review and even re-write your job descriptions regularly. Make sure that it is still fit for purpose!
TOP TIP: – get your employees involved when writing your job description! No one knows the job better than those that already do it.
Things to avoid when writing your job description
- Discrimination – Be aware of unconscious bias’
- Asking too much – Unrealistic expectations could prevent star candidates from applying
- Negativity – Be sure to write the description in a positive tone
- Forgetting about structure – Make the job description easy to read. Bullet points are always a good idea!
- Being mysterious – Be intriguing without holding back crucial information
- Mistakes – Check and check again for mistakes. Candidates will be quick to judge if there are spelling mistakes!
Following these 5 steps to writing a fabulous job description could help you secure your perfect candidate.
If you are looking to hire and need advice on your job description to get the recruitment process started, get in touch with the Charterhouse today!
