Job descriptions are like blueprints; they help you understand what your project will look like and how it will be built, but even the best blueprint can’t tell you about the contractors who will work on your house or the materials that will be used to build it. 

Similarly, your job description can’t paint the whole picture of the employees you want to hire – if it did, you wouldn’t have to spend so much time interviewing people! An excellent job description is essential to finding talented candidates. 

Here are the top six things that you should definitely include when writing a job description so that you get the best candidates possible for the position you are hiring for.

Now, let’s get into it. 

1. Have an Eye-Catching Summary

Know that your job will be one of the hundreds of options when someone uses a job-hunting website. So, think of what will attract a potential applicant. Is it your company’s mission statement? Is it your company’s culture? Be sure to also mention a concise summary of the job position.

2. Explain Requirements

A job with no set requirements would be a significant red flag to viewers. Provide the level of education necessary and how many years of relevant experience are required. You don’t want someone underqualified or overqualified signing up. This also includes hard skills (like job knowledge) and soft skills (personality traits) that your business is looking for to ensure they are the right fit.

3. List the Salary Range

This is easily the most essential part of a job description. Still, it’s pretty uncommon for companies to actually include it! The salary is something everyone should know upfront, and it will make you stand out from the competition. It makes your company appear to be more transparent and trustworthy. If you feel that your salary isn’t attractive to people, then that is a problem that you as a company need to address. 

4. Include a Description of Your Company Culture

A company’s culture is the bread and butter of a job. It makes or breaks whether someone will apply. Mention working conditions, what the office atmosphere is like, or if there is the possibility of working from home. Make sure your culture description is detailed enough to excite the potential employee. 

5. Describe Job Responsibilities

This is pretty obvious. Make sure when outlining the responsibilities and duties of the job to be as clear and concise as possible, but also provide enough details so that someone can know what to expect daily in the role. It helps to summarize the duties into bullet points rather than paragraph style, as it is easy to read and will stand out from the rest of the sentence-structured aspects of the description.

6. Emphasize Growth and Development

The most attractive employers are where employees know they can grow in their role over time if they put in the time and effort. No matter the size of the business you are running, you want your candidates to know that they can grow with the company. They should possess enough skills to become a massive asset to your team. People will want to stay with your company if they know they can have a future in it.

The Bottom Line

In summary, having a great company that wants to hire people means nothing if you don’t put in the effort to promote the roles offered. 

These six elements help potential employees know exactly what they’re signing up for and what skills and experience they should be bringing to the table to make them successful in the position, as well as aid in the hiring process itself by making things easier to sift through quickly and easily. 

To learn more about how you can make your hiring processes more effective for not only yourself but also your job candidates, click here!