Finding the right individuals can make or break the business. The hiring process starts not with an interview but with a carefully written job description. Once you can embrace this challenge and “sell” the position, you’ll be able to attract the best candidates.
No matter if you’re looking for full-time employees or seasonal workers: the job posting is critical. It helps you avoid misunderstandings and allows applicants to self-assess themselves. In this piece, we’ll explore the seven secrets of writing an impeccable job description and help you learn the magic words which will attract the right people who want to work with you.
Speak to Your Audience
You don’t have to be an exceptional writer to create a memorable job description, but how you put the words together matters. If you are unsure how to write a catchy job description, you can turn to resume writing services that will highlight your requirements and descriptions properly; one such service can be found here.
Create a job description in a more conversational tone, but don’t get caught up in a process. Use plain English with correct spelling and avoid grammar mistakes. Don’t use too much business jargon or “fluff” words like “ideal candidate” or “top performer.”
Applying for a job is similar to making a purchase. Job seekers are looking for companies that can fulfill their professional needs and provide career growth. Some want a stable workplace or an urgent source of money. The task for recruiters at this stage is to research an audience and find out what makes them happy.
Use Concise Sentences
Readability is the key to conquering your candidate’s heart. When going through the job description, an individual must understand what the role is about and what are the responsibilities and requirements.
Longer job descriptions receive the same attention as shorter ones. For example, an average job posting should have no more than 250 words, and the statistics show these job descriptions get the same number of clicks as those of 1000 words.
One research has shown that when a sentence is less than eight words in length, people get 100% of a story. Conversely, the attention drops if it’s more than 14 words.
So, to maximize comprehension, you must keep your sentences between 8-15 words. Avoid a “wall of text” by combining short paragraphs with bullet lists. It will give the reader a break without feeling too robotic. Be ready to cut off unimportant details and ensure an applicant gets the most pertinent information.
Make the Text “Search Engine Friendly”
In other words, make sure your job description is visible through Google or Indeed search. Think as an SEO:
· Include an intuitive job title
· Use abbreviations carefully
· Insert relevant keywords
In the end, remember that the Google algorithm does not assess your job posting; it should spark an interest in a living person. So make it a human-sounding piece, and prioritize quality content over the number of keywords.
Optimize an Outline
Before you get going with posting an offer, make sure to pre-plan the content of the job description. Think of key moments in which an applicant will be interested while going through the posting. Then, create a list of the main skills and requirements preferred for this role.
Being in a rush for uniqueness, you should create a new job title. For example, use “Audience Crafter” instead of “Affiliating Manager” or something similar. However, while perfection has no limits, people may not understand your good motives. So, keep the tone conversational and professional at the same time.
Prepare a Benefit Package
Every job description should be compelling enough to “hook” the ready (a candidate, in your case). Therefore, tell people what they want to hear: what kind of impact this job brings to society, what they can achieve, etc.
Talk about the perks: unlimited tea/coffee/snacks, free gym, or a corporate library. People value it when somebody cares about them, especially if it’s an employer. The more specific and honest you are, the more snappy your job posting is.
Instead of making a formal list, speak out to your candidates; help them envision the opportunities they can acquire. For example, discuss work-life balance, free meals, hybrid work, and wellness classes.
Get Rid of Bias or Gendered Language
Every day, the world gets more freedom from gender stereotypes. Therefore, male or female-skewed words become targeted in public spaces (including job places). Avoiding gender brackets in the job description will help to fill your open positions much faster. Here’s the list of feminine and masculine words to remove from your posting right now:
· Headstrong
· Independent
· Fearless
· Sharing
· Superior
Proofread and Spellcheck
Give a job description to your colleague or friend; use online tools like Grammarly to eliminate grammar mistakes. Then, after all your effort, you can’t just miss an opportunity because of a
poor style. Instead, look at the phrases you used, and consider adding more relevant keywords. Browse for examples, and see how other recruiters describe their open vacancies.
Summary of the Core Points
A lot has been written about a perfect job description. It seems simple, and many recruiters make mistakes by thinking the right candidate will come along without notice.
The truth is — the right candidate won’t see you on the market unless you stand out. Without a unique headline, keywords, and clear job responsibilities, they won’t bother to send an application.
What does a modern employee want? Money? Yes. The flexible schedule? Sure. What else? Being part of the corporate family; being able to learn and grow professionally. Think about it when writing a job description. What can you offer that nobody else can?
That sounds exaggerated, but it’s true. You must sell a vacancy first to get great people to come and work for you.