A well-written job description can help expedite your hiring process and save you money. It can also weed out applicants who aren’t a good fit.
To keep your job description inclusive, avoid using gendered pronouns (“he”/”she”) and instead use “you”/”them.” This is especially important when recruiting talent from underrepresented communities.
Online Recruitment
Job descriptions play a key role in recruitment and online advertising. Whether posted on a company website or an external career page, effective job postings attract candidates by clearly communicating the role’s responsibilities and requirements.
The first step to writing an effective job description is identifying what kind of person the ideal candidate will be. You can do this by focusing on the role’s impact, using action-oriented language and differentiating between “required” and “preferred” qualifications.
It’s also helpful to provide a clear picture of the team they will be joining and their overall responsibilities. Including details like where the role sits within the department organizational chart and the types of people the chosen candidate will be working with can help the job-seeker decide if they are the right fit.
It’s also important to avoid gendered language and discriminatory words in the job description as these can deter potential candidates. Words like ‘ninja’ or ‘rock star’ can suggest a male-dominated culture and phrases such as ‘competitive’ and ‘ambitious’ are interpreted as biased against women. These kinds of words and phrases can quickly put off a large number of qualified, talented applicants.
Effective Job Descriptions
Having an impactful job description is essential in attracting and hiring the best talent. It is important to take the time to write a well-written description, and to ensure that it is accurate. This will help to reduce the number of applicants that do not meet the minimum requirements.
Clearly outline the basic duties of the role, including who the employee will be reporting into. Also, include what sort of flexibility the role will provide. This could be a flexible working arrangement, or it might mean the ability to choose work hours within a set timeframe, or it may be a hybrid role that offers a mix of in-office and remote working.
It is also important to avoid using language that might be interpreted as discriminatory, even unintentionally. For example, gendered pronouns can be a subtle deterrent to female candidates. Similarly, certain cliche phrases can alienate people tuyen dung ngan hang with different backgrounds or perspectives, and may limit the diverse applicant pool that companies strive for. By focusing on inclusive language, employers can write more effective descriptions.
Job Description Writing Tips
If you’re looking to hire a new team member, it’s crucial to write an effective job description. Whether you’re crafting the full job description for internal use or the shorter job post to share on job boards, these best practices will help you reach and engage qualified candidates.
Ensure the job description is clear and concise. Avoid using jargon or cliche phrases that may alienate prospective applicants. It’s also important to include the salary range for this role (if applicable). Being transparent about pay can help set expectations up front and reduce time spent on mismatches.
A good job description should clearly list the hard and soft skills required to perform the role. These can include technical skills, education, and work experience. It’s also helpful to separate these skills into categories such as “must have,” “preferred,” and “nice to have.”
Many people tend to over-use bullet points in their job descriptions, but this can turn off prospective candidates. Textio data shows that job descriptions with a few bullet points performed better than those with more.
Optimizing Job Descriptions for SEO
Job descriptions can be an effective tool for attracting and recruiting top talent. However, if they’re not optimized for SEO, they can be difficult for candidates to find and read. The best way to optimize job descriptions for SEO is to write clear, concise, and informative text that includes relevant keywords.
It’s also important to use formatting that is easy for candidates to read. For example, using bullet points to break up large blocks of text makes the description easier to skim. Additionally, avoid jargon and cliches that can be offputting to candidates. Lastly, it’s helpful to include a company summary in the description that describes the role and the key qualifications that are sought.
Inclusive language in a job description is essential to ensure the most diverse candidate pool. Common forms of bias that can creep into job descriptions include racism, tokenism, sexism, ableism, ageism, nationalism, and religion bias. By identifying and removing instances of bias in job descriptions, you can create more inclusive and welcoming hiring environments. This can help you attract top talent and build a more diverse workforce.
Inclusive Job Descriptions
Recruiting isn’t only about finding the right candidates for the job; it’s also about creating a diverse, inclusive workplace. And that starts with a clear and well-written job description.
Avoid using jargon, corporate cliches and sports metaphors in your job descriptions, which are often confusing and can deter some qualified applicants. Also be sure to avoid using gender-coded language like “he/him” and “she/her.” Using gender-neutral words can help attract more female candidates.
Also be aware of ageism and experience bias in your job descriptions. Using phrases like “digital native” or “well-suited for recent graduates” can exclude older candidates who are looking to reenter the workforce or make a career change.
Consider how the wording of your job description may unconsciously reflect ableism or discrimination against people with disabilities. For example, requirements that state fast-paced work or a fast-moving environment could convey to disabled applicants that the company isn’t interested in them. Instead, be clear about remote and flexible work options and provide details on ADA compliant accommodations for the job. This way, all applicants can see themselves working for the organization and can make a decision based on the real requirements of the role.