Redefining Recruitment: How Job Descriptions Can Make or Break Your Recruiting

Job descriptions are perhaps the most important part of recruiting. Despite advertising your job, posting it in the right places, or ensuring the salary is on point (all important parts of a recruitment strategy), crafting the perfect job description is the main driving factor of candidate applications. Simply put, the right job description can bring you the right candidate–fast.  

Why Job Descriptions Matter

 “At the very basic level, a job description is a written explanation that should tell a candidate the essential responsibilities and requirements for a position at a company,” said Caralie Coleman, VP of Search at #twiceasnice Recruiting. 

 Job descriptions provide the guide for candidates, recruiters, and HR professionals to fill a role. It’s the roadmap of the role. It outlines the important responsibilities, essential functions, and necessary experience to find a qualified candidate. In addition, after the hire is made, it can be a way to ensure the candidate is performing the tasks they were hired to do. 

“It’s the best way to provide a clear explanation of how that job is going to drive results,” said Patrick Cahill, President of #twiceasnice Recruiting. 

However, job descriptions are so much more than just descriptions–they’re actual advertisements for your position. Without a great advertisement, people will scroll past your product (in this case, your role you need filled). Most jobs are filled by active candidates who interact with a job posting online. If the description doesn’t entice them, they won’t apply. 

Another anecdote to expand upon the advertisement piece of job descriptions–where you put them is as equally important as what they contain. A billboard in the middle of nowhere is useless, even with the best copy and imagery imaginable. While some large companies may be able to pull in enough candidates by posting jobs only on their company site, this is not the case for a majority of brands. Online, social job boards are the top source of quality candidates, and with more than a billion members on LinkedIn alone, the ‘foot traffic’ to your job posting can be unreal. Using the major job boards is key to finding and attracting the best candidate for your role. 

Job descriptions matter because: 

• It helps focus recruiting efforts and candidates 
• It provides a roadmap for the role
• It’s advertising copy for your role and company 
• Active and passive candidates want to see a job description
• Most candidates find jobs on job boards

What Job Descriptions Need to Have

There is a certain art to writing a job description. It needs to capture the attention of the candidate, describe the role, and outline the qualities a candidate needs. It can easily turn into a 5 page description…which can easily turn off candidates. 

Ideally, job descriptions should contain: 

• Location
• Pay
• Responsibilities
• Requirements
• Information about the company
• Future potential
• Benefits
• Position title

Job descriptions should not contain: 

• Fluffy, inaccurate job titles
• Too many ‘wants’ that overshadow requirements 
• Illegal requirements
• Political or religious views (unless pertains to the job)

Go over a real job description and learn more tricks to craft the perfect job description by watching our latest episode of Redefining Recruitment. 

Ready to fill your next role? Let’s discuss recruiting.