The Brief
Job descriptions, or JDs as they are often known, are useful documents. In an organisation, they provide employees, supervisors, HR and senior management with a clear understanding of what a role involves and how it fits into the bigger picture. They are often used in-house for goal setting, pay and performance reviews as well as succession planning. Job descriptions are also a great source of information for new hires and temps, providing them with a clear indication of what is expected in their role.
And of course, JDs are widely used in the recruitment and selection process to attract potential applicants to a role –and to enable them to self-select. Good job descriptions also provide recruiters and hiring managers with a valuable point of reference.
Here’s how to write an engaging job description.
Make it snappy!
You might be a brilliant wordsmith, but your audience will likely lose interest if your job description is too long. Keep it compelling, concise and readable. And address your target audience directly by using “you” throughout.
Say what makes your company special
In your opening paragraph, draw people with info about your core values, culture and successes. You want potential applicants and new hires/temps to get a good idea of what makes your company tick and whether they want to be part of it. Include a link to your company website for those that want to find out more.
Make the job title relevant
You want people to know what the job is at a glance, so avoid jargon and flights of fancy in your job title choices. That means terms like digital overlord, chief chatter and talent delivery specialist are out. Instead, use titles that are commonly used and understood, like website manager, call centre manager and recruitment consultant.
Clarify the role type and location
Make sure you specify whether the role is full-time, part-time, casual or other. It’s also important to provide the location. If your workplace is a selling point, include it! Perhaps your company is based in state-of-the-art open plan offices in central Sydney, or maybe it’s a small family-run affair by the beach. Alternatively, you might offer hybrid work options. All these details can make your job description more appealing to applicants.
Include core responsibilities and duties
Obviously, you want to be realistic and honest in this section, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. And it doesn’t have to be long either (see point 1 above!) You might want to give the section a catchy header such as “What You’ll Do” or “Your Typical Day Will Involve”. Think about the highlights of the role that might attract potential applicants or excite those already in the role. And include them alongside the day-to-day tasks that jobholders will need to fulfil.
Required knowledge, skills, experience, qualifications
Make a list of essential and desirable hard and soft skills for the role and then whittle it down to a manageable length. You could use a header like “What You Need” or “You’re Good At”. Reflect on what someone needs to succeed in this role. Be open-minded! Do you require a Masters grad with 2+ years’ experience in a similar role? Or could a self-taught experienced professional with drive and enthusiasm fit equally well? The less prescriptive you are, the broader your potential candidate pool will be. And in a tight job market, that can be a good thing.
Talk about the perks
Everyone wants to know what they’re going to get in return for their skills and labour. Ideally, you’ll give an indication of salary range in the job description. And definitely include benefits, such as subsidised gym passes, private health insurance, professional development opportunities and your on-site café (if you have one).
If you haven’t revisited your company job descriptions for a while, dig them out and assess their relevance to your roles and your company as they are today. Then, update them so they are honest, concise and compelling. Your time and effort will make a positive difference to your business and your people.
At Optimal Workforce, we value engaging job descriptions. Contact our professional team today on admin@optimalworkforce.com.au or 02 8077 7030.
