When it comes to recruiting, the first step, and perhaps the most important, is writing the job posting. This gives an overview of what a potential hire should expect and also gives you a chance to explain the company upfront. Your job posting should be engaging and accurate. It’s important not to portray the role as a super fun exciting job if it really isn’t. You should be open and honest from the get-go so that you can find the most fitting candidate. Descriptive words are important, but most people don’t want to read a description that is filled with superlative words like “rockstar” and “guru”. These have been overdone. Instead, use words more directed at personality like “Energetic” or “Focused”. Check out these tips to write a job posting that will bring in the right candidates.
Creating the right position title
The job posting is important, but no one is going to click to read more if you don’t have the right job title. The position title should be based on someone’s main responsibilities. If you are looking for someone to enter data, keep it simple, call it Data Entry. There is no need to go all weird about it and call it Data entry for the Customer Service Dept. Keep things short, sweet, and simple.
Highlight your company
Your first structured section should always include a quick overview of your company. Include things that make your company reliable, but unique. If you have a high standing amongst other companies in your industry, it might not be a bad idea to include it. You could also include your mission statement to give applicants a quick glimpse into what your company is all about. According to an Indeed survey, 72% of job seekers say it is important for them to learn about the company culture prior to applying.
Responsibilities and Duties
Of course, you want to be thorough in the description, but don’t overdo it. Highlight the main, essential functions, what you need from them, and anything else that is important for someone to know. The basic rule of thumb is to list roughly 5 key accountabilities of the position, you don’t want to list every single nitty-gritty detail, just what they can expect on a day-to-day basis. You should also include how their role contributes to the rest of the company, and who they can expect to report to.
Qualifications and Skills
It’s wise to include things that are a must as well as things you might prefer. This section is where you can describe the qualities the ideal candidate will have. Specify the education, experience, certifications, and skills required for the role. You can also describe what personality traits may be needed to be successful in the role. For instance, if it is a sales role, you really need someone who is a self-starter, and highly motivated. This is the section to include those types of attributes.
Benefits and Salary
It isn’t a secret that when candidates are looking for a job, benefits and pay will always be a consideration for them. Keep this section short and simple, maybe just a few bullet points highlighting the attractive benefits the position has to offer, like tuition reimbursement, time off, and what health coverage is offered. Last but not least make sure to include an EEO statement at the bottom of your job posting ensuring people know you do not discriminate. You may not even realize how valuable an EEO statement is. You can learn more about making your EEO statement work most effectively in this video: How effective is your EEO statement? Writing an effective job posting is the first step and therefore a critical part of recruiting. Make sure to follow these steps to create the best version possible.
To learn more, check out this video for more tips The Most Important Part of Writing Job Descriptions.
