7 tips for an irresistible job description

Writing a job description is hard, but it doesn’t have to be. Save time and find out how it’s done!

Your job ad is the first glance a potential candidate has of your firm. As such, the words and phrases used will completely determine the difference between an effective and ineffective job description, according to this piece by a LinkedIn contributor below.

Which job would you rather have?

Job Description: Recruiter, XYZ Company
Job Purpose: Achieves staffing objectives by recruiting and evaluating job candidates; advising managers; managing employee relocations and intern program.

Recruiter Job Duties:
  • Builds applicant sources for XYZ’s advertising business by researching and contacting community services, colleges, employment agencies, recruiters, media, and internet sites; providing organisation information, opportunities, and benefits; making presentations; maintaining rapport.
  • Improves organisation attractiveness by recommending new policies and practices; monitoring job offers and compensation practices; emphasising benefits and perks.
  • Attracts applicants by placing job advertisements; contacting recruiters, using newsgroups and job sites.*
OR

Job Description: Recruiter, XYZ Company
Job Purpose: Find and hire the talent that will change the way companies advertise

You will:
  • Find the next generation of media talent. You will use your charms and people skills to partner with colleges, employment agencies, and websites and unearth hidden talent gems.
  • Be the voice of XYZ’s talent brand. You will embody and evangelise XYZ’s creative and collaborative culture in everything you do – from ensuring we have the right compensation policies to crafting killer job ads.
I don’t know about you, but “Improving organisation attractiveness by recommending new policies and practices” sounds like the perfect Friday night to me. But seriously, what recruiter wouldn’t prefer the second role? The catch: they are the same job.

As you can see, writing and posting a job description is more than merely “checking a box”. It is a powerful tool to attract the best active and passive candidates to your industry and, if used correctly, a major competitive advantage.

In our eBook, “7 Tricks to An Irresistible Job Description” we explain the secrets to writing killer job descriptions that do some of the sourcing for you.

Here’s tip #1:

Save the creativity for the job description – NOT the job title

Don’t try to be too creative with your job titles. If candidates don’t understand what you’re looking for, they won’t look beyond your title. Stick with standard labels and common keywords so they’re search-friendly and so that LinkedIn’s algorithms can match and deliver more relevant candidates.

Want the other six tips? Download the free eBook here.

*Sample job description adapted from real-life job board
 

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