Job descriptions are just a list of what the role entails, right? Easy!
Well, yes and no. Job hunters will look at dozens of job adverts on a daily basis, often only skim-reading the advert to pick out the key information. If that information is hidden amongst minute detail, then your ideal candidate could pass you by.
Writing a Job Description
We’ve become experts in attracting those perfect candidates. Here are some little tips to help you.
Know who your ideal candidate is
This may seem obvious, but if you don’t have a clear idea of what sort of person you’re looking for, then how will you convey that in your job description? Think carefully about both the skills required to suit the role, and about the company culture. You need a personality-fit as well as a skills-fit.
Simple job title
Keep it short and clear. There’s room for elaboration within the job description, so don’t overly-complicate the job title. If you can’t imagine someone Googling it, then it’s probably too complicated.
Weed out inappropriate candidates quickly
If you have an absolutely mandatory condition – i.e. the candidate must be able to use Illustrator – say so early on the job description. There’s no point wasting your time with candidates that don’t meet the core requirements.
Get to the point
Don’t waffle on about how lovely your office is or how close you are to a great market in the opening paragraph. Tell people, straight away, who you are and what you’re looking for.
Bullet points
Candidates have a tendency to skim-read. Bullet pointing the key skills required makes it easier for candidates to see whether the job is suitable to them. Large blocks of solid copy are intimidating to read, and you run the risk of important information being missed by the reader.
Company information
You should include some information on your company, including the company environment. But this should be left for towards the end of the job description, once a candidate has established that they meet all the skills requirements.
Advertise in the right places
Think about who you are and what you’re looking for, then find the right website/job board/print outlet to advertise with. A job board known for its admin roles will probably not be the best place to find a graphic designer.
If that all sounds a bit exhausting, you could always just get in touch with us instead.
Your consultant will help you work out exactly what you’re looking for and they’ll develop the job description with you. Our consultants are all highly experienced in their sectors, so they already know the best places to advertise. They may already have your perfect candidate to hand.
To find out more about what Devonshire can do for your business, email [email protected] or call 0203 047 4507.
