The job description may seem to be a very small part of the recruitment process. However, the reality is that an uninspiring or information-poor job description could be losing you the ideal people. When a job description is easy to read, informative and it makes a compelling statement about the role and the business behind it that is designed to attract exactly the right candidates.
Structuring your job description to attract candidates
What are you offering?
This is the first key part of the job description and can be conveyed easily by the right title. The job title should be simple, concise and instantly clear to anyone reading it. Avoid long, wordy job titles, as these are often passed over – and steer clear of any confusing terminology that might put people off.
What does the job involve?
It’s important to provide enough detail in a job description for potential candidates to come away with a clear idea of what the role involves – and whether they are suited to it. Vague job descriptions could lose you candidates or attract a high volume of people who are completely unsuitable. So, set out what these daily duties are likely to be – describe these in a positive light but avoid misselling the role. Include some indication of how a person in this role would be likely to progress in the coming years.
What key skills are required?
If you provide the right information on key skills and experience then you won’t have to spend time sifting through CVs that just don’t meet your baseline requirements. What is the minimum level that a candidate would need to meet in order to get through to interview for the position? Include any specific qualifications and experience you’re looking for, as well as the skills that would enable the candidate to do the job to meet the required standard.
Who are you really looking for?
Once you’ve defined your basic requirements for any candidate looking to apply you can also outline what real success in this role would look like. If you want to ensure that you end up with exceptional candidates, then this is important information to provide in the job description. When you give candidates information about what a real success looks like then they can be more prepared to show you why they are a good fit.
What is it like to work for your business?
The job description is also a great place to define your culture and values and to outline the kind of workplace that potential candidates can expect. Cultural fit is one of the most overlooked elements of a successful recruitment process but can prove to be one of the most important. It’s this that will define how well someone fits in and whether they are on the same page as the rest of your team.
At 2i we have extensive experience in tailoring every element of the recruitment process to get the right results. Contact us to speak to a member of our experienced team today.
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