When writing job descriptions, there are several things you need to keep in mind: the qualifications and skills required by the job, the tasks and responsibilities associated with the job, the experience needed to be successful at the job, and more.
Don’t Exaggerate
It is important to not put too much detail into the job description. Some jobs are easier to do than others, and the more you put into the description, the more you risk over-hiring for the job or under-hiring for the role. The key is to be as specific as possible while not being too detailed. For example, you can say that the successful candidate will have experience in creating marketing plans and implementing them, but you should not list every single detail of the marketing plans they will implement.
Make Sure To Spell Check
This is more of a general note, but it is important to pay attention to spelling and grammar when writing job descriptions. Even if your job description does not have to be fancy or even grammatically correct, it will still benefit from a good spell checker. It is also important to have someone else read over your job description before you send it out. Sometimes a spelling error or grammar mistake can slip by someone else, but not by you. Lastly, if you are using a free tool like Google Docs to write your job description, be sure to take advantage of the spelling and grammar check features that tool offers.
Ensure That The Role Is Within Your Bizworld
It is important to ensure that the role you are writing about is in some way related to your business. If you are selling luxury goods, there is no reason to list cashier as a job title – unless the candidate has previous experience working in a retail store.
Avoid Using Industry Terms
It is always better to use the phrases and language that the hiring manager is more likely to understand. If you are writing about a product manager role, it would be best to use the terms and phrases associated with product management rather than those used in the aviation industry. Even if the role itself is not directly related to your industry, it can still be beneficial to use the correct terminology. For example, you can say that the successful candidate will have experience in handling complex projects and will have demonstrated the ability to deliver outstanding results, but the language you use will still be related to your industry.
Be Specific With Requirements
What does that mean? Be specific as to what you are looking for. Do you need a Bachelors degree? What year were you born? What is your gender? Are you looking for a direct report or an indirect report? Are you looking for someone with experience in a specific industry or in a general capacity? It is always better to be specific about what you are looking for rather than trying to write a general job description and then finding out the requirements later on. Be specific about what you need and be sure to include the requirement list at the end. Remember, a job description is only as good as the employer knows what they are looking for. If you don’t tell them, they will not know what you are talking about. They will assume you are either joking or that you do not understand the requirements of the job.
Make Sure The Role Is Responsible For Executing
This is quite an important point. Even if you have someone in mind that you would like to recommend for the role, it is still the responsibility of the person writing the job description to see that the tasks are carried out. There should not be any “give-away” responsibilities for the role. The individual should be able to carry out the tasks associated with the job, and you should have no doubts about this. If you are not sure whether or not the role is responsible for executing, leave it out. It is better to be vague than to put the responsibility for executing on something that you are not sure is within the scope of the role.
Don’t Forget The Benefits
There are always multiple benefits associated with a particular job. It is the responsibility of the person writing the job description to ensure that these benefits are included. If you are not sure what benefits the role offers, it can be best to leave it out. There will always be something good about the role, and it is the responsibility of the person writing the job description to make sure that this is included. Some examples of benefits include the following:
- A potential increase in pay
- Personal growth through new challenges
- A chance to work with highly skilled colleagues
- The ability to make a difference and have meaningful impact
- An opportunity to travel
- Flexibility in terms of working hours
- A potential long-term career path
- Helpful in terms of placing job advertisements and networking
- An opportunity to gain new knowledge and expand existing skills
- Helpful in getting your job search up-to-date with the most current information
To conclude, writing a job description can be a really helpful tool in getting your job search up-to-date and in placing yourself in the best possible position for your job search. Make sure that you have everything written down beforehand so that you do not forget anything important! Good luck out there.