How to Prepare a Job Description to Attract More Candidates?

Every company wants to hire the best people. The more talented and experienced the individual is, the higher the chances of them being hired are. But how does a company attract such talented and experienced individuals and entice them to apply for a job and join the company if they pass?

Nowadays, the competition is fierce. The market is so condensed that running a successful company has become more difficult than ever. Having employees who can stay ahead of the curve and contribute to the company's progress is the biggest asset a company can ask for. Every company goes through a hiring cycle almost every year to pick out the best and most talented individuals that suit their company from the ocean of the graduating classes.

How to attract a huge number of candidates? The best way is to advertise the position properly and to give a very attractive job description. A Job Description presents a written narrative of the requirements of a particular job and the responsibilities it ensues. It allows the interested candidates to gain insight into whether or not the job is something they are suited for or may be able to handle. The Job description is the first interaction between the company and the potential employee, so the job description must be as attractive as possible.

The process of hiring new employees is very costly and takes a lot of time and effort. How to be successful in the hiring process? The most crucial element is the first step, which is the job description. If the job description is not able to accurately explain what the company needs while at the same time highlighting what it will be able to offer, it won't be able to attract the right kind of employees. Failure at the first step ensures failure at all subsequent steps.

A few things should be kept in mind while writing a job description to ensure that the description fulfils its intended purpose.

Use of Language:

It is best to remember that the people the company is trying to hire are most likely fresh graduates who do not have a lot of working experience and may not be familiar with the company's jargon. Using many professional terminologies or difficult language may lead to obscurity in explaining what the company wants. When people come across such difficult language, they feel as if they are underqualified for the position and do not apply, which is counterproductive.

On the other hand, it is better to avoid slang language or buzz words. Many companies use this slang to attract the younger candidates, but it only makes them look like a parent trying too hard to be cool.

Candidates prefer simple and direct language that outlines the main purpose of the advertisement along with the required qualifications and the duties the job will entail. They appreciate the direct approach as it helps them quickly identify whether or not they are suited to a particular job and helps them save time while job hunting.

Details:

A potential candidate will never know what the duties and responsibilities of a particular position are unless they are informed through the job description. Even things that seem obvious to the job description writer may not be very well-known by the potential candidates. This is why it's important to properly state all necessary facts about the position to avoid any confusion or miscommunication.

Some things that should be added to a job description are as follows:

1. Job Title:

A job title is required in a job description as it informs the candidates what they are signing up for.

2. Overview of the Job and the Company:

The Job description should include a brief introduction to the company and the job. It should tell the potential candidates how the job contributes to the company and where it fits in the overall scheme of things.

3. Responsibilities:

The description should inform the potential candidates about what the jobs entail and what will be required of them if they get the job. It should highlight the day-to-day responsibilities of the position.

4. Salary:

The main reason why people work is so that they can earn money. Candidates should be informed in the job description about the type of earning they will be doing through the company, whether the salary will be fixed or competitive, and the possible range they may earn through the position.

5. Experience:

The company should also outline whether the candidate they require should have experience or accept fresh graduates. This helps narrow down candidates a lot.

6. Benefits:

The Job Description should include the benefits that may be provided to the candidates if they get a job at the company. These benefits may include paid vacations, insurance, retirement plan, or any other incentives. These benefits play a large and vital role in attracting possible candidates to the company.

Encourage:

People want to work somewhere they feel they can contribute and achieve something. A job description should never be negative and should be encouraging. The tone should always be positive, ensuring the candidates will be valued at the company and their efforts will be appreciated. They should also reassure candidates that they will be doing meaningful work at the company, which will contribute to the company's progress. Letting them see that they will be part of something bigger makes the candidates motivated.

Involve Employees:

It is recommended to involve the company’s current employees whilst writing a job description. This is because oftentimes companies do not change their job descriptions for years and keep reusing the same template. These descriptions are outdated and many times have requirements that are entirely unnecessary. Asking a person who’s working in the same position to look over the job description and remove the requirements that are not necessary can help a lot in attracting more potential candidates.

Remove Biasness:

There are instances when the job description is seemingly innocent and straightforward but a closer look reveals the use of vocabulary that alienates an entire gender or race. It is better to be careful about how certain sentences are worded so that the job description remains inclusive.

To conclude, the importance of having a proper and good job description needs to be understood before a company endeavours to employ new workers. The description should be understandable and precise, containing all the necessary details so that any potential employee will have no problem picking out whether or not they are eligible for the position.