How to Write an Engaging and Effective Job Description

Is the job title really that big of a deal?

Of course it is! The job title might probably be your job ad’s best friend; think of it as the headline of an article. Without a good title, no one’s going to click on your link. Make sure to use relevant keywords and to keep the title simple—you don’t want it to get lost in a sea of bad SEO. A good job title is one that really captures the nature of both the job and the duties that come with it. Our advice? Leave creativity for the description instead.

“Marketing Ninja” would be a terrible example for a job title. Why? “Ninja” can be more related to one specific gender, in this case, male; therefore, it might prevent women from clicking on the ad. You want to be gender neutral and inclusive in your title, that way, it will attract more people and make the talent pool grow bigger and more diverse.

Moreover, in the title “Marketing Ninja” you may have the keyword “marketing”, sure, but nothing helps picture the kind of position you’re actually looking for. Manager, Officer, Coordinator, Strategist, Account Representative? These are also very important keywords that will not only improve the search results for the job seeker, but will also give them an idea of the duties implied in the title. Instead, depending on the position, you could try something like “Brand Marketing Manager” or “Digital Marketing Coordinator”.

Are you looking for people or just browsing for skills?

If your job ad looks like a shopping list, then it's time to change things up a bit. Focusing too much on the long, perhaps too strict, list of requirements you're looking for might lead to great candidates passing you by.

It’s OK to list skills, duties, and competencies, but keep it short and sweet. A list of skills should never take more than 20% of the job ad. Use action words that engage people, that way, the potential candidate gets an accurate idea of the work they will be performing. If you’re not sure of what to write, you can always ask a person who’s already filled that position before to give you an idea of a day in the life of that job.

How can you attract more candidates?

We’re living in a candidate era, meaning they now have the power to choose the job offer that best fits their needs. This is where job branding comes in. Instead of focusing the job ad entirely on the candidate you need, try describing what the company can offer them. Make the candidate relate to your values, vision, and mission.

Remember you need to sell your company in order to convince candidates to send in their applications. You can do this by listing the benefits and perks that come with the position, as well as its importance in the company’s future and the candidate’s potential professional growth. What makes your company unique? Candidates are looking for a little more effort on the company’s part, something that goes beyond their salaries, such as flexible hours, insurance, free parking, cafeteria/lounge areas, etc.

How specific should you be?

The more information you give about the general responsibilities the potential employees will have in the company, the better. You can even represent the time they will spend performing each task in percentages.

Including a salary range could also work in your favor, just to give an idea—and even motivate—to the candidates of what they can expect. This way, you’ll get applications of candidates that are willing to earn that salary, without any surprises, and even save some time negotiating.

The most important thing to keep in mind in the end is that your job postings should be an accurate representation of your company and the job opportunities you’re offering. If you’ve got this covered, we can assure you applications will start pouring from the sky.