How can you write a job posting that accurately reflects the job requirements?

If you want to attract the best candidates for your open position, you need to write a job posting that accurately reflects the job requirements. A well-written job posting can help you communicate your expectations, showcase your employer brand, and filter out unqualified applicants. Here are some tips on how to write a job posting that accurately reflects the job requirements.

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1 Understand the job

Before you start writing, you need to understand the job you are hiring for. This means reviewing the job description, consulting with the hiring manager, and researching the market trends. You should be able to answer questions such as: What are the main duties and responsibilities of the job? What are the skills, qualifications, and experience required? What are the goals and challenges of the role? How does the job fit into the organizational structure and culture?

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Hailey M. Clark

Creative Marketer | Empowering Small Businesses | Driving Growth, Amplifying Brands & Boosting Revenue | GovAI Coallition Individual Member | @ThisOldHagMarketer
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Even if you aren't in the department you're writing a description for, it's important to understand the requirements of the role. If they need to be detail oriented or if they need to have particular skills are all pieces of understanding that you as the writer of the description need to have. Don't just rely on the department asking for someone to fill the role. You need to understand the requirements so that you can speak to the role in a way that conveys an overall understanding to the potential employee so they have a better chance of being the right candidate if you lay out clear and accurate expectations from the beginning.

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2 Write a clear title

The title of your job posting is the first thing that potential candidates will see, so you need to make it clear, concise, and relevant. Avoid using vague or generic terms, such as "manager" or "specialist", that do not specify the level or function of the role. Instead, use keywords that describe the main tasks or skills of the job, such as "social media manager" or "content writer". You can also include modifiers that indicate the seniority, location, or industry of the role, such as "senior", "remote", or "healthcare".

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Hailey M. Clark

Creative Marketer | Empowering Small Businesses | Driving Growth, Amplifying Brands & Boosting Revenue | GovAI Coallition Individual Member | @ThisOldHagMarketer
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Besides just a clear title, it's important to write an accurate title. The title of the role should impart industry understanding of the role that will be filled and have an accurate seniority level so that the job seeker is clear on what level this job will be as well. Don't get out of hand with your titling. Things like "Rockstar Account Manager" might sound cool but unless you are hiring for a literal rock star's account management, this is an inaccurate job title.

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3 Highlight the benefits

While you need to be honest and realistic about the job requirements, you also need to highlight the benefits of working for your company. This can help you attract and retain candidates who are motivated by more than just salary. You can showcase your employer brand by mentioning your mission, vision, values, culture, and achievements. You can also emphasize the perks and incentives that you offer, such as flexible hours, training opportunities, health insurance, or bonuses.

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4 Use bullet points

One of the best ways to make your job posting easy to read and understand is to use bullet points. Bullet points can help you organize your information, highlight the key points, and break up long paragraphs. You can use bullet points to list the main duties and responsibilities of the job, the skills and qualifications required, and the benefits and incentives offered. However, you should not use too many bullet points, as this can make your job posting look cluttered and overwhelming. Aim for 3-5 bullet points per section, and use clear and concise language.

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5 Include a call to action

The last part of your job posting should include a call to action that encourages candidates to apply for the job. You should provide clear and specific instructions on how to apply, such as where to send their resume, what documents to attach, or what questions to answer. You should also mention the deadline for applications, the expected start date, and the contact details for any inquiries. You can also create a sense of urgency by using words such as "apply now", "don't miss this opportunity", or "join our team today".

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Hailey M. Clark

Creative Marketer | Empowering Small Businesses | Driving Growth, Amplifying Brands & Boosting Revenue | GovAI Coallition Individual Member | @ThisOldHagMarketer
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Be mindful of the platform you're listing on and how much information candidates will be willing to fill in. It's all but guaranteed that a portion of qualified and potentially ideal candidates will bounce from your application if it requires entering the same information that is on their resume. *Note: before you balk and say "well if they can't spend 20 minutes filling in this info then they're not the candidate I want," plenty of busy qualified candidates who are employed will not spend 20 minutes to plug in repetitive information if they're up against 100 other folks. So be aware that if they need to add it again you will lose out on some potentially very qualified candidates because of the time sink required to apply to your role.

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How can you write a job posting that accurately reflects the job requirements?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Understand the job

2 Write a clear title

3 Highlight the benefits

4 Use bullet points

5 Include a call to action

6 Here’s what else to consider

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How can you write a job posting that accurately reflects the job requirements?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Understand the job

2 Write a clear title

3 Highlight the benefits

4 Use bullet points

5 Include a call to action

6 Here’s what else to consider

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