Attracting the Best and the Brightest: How To Write Job Descriptions That Get Results

When you put together a job description, you need to identify the key responsibilities of that position first. What do you think that employee will have to do on a daily basis? What types of problems will they have to solve?

Then, you also need to specify the qualifications for that position. Are you looking for a certain certification or set of skills? Are you looking for certain educational credentials? Are there any other types of experience or credentials that could substitute for a specific degree?

A few best practices you should follow when writing an effective job description include:

• There is never a second chance to make a first impression. Make sure the job title you choose is relevant. Think about what keywords someone will use when they are looking for a job, and try to use those as a part of your job title.
• Instead of highlighting a specific number of years, highlight the skills you are looking for. What types of tasks should someone have experience doing? Think about including possible certifications someone might have as well.
• Try to avoid including a GPA cutoff, application window, or excessive paperwork. People want to apply quickly. If you ask for a lot of extra documentation, you will discourage people from applying.
• Include a benefits section. You might want to include a salary range, but you should certainly include other benefits. Examples include paid time off, health insurance, and retirement benefits.

If you follow these best practices, you should be off to a good start when you develop your job description.

Key Elements of a Job Description

When it is actually time to write your job description, there are several important elements you need to include. Some of the most important sections of your job description should include:

• Always start with the job title. What comes to your mind first when you think about the title of the job? Then, you may want to refine that job title to reflect certain words or phrases people use when they look for open positions. That way, you make your job description as visible as possible.
• The next step is to write a job summary. You may want to start by thinking about what that employee will do on a day-to-day basis. List out those tasks, and make sure you include them in the job description. If there is a specific coworker, you may want to ask that coworker to review the job summary before you finalize it.
• Next, you need to include the different responsibilities and qualifications. This section should be as concise as possible. You don’t have to write in complete sentences. Sentence fragments for each bullet point will be fine.
• Clearly state what someone should do if they want to apply. Do you want them to submit the application online? Do you want them to call you for more information? The call to action should be as clear as possible. Do not leave the applicant guessing as to what you want them to do next.

If you keep these important points in mind, you will have an effective job description in front of you.

Tailoring Job Descriptions

Finally, you need to tailor the job description to reflect not only the type of candidate you are looking for but also the culture at your company. The reality is that the vast majority of employees want to work for a company that is diverse and inclusive.

• You should start by reading the application to remove words that might indicate you are looking for a specific gender. For example, words that could hint at gender stereotypes should be removed.
• You should also try to avoid mentioning race or national origin in the job description. Even though you want someone to have strong English-language skills, try to avoid including that in the job description. That may discourage non-native English speakers from applying.
• Finally, some companies ask for employees to be clean-shaven. Even though you don’t want your employees to be unkempt, try not to include this information in the job description. There are some people whose facial hair might be reflective of their faith, and you don’t want to come across as discriminatory.

You want your job description to appeal to as many people as possible. Try to avoid coming across as discriminatory, and remember that you can always reinforce company policies down the road. The goal is to get people to submit an application. You can always do further screening during the interview process.

Contact the Dental and Medical Counsel To Learn More

Writing job summaries, job responsibilities, and job qualifications are important for job descriptions. Furthermore, writing job descriptions is an important part of how to attract top talent. If you are wondering how to improve job descriptions, it is important to reach out to a professional who can help you.

As an employer, you need to review your job descriptions from time to time. Take a closer look at your job ad writing strategies and focus on tailoring job descriptions for diversity and inclusion. If you want to attract top talent, we can help you. We are the Dental and Medical Counsel, and we can provide you with guidance that can put your practice in a position to be successful. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.