Recruiting Resources

5 Lessons for Employers to Write Effective Job Descriptions

A well written job description can help snag the right candidate for the job. The job description is your employer’s introduction to the candidate, so it should be clear, concise and free of any grammatical or spelling errors.

Here are five lessons for your employers to learn about creating effective job descriptions.

1. The devil is in the details. Things to include:
   * Job title
   * Department
   * Location of the position (if there are multiple locations)
   * Title of supervisor
   * Pay grade or level (if your company has this)
   * Type of employment, such as full-time versus part-time
   * FLSA status (exempt versus non-exempt)
2. Compete for the total package. Remember that your competitors are out there describing their workplace as the best. What sets you apart as an employer? Are there special benefits? Determine what you have to offer so that you can attract the candidate you need to meet your business needs.
3. Don’t worry about pedigree. In today’s job market the workers are typically highly skilled and qualified. Don’t discount a candidate because they have a bachelor’s degree and not a master’s. Often times those with more on the job experience can bring a lot to the table and ensure that your organization is setup for success.
4. Must have vs. Nice to have. Perhaps you’ve crafted your dream candidate in your head, but do they truly exist? Consider making a list of must haves and nice to haves. Remember some skills are quickly and easily obtained.
5. Reporting for duty. Certain decision points go behind applying for a position. If the position your hiring for is reporting directly to the CEO, President or C-level management. Let candidates know this critical information to attract the right talent.

Recruiting Advice from Peter Weddle

Peter Weddle is a recruiter, HR consultant and business CEO turned author and commentator. Described by The Washington Post as "... a man filled with ingenious ideas," he has earned an international reputation, pioneering concepts in Human Resource leadership and employment.

Weddle's Syndicated Content:

• The First Five Lines
• Don't Post a Job, Advertise Respect
• A Social Job Posting
• How to Build a Post-Social Online Career Center
• Post-Social Recruiting Part II
• Post-Social Recruiting
• Pay Attention to the 99 Percent
• Optimizing the Recruiter's Experience
• The Most Important Number for Recruiters
• Meta Tags for Top Talent
• Use the Socratic Method in Candidate Email
• Keep Your Promise to Optimize the Candidate Experience
• The Two Worst Words in Recruiting
• The Lingua Franca of Recruiting
• The Power of Non-Commercial Social Media
• Treat Your Talent Pipeline As a Rest Stop
• The SET Method of Social Recruiting
• The Generic Candidate
• The Hunger Games of Recruitment
• Employers Behaving Badly
• Deadlines vs. Lifelines