Whether a business is creating a new position or needs to fill a vacancy, they often rely on staffing agencies to write job descriptions and find new talent. A well-written, detailed, and most importantly accurate job description will more effectively attract the best candidates for the job, thus saving your staffing agency valuable time and resources while streamlining the search for an ideal candidate.
As you prepare to compose a job description, there are a few tips worth keeping in mind for the best results.
Aim for Conciseness
You wouldn’t want to read through a five-page resume to learn about a job candidate’s qualifications. Likewise, potential talent may not want to sift through a long, rambling job description to determine whether or not they’d be a good fit for the job. Consider a job description as a sales pitch to candidates; keeping it concise, to-the-point, and free of “fluff” will go a long way.
Don’t Forget Key Details
While conciseness is important, there are some basic details about the job and company that should be included in any description. Aside from the job title and a description of the organization, candidates may also appreciate:
- a breakdown of day-to-day job duties
- a general salary range
- preferred years/level of experience
- an idea of where the job is situated within the company as a whole
Keep it Two-Sided
Remember, a job description is essentially a sales pitch to talented candidates, so you should be careful to avoid a one-sided description that only focuses on what the employee will be doing for the company. Instead, turn the tables a bit and write briefly about how this position can benefit the employee, whether it be through opportunities for advancement or exposure to valuable career experiences and opportunities. A discussion of benefits like paid time off and retirement plans could also be relevant here.
Run it Past Current Employees
If there are employees still working in the position for which the business is hiring, don’t forget to run your written job description past them before you publish it. More than likely, these employees will have some valuable input and may suggest changes or additions that will help paint a more accurate picture of the position itself. As a result, you may be able to attract better job candidates.
A well-written job description is more important than many hiring managers and even staffing agencies realize. By focusing your efforts on crafting a concise yet informative description, you’ll attract the best candidates for the position and potentially reduce your time-to-fill. For more information on optimizing and protecting your staffing business, contact our team at World Wide Specialty Programs today.
About World Wide Specialty Programs
For the last 50 years, World Wide Specialty Programs has dedicated itself to providing the optimal products and solutions for the staffing industry. As the only insurance firm to be an ASA commercial liability partner, we are committed to that partnership and committed to using our knowledge of the industry to provide staffing firms with the best possible coverage. For more information about Staffing Professional Liability Insurance or any other coverage, we have available to protect your staffing business, give us a call at (800) 245-9653 to speak with one of our representatives.