Creating a Job Posting from the JDQ

An effective job posting description typically contains two components: an overview of the role and the job responsibilities. The format below mirrors the layout of the requisition in Career Zone. 

Summarize the Role

The position overview is typically written in paragraph form and gives job seekers a general idea of what they’ll be doing day-to-day. Be sure to talk directly to the job seeker rather than saying “the incumbent" or "the right candidate." This will make the job ad feel more personal and encourage your potential candidates to actually envision themselves performing the job.

Keep your statements short, but don't be afraid to incorporate descriptive words to make them more interesting and exciting. You may also want to explain why this job is such a great opportunity and how the role ultimately helps your company achieve its mission.

The complexity of text, for example, the length of sentences and complex phrases, can make job advertisements difficult to understand. So as well as ensuring content appeals to as wide an audience as possible, make sure it’s readable too.

Making smart language choices can help avoid driving good candidates away Bias language in posting-be aware of words/phrases that could create an unintended bias.

Instead of using the same ‘buzz words’ that every other company uses, do some research to improve the posting.  

• Instead of this: Fast-paced environment
  • Try this: Progressive workplace
• Instead of this: Multi-task
  • Try this: Perform a broad range of simultaneous duties
• Instead of this:  The incumbent will handle all receptionist duties including greeting clients.
  • Try this: You will serve as the first impression for our executive offices.
• Instead of this:  This position is responsible for generating sales and servicing customers.
  • Try this:  You will actively close sales, provide exceptional customer service, and become an intricate component of our progressive team environment. 

An effective job posting will have enough information to appear attractive and thorough, but will avoid highlighting tasks that are not essential functions of the job. A laundry list of skills that are extremely similar should be summarized to avoid tedious reading.

Job Responsibilities

For this section, highlight the five most essential job duties. It’s best to use bullet points when listing job responsibilities so that that job seekers can quickly scan them. Start each responsibility with a "to be" verb rather than an "ing" verb to make your statements more powerful.

• Ineffective 
  • Duties include supporting VP level management and above, making travel arrangements, calendar management, scheduling, procurement, meeting notes, assist in producing power point presentations, filing, typing, setting up meetings to include arrangements for food, etc.
• Effective 
  • Manage and coordinate the schedules for executive management
  • Make reservations for flight and hotel accommodations
  • Perform administrative responsibilities including taking notes during meetings, preparing correspondence, and managing files
  • Assist with production of sales presentations
  • Assist with special projects as assigned
• Ineffective 
  • The incumbent for this job will have experience with Word, Excel, Power Point, Access, typing, filing, maintaining file system, data entry, taking notes in meetings, and completing general office duties as assigned.
• Effective 
  • If you're the right person for this opportunity, you will have previous experience  providing administrative support to a busy office and using Microsoft Office.

Once a job seeker is excited about your job opportunity, they need to find out if they are qualified to apply. Again, use bullet points so that job seekers can quickly scan and assess their eligibility.

Start out by listing the “required skills” for the job. These are skills, educational achievements, and experience that are absolutely necessary to perform the job. Finish the list with your “preferred skills.” These are attributes that may not be mandatory, but are definitely desired in the ideal candidate. Preferred skills might include additional education or experience, a background in a specific industry, or familiarity with using a certain program.

• Ineffective
  • Bachelor’s degree in a field appropriate to the area of assignment and five (5) years of related administrative experience, including three (3) years of supervisory experience; OR, Nine (9) years of related administrative experience, including three (3) years of supervisory experience; OR, any equivalent combination of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved. 
• Effective
  • Relevant Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience
  • Five years of related administrative experience
  • Three years of supervisory experience
  • Ability to adapt to a changing environment and handle multiple priorities
  • Excellent writing and analytical skills Hubspot and Google Analytics experience a plus 

Remember that less is more: shorter job posts receive 8.4% more applications per view than average The majority of candidates (61%) say details about compensation are what matters most.

Candidates usually don’t want to read a novel when they click your job post. Most will spend just 14 seconds deciding whether or not to apply Short job posts (1-300 words) tend to do much better than medium (301-600 words) or long (601+ words) ones—convincing candidates to apply 8.4% more often than average.