Creating a compelling job description is essential in attracting the best talent. A great job description can help you stand out from the crowd on job boards and entice the most appealing candidates to apply for the position. But if it’s your first time having to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) to create a detailed job description, then it can be confusing on what to list.
Don’t fret, however, we’ve created a detailed guide to help you create a compelling listing with the correct amount of information for the role.
The purpose of a job description
The purpose of a job description is to list the duties and requirements of the role to ensure jobseekers have a clear understanding of what is expected of them and to see if they have the skills it takes before applying for the position.
A job description should effectively summarize the essential responsibilities and duties of the role, as well as the skills and qualifications that are needed to perform well on the job. Besides what you expect of the candidate, it should include important information regarding the company, such as company details, culture, benefits, annual leave information and a potential salary range.
How to write a detailed job description
Within this section, we will explain each part of a job description in detail, so you have a clear guide to follow when it’s time to write a job description.
Job title
Your job title needs to be targeted and specific to what you want the candidate to do. For example, if you’re looking for someone to mainly focus on SEO work, you should list the job as “SEO Manager“ instead of something general like “Digital Marketing Manager”. In terms of seniority, make sure the job title is accurate to what you want the candidate to be doing. If the ideal candidate will be managing a small team, then make sure the title of the role (and the whole job ad) reflects this.
Job summary
Before you dive into the nitty gritty of the role, you need to provide a brief overview of what the role entails and what will be expected of the candidate. Make sure this part of the job description is attention grabbing by listing the experience the candidate will gain by joining the team. For example, if they are joining a marketing department, you could list the reach of the business’s social audiences, etc.
Duties and responsibilities
Within this section, you should outline the core responsibilities of the role. For example, if you need to someone to work on Google campaigns, then they will need to have prior experience in this field, so be sure to use bullet points that list the main tasks that the candidate will be working on.
Besides responsibilities, mention day-to-day tasks that the candidate will need to complete. This will help the candidate determine if it’s a role that they will enjoy doing and will save you plenty of time down the road. You don’t want an applicant to join to only realize a few days later that the role isn’t what they expected and quit. You will need to start the hiring process all over again if you’re not clear about what is required from the candidate on the job.
In addition, it’s important to explain how this role fits into the larger picture of the company. Let’s say you’re advertising for a social media assistant. You can explain how the success of the posts/videos will attract new leads and boost sales — a vital part of any business in today’s market.
Qualifications and skills
After the duties and responsibilities, you need to list the qualifications and skills that the candidate needs to perform well on the job. Begin by listing the educational requirements of the candidate followed by hard (technical skills) and soft skills (good communication, etc.).
It’s important to note here that you should keep your list concise, include just the most essential skills that are required for the role. For example, a social media assistant should have a good understanding of scheduling tools, social platforms and analytics.
Perks and benefits
To entice great candidates to apply for the job, you’re going to need to list what you can offer in terms of perks, benefits and salary. It’s important to mention paid time off, bonus schemes, medical insurance, tuition reimbursement or anything else that your company offers.
How to apply
Finish your job description with a few detailed instructions on how the candidate can apply for the role. This will normally include a company email where the jobseeker will need to send a personalized cover letter and résumé.
Job description sample
While a job description will vary greatly depending on the position and industry, here is a brief job description template that you can use to get inspired:
About the role
X Company is looking for a talented and enthusiastic social media assistant to join its team on a full-time remote basis.
The successful candidate will support the social media marketing and content strategy of our retail brand, FashionSense, a recently established women’s brand with over 1 million organic Instagram followers. The candidate will work closely with our social media manager to create engaging content for the company's social media presence, including keeping social media channels updated and brand-focused, and seeking out new social media avenues and ways of connecting with our audience.
Responsibilities
- Manage company social media channels, including Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and other relevant platforms
- Engage in social media presence creation on new and emerging social media platforms
- Create dynamic content, including written, graphic, and video
- Optimize content following search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC)
- Create content that promotes engagement, increases audience presence on company sites, and encourages audience interaction.
- Assists social media management with any other projects
- Work as part of a team to develop large social media campaigns
- Propose new ideas and concepts for social media content
- Write and submit answers aligning to the company’s content on relevant channels
- Manage social media communications
- Use timelines and scheduled content to create a consistent stream of new content for audience interaction while analyzing, managing, and altering schedules where necessary to optimize visits
Requirements
- Native English speaker
- A bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, marketing or a related field, or a minimum of 3 years’ experience in a similar role
- SEO/PPC knowledge
- Thorough knowledge of social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and others
- Strong understanding of social media KPIs
- Excellent writing and researching skills
- Proficiency in American English grammar, spelling and punctuation
- An ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
- Strong organizational, time management, multitasking and attention-to-detail skills
- Own a suitable workstation and have a fast internet connection
Perks and Benefits
- Competitive remuneration (annual salary range between $39,000 and $45,000)
- Remote working arrangement with contractual agreement
- 25 paid days’ annual leave, on top of public holidays
- Semi-flexible hours, in accordance with our content team’s schedule
- Paid medical care
- Monthly performance-based bonus scheme on new leads
- Join a talented and professional team
How to Apply
Please send your résumé, cover letter and 2–3 work samples along with your application to [email protected]
Due to the volume of applications we receive, please note that only successful candidates will be contacted.
PRO TIP
Don’t forget to add a disclaimer at the bottom of the advert to show you’re against discrimination:
“[Company name] is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from qualified candidates regardless of their age, race, sex, disability, sexual orientation and/or religion.”
Final thoughts
Now that you know how to write a compelling job description, it’s time to create your own version and start attracting promising candidates!
Do you have any other tips for fellow readers writing a job description? Let us know by leaving a comment in the section below.