Creating an Effective Job Description

The hiring process starts well in advance of the first interview, with the creation of a winning job description. Armed with a comprehensive position overview, companies can attract the right candidates and communicate key information like responsibilities, performance expectations, growth potential and salary.

Steve Tutwiler, founder of Sterling Management Resources, suggests that employers cover four major areas when crafting a job description: previous experience, compensation, skills necessary for the position and company culture. He offers these tips:

o       Tutwiler recommends “creating an opportunity” within a job description to attract talented prospects. For most candidates, there’s a mental equation associated with compensation—it’s either an increase or a lateral move. So if a position sounds like an opportunity, a strong candidate might consider a lateral move. But, in either case, positioning the job as an “opportunity” increases the likelihood of attracting job seekers who are motivated by more than a paycheck.