Employees are the heart of any company. They’re the ones operating it day-to-day and actively striving to meet the mission and vision of the business. Because no organization can excel without quality employees, it’s vital to have effective and enticing job descriptions posted online to attract outside applicants. This process can bring in new perspectives and candidates with specialized skills that can help your business continue to grow. It’s essential that you work to create carefully thought-out and crafted descriptions, so here’s a closer look at what to include.

Use a specific job title

The job title is the first thing that potential applicants see when looking for open positions. Many job seekers start by searching for standard keywords and phrases that can help narrow down their search. However, because there are about ten million current job openings in the US, titles also need to stand out from the pack. It’s therefore important for job titles to be as specific as possible without straying too far from the standard. For example, if you’re hiring for a writing position, you’ll want to include “writer” in the title, but you can get more specific with phrases like “content writer,” “proposal writer,” or “UX writer.” Having this specificity will help to bring in more qualified applicants who are looking for these positions.

Give a clear overview of the job and responsibilities

You want to ensure that you’re accurately advertising the job opening, so it’s important that you and your HR department and recruiters first understand what the job will entail. After all, if you don’t fully understand what the position involves, applicants won’t either. So consider the responsibilities of past employees in this role or, if it’s a new role, what value job seekers can bring to your company. This examination of duties and priorities can help you explain them better in the job description. You can include a quick overview of the job, company, and expectations of the position and then offer more specifics on the day-to-day by listing out the job responsibilities in bullet points. These sections will help applicants determine if they are interested in the role and have what it takes to fulfill the responsibilities.

Include any requirements

Job descriptions should include details on any skills, education, and past job experiences that applicants need to possess to satisfactorily perform the responsibilities. For example, if a candidate needs to have an MBA, include that in the job description. Similarly, if there’s a specific skill they need, like graphic design, that should also be listed on the application. This allows candidates to see for themselves if they meet the minimum requirements for the position before applying, which can in turn save you time when your HR department and recruiters start reviewing applications.

Offer a glimpse at the benefits and salary

Listing benefits such as health insurance, a 401(k) match, and the amount of time off is a great way to attract applicants. In fact, according to an Indeed survey, 83 percent of job seekers stated that benefits were a major factor in their decision to accept or decline a job offer. So any company-paid benefits that your organization offers can help incentivize more qualified applicants to apply for the position.

According to another Indeed survey, 68 percent of active job seekers are more likely to apply for a position if the salary is listed in the job description. Therefore, it can be vital to your recruiting process that you at least touch on salary in the description. You can opt to include an exact salary or salary range or state that it will be discussed in the interview process.

Talk about company culture

Company culture can play a large role in not only bringing in new employees but also keeping them. The workforce has changed greatly in the past few years; employees now prioritize working for organizations with strong values and beliefs. Culture can give employees a sense of belonging that can ultimately create a more valuable working experience for everyone. It’s therefore important to note in your job description how your organization encourages work-life balance, maintains open communication between departments, or offers career growth. This gives applicants a look into your organization that can help them determine if the company’s values are aligned with their own.

Show some personality

While many aspects of job descriptions are fact based, it’s also a good idea to make your descriptions more enticing for applicants by adding in some personality. You can opt to include a joke, add quotes from current employees, or use phrases that reflect the culture of your business. When your language gives insight into the character of your organization, it can attract applicants to your opportunity and, ultimately, your company.

Regularly update your job descriptions

While it can take some time to write effective descriptions, it is important to keep them up to date. Positions change, new responsibilities are added, and departments shift around, so you want to make sure that your descriptions reflect what the positions currently are. This can make the hiring process easier since the HR department and recruiters have a more accurate idea of what to look for in potential applicants. It can also set candidates up for success since they know what to expect from the position should they be offered it.

Job descriptions are an essential part of the recruitment process and help your organization bring in new talent. So be sure to take the time to craft a well-thought-out job description to make the process easier and more effective for everyone involved.

Take Action: Examine your organization’s current recruitment process, and determine if you could benefit from creating more detailed and accurate job descriptions.