The document provides tips for writing an effective job description that will attract top candidates. It recommends (1) using an exciting title that conveys the job's opportunities, (2) describing what candidates can achieve rather than just skills, (3) focusing on the successes needed rather than a skills list, and (4) writing in an enthusiastic way that makes the job sound interesting. It also advises spelling out requirements clearly, setting appropriate expectations, keeping the application process brief, stating benefits, and including a hook to draw candidates in.

1. How to write a great job description
It’s All In The Name – Your first challenge is to get a top candidate to click on your job
posting from a large, mind numbing, and repetitive list of startling similar jobs. Research
shows that job seekers click on jobs based on the name and reputation of the posting
company and the job title. You can’t do much about your company name…but you sure
can spice up your job title. Add action to your title that speaks directly to the opportunity
the job offers.
Focus on Achievement – Studies indicate that the opportunity for advancement and
interesting work are significantly higher drivers for job candidates than compensation.
Make your positions attractive by describing what individuals can hope to accomplish in
their new job.
Search for Success – Instead of turning your advertisement into a laundry list of desired
skills, define your position in terms of the successes that qualified candidates will need to
demonstrate.
Convey Excitement – The best job postings are those that are fun to read. You know
which ones they are – descriptions that have the reader saying, “That sounds like an
interesting job.” Take the time to understand the position, get excited about your

2. company’s culture and the promise of the opportunity. If you wouldn’t want to apply, no
one else will either.
Buzz Words - Like recruiters who when they source the look for the buzz words to create
their search strings. So do candidates when they search for jobs. Ensure you have those
words in your JD. Ensure the Job is posted to all the correct categories.
Spell out true requirements – If there are must-have technical or knowledge based
requirements of the job, spell these out clearly and early in the post. People will be less
inclined to read on and become interested in a position that they know from the outset
they are unqualified for.
Set job seeker expectations appropriately – By doing a good job of defining the daily
responsibilities of the job, you will also be discouraging people who don’t wish to do
those things.
Require Homework - Consider asking for a cover letter with each application. This
simple request will often weed out people that are taking a flyer on a job they really don’t
know much about. Have your candidate solve a tough problem, submit a piece of code.
Watch out, while this could be fun, it may also deter candidates who you may have been
interested in.
When making the JD posting you need to add the below
Make sure the application process is not to long. It is a proven fact that if the application
process is more than 15 minutes you loose 80% of the candidates.
Ensure you state what’s in it for the candidate, environment, benefits, growth
opportunities etc.
The hook, the marketing sizzle needed to draw them in.
Writing a JD
1. Minimum Qualifications; minimum requirements should be universal across the
company with regards to pipe.
2. Basic Qualification: next set of qualifications ie;..Job specific
3. Preferred Qualifications; nice to haves, group specific.
4. Tags/Buzz Words- a list of words, titles, and phrases that candidates might search
under that are relevant to your JD