How to Describe the Person You Want for a Job Vacancy
When you have a vacancy to fill, spending a bit of extra time to write a well-thought-out job description can pay off later in the hiring process. That is because a poorly worded advertisement will draw the wrong candidates, whom you will have to spend time weeding out. A concise and complete description of the person you want is likely to attract the best candidates and discourage unsuitable ones.
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Instructions
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How to Describe the Person You Want for a Job Vacancy
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Make the must-have qualifications crystal clear. These may include a certain degree, certification or level of experience. You do not have to include everything skill and qualification on your wish list; by doing so you may scare off viable candidates.
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Avoid wasting your energy asking for character traits such as "self-starter" and "outgoing" and vague soft skills like communication abilities. Anyone can claim to have these qualities and they are easy to fake in an interview.
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Lay out conditions that may affect whether the jobs fits the candidate's lifestyle. For example, the ideal candidate may need to have a flexible schedule, the ability to travel for work or a high tolerance for being alone. Such factors can be make-or-break for candidates, regardless of their qualifications. You can save everyone time by being upfront about them.
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Write the description using language suited to your candidate pool. If you are looking for a janitor, there is probably no need for high-brow words or complicated phrasing. If you are looking for a highly specialized engineer, however, a few technical terms may be necessary. In all cases, use short sentences--and perhaps even bullet points--to enhance readability. A long block of text is unappealing to the eye.
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Stick to the second-person voice. Use "you," "your" and "yours" instead of stilted phrases like "the incumbent." Second-person sounds more inviting and allows candidates to picture themselves in the role. Think of it as a sales technique, getting your target customer--the perfect candidate--to take the job for a test drive.
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Tips & Warnings
Be clear about how you want to be contacted--electronically, by fax, by mail, by phone or by person. Your target candidates' preferred communication method will vary based on lifestyle, education and other factors.
Internet job sites and newspaper classified sections are standard places to advertise, but you can also try listing with trade associations and university career-assistance offices.
