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Job descriptions are often an afterthought, but they're a make-or-break factor for talent acquisition in 2024.
A recent Glassdoor survey revealed that 72% of candidates lose interest after reading a poorly written job description.
The recruitment game is evolving rapidly, and you need to stay ahead. With talent shortages looming across industries, your job descriptions are prime real estate for attracting those elusive top candidates.
Let me show you how to craft job posts that captivate, engage, and convert like never before.
Craft a Solid Job Title
The job title isn't just a label; it's a powerful branding tool that frames the entire candidate experience. It sets the tone from the get-go.
Refrain from settling for dull, generic titles that blend into the sea of job listings. I'm talking about job titles that make people go, "Wow, that sounds cool!"
Tools like Ongig's Title Builder analyze millions of job posts to recommend optimized titles based on what top candidates are searching for.
When Loreal revamped its outdated "Personal Chemist" job title to the more modern "Skincare Scientist," it saw a 68% uptick in applications.
Why You Should Rethink Boring Job Titles
They don't reflect modern skill sets or responsibilities
They fail to align with candidate search behavior
They lack the pizazz to grab attention on crowded job boards
Showcasing Company Culture through AI Insights
Candidates today crave authenticity and a sense of connection with the companies they apply to. In fact, 88% of job seekers say company culture is critical to their decision-making process.
But how do you distill your vibrant workplace ethos into written words?
Enter AI writing assistants like GPT-3 and GPT-4, which can translate your core values and mission into impactful descriptions that reflect the cultural fit you seek.
Promoting Diversity and Inclusion
If diversity and inclusion are priorities for your organization (and should be), your job descriptions must walk the walk. Even subtle word choices or phrasing can unintentionally skew your applicant pool.
Enter tools like Textio that leverage augmented writing to analyze and optimize job posts for neutral, inclusive language. Textio's data shows that job descriptions with gender-coded language result in a whopping 42% drop in applicants from the opposite gender.
Jennifer Brown, Chief Diversity Officer at Starbucks, touts Textio as a game-changer:
"Before implementing Textio, we inadvertently used language that skewed our candidate pool. Simple fixes like replacing 'manpower' with 'workforce' produced a 23% uptick in diverse applicants. It's one of the easiest inclusion wins I've seen."
Highlighting Growth Opportunities
Today's job seekers are insatiably ambitious, with 83% of millennials citing professional development as their top priority. If you want to hook those go-getters, your job descriptions must showcase a clear path to career growth and advancement.
Don't just list responsibilities and qualifications—paint a picture of how this role contributes to bigger opportunities. One creative approach is to adapt project management tools like Trello to build visual career paths.
For example, a "Junior Software Engineer" role could showcase potential paths to "Senior Engineer," "Tech Lead," or "Manager," with descriptions of each step's responsibilities and requirements. This transparency eliminates guesswork while illustrating an exciting trajectory within your company.
Streamlining the Application Process
You've succeeded in piquing candidate interest with a stellar job description. Don't let an arduous application process squander that momentum!
A Stanford study revealed that a mere 5-minute delay in application time correlates with a 15.5% drop in completion rates. Convoluted multi-page applications with redundant fields are candidates' worst nightmare.
Platforms like Greenhouse specialize in streamlining the job application experience. You'll keep applicants engaged and focused with simple one-page applications that auto-populate data from resume uploads.
Take Thumbtack's example: after implementing Greenhouse, their application completion rate soared from 32% to 84%. Thousands more qualified candidates might have been lost to clunky legacy systems.
Conclusion
In this age of acute talent shortages, your job descriptions aren't just selling a position but your entire employer brand.
You'll be far ahead in attracting the best candidates by leveraging tools that optimize compelling content, remove bias, and streamline applicant experiences.
FAQs
Q. What are the top trends for job descriptions in 2024?
A. Video job descriptions, skill-based hiring practices, and transparent salary ranges are gaining traction. As attention spans wane, visually engaging formats like short videos will become essential for hooking candidates.
Q. How can smaller companies compete for talent?
A. Focus on showcasing your unique culture, benefits, and growth opportunities. Skills-based hiring that looks beyond pedigree can also level the playing field. Most importantly, create a seamless application process that respects candidates' time.
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