How do you get someone to apply for a job at your organization? The obvious answer is to write a job description to post on your website or on a job board, but not any old description will do the trick.
James Weinberg and Cassie Scarano, co-founders of Commongood Careers, wrote in “Nonprofit Management 101” that, to attract great talent, you need a job description that will leave the candidate no choice but to apply. They explained that a job description is a marketing tool at the end of the day: It must engage potential candidates by communicating the opportunities available through the position, in addition to outlining the requirements.
Weinberg and Scarano listed eight things that must be included in a job description if it is to have its desired effect:
- Title: Keep it short, concise, descriptive of the position, and widely recognizable.
- Organizational Overview: Introduce your organization through a succinct and enthusiastic paragraph that outlines your mission and programs, success to date, growth plans, future opportunities, and culture.
- Position Overview: Use one well-written paragraph to describe the overall function of the position and highlight the opportunities for impact and leadership.
- Responsibilities: Use five to seven bullets to provide detail about the responsibilities of the position. Use engaging and active language and avoid jargon.
- Qualifications: This section should outline the experience and competencies required for success in the position and your organization without being overly prescriptive.
- Compensation Range: Disclosing specific compensation is not required and in fact, is not recommended, as it limits the candidates you will see.
- Application Instructions: Be very specific about how you want candidates to apply for the position.
- Equal Opportunity Statement: It is good practice to have an equal opportunity employer policy and to include that in your job description.
