Writing a Job Description

Oftentimes in a growing company, we know that we are ready to add to our growing team, but the exact position is a little vague in our minds. On the other hand, if we are replacing someone who has moved out of a role, it can be an occasion to rethink how to make the role most effective. Writing a job description is a forcing function to think about what specifics you want out of the position. This is an easy place to cut corners, but that should be avoided. The job description is essential and is often overlooked because writing a great job description may not seem urgent. Over the medium term, this is a great place to put a little extra energy to generate leverage and improve your effectiveness as a leader. An effective job description will help you and your hiring team identify and hire candidates who can succeed in their role. Here are a few items to think about to generate ideas for the job description.

• What will the employee(s) be doing on a day to day basis?
• What things should the future employee(s) accomplish in the first 3, 6, and 12 months to make it a successful hire?
• What skills do you want the candidates to possess to apply for the job?
• What competencies will allow employees to thrive in the job and make a positive contribution to the company culture?
• What is the company culture and working environment like? What distinguishes the environment from other companies and jobs?

There is nothing wrong with following standard job descriptions, but ideating on these ideas before writing will lead to better and more targeted writing. It will also help you and the rest of your hiring team understand what they are looking for in a candidate.

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