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Well-written job descriptions are important for promoting your company’s employer branding. Modern job descriptions function as concise promotions of your job vacancies, telling your organizational story and enticing prospective hires on how they can become a part of that eventful journey.
On the other hand, poorly written JDs could deter qualified candidates from applying for a role or hone in on individuals with a poor job fit. So, these subpar hiring strategies ultimately affect organizational performance, employee satisfaction, and increased turnover.
Note: Check out our free Job Descriptions Guide — it tells you everything we know about JDs, job ads and the like! For even more tips on writing job descriptions, check out How to Write a Job Description — Best Practices & Examples.
Ongig often shares stories of our own clients’ modern job descriptions created through Ongig’s job description software.
But there are many other excellent job descriptions out there — including ones created through everyday applicant tracking systems like Taleo and Jobvite — and we wanted to highlight a handful below.
Common Features of Effective Modern Job Descriptions
Reviewing the JDs below, you’ll notice various shared elements and themes. We believe that these factors can help establish modern job description templates to outperform your competitors’ job postings:
- Branding — The employer’s brand, including logo and color scheme, is prominently displayed. Surprisingly, many job descriptions out there do now show an employer’s brand (some feature the ATS more than the employer!).
- Visuals — Employers leverage video, photos and other visuals to stand out (they don’t rely on just text!).
- People — Team members are often featured which helps answer a top question candidates have: “Who would I be working with?” This also helps build social proof.
- Diversity and inclusion—The best JDs emphasize DEIB initiatives and policies for underrepresented groups. So, this broadens the talent pool by assuring diverse hires that they have equal access to the support and resources to thrive at work.
- Bullet points—Top-performing ads often feature several bullet points that make the information skimmable. This can also help attract passive job seekers who access JDs from their mobile devices. Bullets are especially effective for presenting details prioritized by modern job seekers. These include work-life balance arrangements, inclusive incentives (e.g., parental care leave), and mental wellness benefits.
- Pay Transparency—Wage/Salary inequity remains an issue among organizations across industries. For instance, industry research shows that women generally earn 16% less than men. Therefore, by specifying a pay range for a new position, your company can stay fair and inclusive to attract top talent in a challenging job market. Doing so makes fulfilling potential employees’ workplace expectations easier and contributes to an open, understanding, and positive company culture.
- Readability – Quality JDs feature a healthy readability score that makes the information informative but concise from start to finish. For best results, consider keeping JD sentences between 14-18 words long.
12 Inspiring Examples of Modern Job Descriptions
We have shortlisted the following job descriptions for their compelling content delivery and visual presentation that improves candidate engagement. We also highlight key points that made them stand out from the sea of JDs in the job market, which hiring managers can apply to boost their next recruitment campaign.
1. SAVE THE CHILDREN
Save The Children’s JD for a finance management advisor role clearly outlines a candidate’s essential job duties. So, the JD sorts each duty with a percentage breakdown for greater transparency in job expectations.
The JD also includes a thoughtfully written summary highlighting the role’s job responsibilities (workplace tasks) and deeper values, which heightens a candidate’s overall sense of purpose for a role.
Gartner also shared that the modern workforce seek continuously human-centric employee value propositions (EVPs). These include a greater demand for a shared purpose and personal growth.
In this case, Save The Children’s JD shares that candidates would provide financial support for the US programs (i.e., technical duty) while ensuring the educational development of children in rural America (i.e., human-centric EVP).
2. ASANA
Asana’s JD specifies referral bonuses that can help boost the recruitment process. Promoting a referral system can help improve the cost-effectiveness of large-scale hiring campaigns.
A referral system can significantly improve the quality of hire since existing employees or industry professionals are more likely to recognize the qualities and ethics needed to perform a specific role.
Asana added the referral promo at the top and bottom of the JD to increase the chances of catching a site visitor’s attention and interaction.
The JD also goes the extra mile with engaging visuals at the side panel, highlighting various employee benefits. So, visual elements can break the monotony of your JD content and improve candidate experiences.
3. RED BULL
Red Bull’s JD provides a list of employee requirements in clear and concise language that engages potential hires. The “Areas that Play to Your Strengths” section is an effective JD segment in aligning potential candidates’ soft skills and capabilities with the demands of their respective roles.
4. Dior
Fashion house Dior’s JD for a client relations manager position includes the role’s location in Beverly Hills in its job title. Doing so can help boost local SEO performance for a job posting and attract interested job seekers within the area.
The JD’s “Additional Information” section clearly outlines the salary range for the role while promoting employee empowerment in the company’s sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion, and corporate social responsibility efforts.
Dior’s JD provides an example of how your hiring team could leverage the “Additional Information” section to collate your company’s equity, ethics, and cultural values as a powerful differentiator in talent acquisition.
5. HEARST
The mass media company delivers optimized JDs on their job website embellished with compelling visual elements. Hearst’s content exhibits social proof through written testimonies and images of past collaborators, which enhance the company’s reputation with performance, commitment, and credibility.
Hearst’s robust JD presentation includes a carousel of videos on company operations and a behind-the-scenes perspective of an employee’s day at work.
6. VIACOM
Viacom’s JD organizes the job position details at the top of the write-up to provide potential candidates with a quick, glimpsable understanding of the role. The JD also divides basic and preferred qualifications, which can direct the best fit.
Doing so separates the needed requirements from the good-to-have. For instance, your hiring team could highlight advanced degree qualifications as optional for junior roles and positions.
As seen in Viacom’s JD, it could be advantageous to add a section for tracking returning applicants. A repository for job seeker details can improve the management of your existing candidate data pool. For example, you could keep candidates notified about the latest recommended job postings through a talent program.
7. GROUPON
The e-commerce company’s quality JD features a prominent call-to-action button at the top for seamless application.
Groupon applied the brand’s hex: #82b548 green to the job site’s search bar and JD application button, providing a coherent and professional candidate experience
8. NORDSTROM
Nordstrom systematic JD expertly summarizes the list of prioritized employee benefits. The optimized JD includes a prominent apply button and DEI information that broadens talent acquisition efforts.
These include accommodation requests made available to individuals with disabilities and a case-by-case review of candidates with criminal histories.
9. BULLHORN
Bullhorn’s JD begins with an overview of the company’s organizational values and commitments, which give candidates a greater understanding of the company’s credibility and industry expertise.
A people-first approach to hiring (e.g., responding to the latest workforce trends) could help your organization enhance the hiring process for an open role. Bullhorn’s JD showcases the approach in emphasizing that 20% of employees achieve career growth within the last 12 months.
Implementing Bullhorn’s JD could connect with a larger pool of hires, considering how workplace statistics report that nearly two-thirds of employees (63%) believe that their employer prioritize workplace productivity over their career development needs.
10. DOUBLEDUTCH
Doubledutch’s JD site engages job seekers with an unconventionally personable approach method of introducing top candidates to their company’s work culture.
The company’s career site also features a side panel that displays fun facts about team members (with matching graphics and even an interactive “most played track at work” widget).
Doubledutch’s JD site also includes a promotional video that showcases the strong and empathetic relationship among team members.
11. BOOKING.COM
Booking.com’s comprehensive JD features a number of compelling features that optimize the candidate browsing experience. These include:
- Job location details
- Widgets for sharing the JD across social media
- Prominent apply button designed with on-brand aesthetics
- Access to insightful career search resources including a virtual interview guide to help candidates score a winning first impression.
- Informative links to talent network, diversity statements, and the company’s career blog.
12. TOKBOX
Tokbox’s hero image puts forth a friendly and accepting work environment strategically coupled with the headline “come work with us.”
The JD also replaces the usual “able to work in a stressful and fast-paced environment” with a more inclusive description of a high-octane team environment.
Ongig’s Text Analyzer JD vetting solution offers advanced AI that detects the readability and biases in your JD. Doing so generates inclusive job descriptions that consistently grab the attention of (and converts) your ideal candidate.
With Text Analyzer, you can effortlessly replicate the success of the effective job description templates on this list, standardize your JD libraries, and navigate your enterprise’s most challenging recruitment goals.
Best Practices for Writing Modern Job Descriptions
Using Inclusive Language in Modern Job Descriptions
Using inclusive language in modern job descriptions is a good way to attract the best candidates. So, inclusive language means using words that welcome everyone, regardless of their background. This helps ensure your job listing appeals to a diverse group of people, making it easier to find the right candidates for the open position. Therefore, avoid using gendered terms or language that might exclude certain groups. Instead, focus on being neutral and respectful in your descriptions.
Emphasizing Skills Over Experience in Modern Job Descriptions
Modern job descriptions should emphasize skills over previous experience. So, instead of focusing solely on the number of years of experience or specific degrees, highlight the new skills that are needed for the job. This approach can also help attract a wider range of prospective candidates who might have the right skills but come from different backgrounds. For example, rather than asking for advanced degrees, consider specifying the technical requirements and specific tasks the successful candidate will need to perform. This shift can help you find great candidates who are a good fit for the job, even if they don’t have a traditional background.
Highlighting Growth Opportunities in Modern Job Descriptions
When writing a job advert, highlight the growth opportunities available within the role. Let potential applicants know about training programs, future projects, and other ways they can advance their careers. A well-written job description that showcases growth opportunities can attract great candidates who are looking to develop their new skills. So, mention any opportunities for promotions, additional responsibilities, or leadership roles like a senior role or team leader. This will also make the job more appealing to those who are eager to grow.
Being Clear and Concise in Modern Job Descriptions
A concise job description helps prospective employees understand the specific duties and day-to-day tasks of the position. So, use a modern job description template to organize information clearly and make the job summary easy to read. Also, avoid jargon and overly complex language, and stick to the essentials. This will make your job listing stand out on job boards and search engines. Providing an accurate job description is the first step in attracting the best candidates for your open position.
Using these best practices can transform a job description from average to great. But, remember, a compelling job description is only the starting point for attracting the right candidates and building a strong team.
Why I Wrote This?
Ongig is on a mission to provide enterprises with optimized job descriptions at scale. Discover how Ongig enhances your Candidate Experience by embellishing your JDs and career pages with immersive visuals and interactive recruiting widgets. Request a demo of Ongig’s Text Analyzer to elevate your talent acquisition campaigns today!
