INTHEBLACK November 2023 - Magazine - Page 48
WORK SMART
Heather Austin
Write an incredible job description in six easy steps
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Job ads that
stand out
A compelling and accurate job description can
give an employer the edge over competitors in
the battle for the best talent.
Words Nicola Heath
THE EMPLOYMENT LANDSCAPE IN 2023 has been
characterised by a tight job market, skills shortages
and a renewed focus on conditions such as flexibility.
This is a stark contrast to pre-pandemic times, and
the changes are being felt in recruitment, says Nicole
Gorton, a director at recruitment agency Robert Half
Australia.
“Before 2020, companies were interviewing
candidates for jobs. Since 2021, things have changed,
and we’re now seeing candidates interviewing
companies.”
Gorton says a compelling job description is critical
in a job market where employers need to stand out
from competitors to secure talent. “What is in it – and
how you write it – is your first avenue to get the best
talent for the role.”
Here are six steps to writing an effective job
description.
1. FOCUS ON THE JOB SEEKER, NOT THE JOB
The recruitment process is often driven by the need
to fill roles quickly.
In haste, some hiring managers make the mistake
of publishing job descriptions that have been written
from the employer’s perspective, says Gorton.
In an economy with low unemployment, a job
description that focuses on what the company needs
rather than what a job seeker wants can fall flat.
48 INTHEBLACK November 2023
