What should be included in a job description?

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Writing effective job description is not a hard task but your job description needs to be clear and precise, not lengthy but yet all important information must be included. This explainer offers guidance on key sections that are important to include for clarity, as well as suggestions for promoting the position so you can hook the readers with a thoughtful and unique job description. A typical job description provides a list of duties, responsibilities, tasks, requirements, demands for setting job expectations and the employee's ability to perform the work as described. However, it’s often not construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. 

When writing a job description, consider the following:

  • Highlight the accurate job title;
  • Provide a general company introduction;
  • Provide a brief summary or introduction that provides an overview of the job;
  • Specify the relevant job duties and responsibilities that are necessary for this position;
  • List essential qualifications;
  • Be clear and concise;
  • Have someone proofread it;
  • Make sure that HR and the hiring manager will sign off before publishing it;
  • Define what success looks like in the position after 30 days, the first quarter, and the first year;
  • Provide direct contact details of the manager or HR department who will follow up on the candidates.
  • Publish it via several social media platforms, or offline media, so you are sure that in-house employees also can get easy access to it.
  • Address the candidates directly to help them to feel more related eg. Use the word "you" instead of "they";
  • Include an "about us" brief summary about your company; 
  • Include all benefits that comes with the job position.


What should you include in a job description?

Job descriptions are very important when listing a job opening as it provides an applicant with the duties, requirements, responsibilities, skills, qualifications etc. of the job opening. It is said to be a very important part when creating a job listing. A well written job description benefits both the applicant and the recruiter. Writing the perfect job description helps to find the most suitable applicant for the job, it helps applicants to decide if they are suitable for the position, if they are capable of handling the position and if they are comfortable with the positions before they apply, as such it saves valuable time for both the applicant and the recruiter and makes the selection process easier for the recruiter. Some points must be included in a job description to make it effective. Some are listed below:

The following categories are important when making a job description:

Job title: Full title of the job- This job title is a usually a brief description that reflects the content of the job. This should state a clear and precise job position, for example such as “Chief Operating Officer”.

Job summary: This should be inclusive of a short description of the company followed by the position expectations and job location. Detail summary of the job- This gives an overview of the role, the level and the scope of the job.

Job responsibilities: This one should include the core duties of a job. Full list of duties & responsibilities- This describes the fundamentals overall nature of the job role.

Skills and qualifications: Here, you can include requirements such as education, past work experience, any necessary certifications, technical skills, and personal qualities. Academic Experience needed for the role- This state the mandatory or optional experience needed for the job. Academic Qualification needed for the role- This state the necessary qualifications need for the job. Or any specific skills needed for the role- This state any special skills or talent required for the job.

Salary and additional benefits: Here, you must specify a certain range of income you can offer to the candidate. Moreover, you should also include any relevant benefits such as the number of annual leaves, medical coverage, provident fund, etc.

Contact details: explain the hiring procedure.

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  • The quality of your job description is therefore important, to ensure you attract the right candidates. By using a compelling and effective job description, you can attract the most qualified candidates for your job. Out of the long list of candidates, you can make a short list and start interviewing them. Finding the perfect balance between providing sufficient details so candidates understand the position and your organization while keeping your description concise. End with a call to action and sufficient contact details so the applicants can approach you easily. When in need for writing tips and samples for writing a job description for a specific job position, use our sample job description examples to create the best job description. By making use of our sample job description templates, you will make it easier for yourself.

    What should you include in a job description?

    Job descriptions are very important when listing a job opening as it provides an applicant with the duties, requirements, responsibilities, skills, qualifications etc. of the job opening. It is said to be a very important part when creating a job listing. A well written job description benefits both the applicant and the recruiter. Writing the perfect job description helps to find the most suitable applicant for the job, it helps applicants to decide if they are suitable for the position, if they are capable of handling the position and if they are comfortable with the positions before they apply, as such it saves valuable time for both the applicant and the recruiter and makes the selection process easier for the recruiter. Some points must be included in a job description to make it effective. Some are listed below:

    The following categories are important when making a job description:

    Job title: Full title of the job- This job title is a usually a brief description that reflects the content of the job. This should state a clear and precise job position, for example such as “Chief Operating Officer”.

    Job summary: This should be inclusive of a short description of the company followed by the position expectations and job location. Detail summary of the job- This gives an overview of the role, the level and the scope of the job.

    Job responsibilities: This one should include the core duties of a job. Full list of duties & responsibilities- This describes the fundamentals overall nature of the job role.

    Skills and qualifications: Here, you can include requirements such as education, past work experience, any necessary certifications, technical skills, and personal qualities. Academic Experience needed for the role- This state the mandatory or optional experience needed for the job. Academic Qualification needed for the role- This state the necessary qualifications need for the job. Or any specific skills needed for the role- This state any special skills or talent required for the job.

    Salary and additional benefits: Here, you must specify a certain range of income you can offer to the candidate. Moreover, you should also include any relevant benefits such as the number of annual leaves, medical coverage, provident fund, etc.

    Contact details: explain the hiring procedure.


    What should you not include in a Job Description?

    Being mysterious is not something that attracts potential candidates. The job duties and title should be clear enough to describe what is expected of a potential candidate. As a recruiter, you must always mention the necessary documents required for a certain position, such as educational documents, licenses, pay slips for the last job, etc.

    Moreover, apart from using gender-neutral language, you must also ensure that there is zero bias in the description of a job. For example, mentioning that you require a salesperson with five years of experience excludes any other young potential talent. Similarly, using terms such as “salesmen” or “saleswomen” is also discriminatory and should ideally be avoided.

    Additionally, avoid mentioning unrealistic or impractical tasks as they put off many people who may have been a good addition to the organization otherwise. 

    Last but not least, do not make the tone negative even if you do not wish to hire a certain category of individuals. Avoid using sentences such as “people with less than ten years of work experience will not be considered,” as it makes your brand look unfriendly.

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  • Advantages of Job Description Templates

    Advantages of using sample job description templates are:

    • Saves valuable time of having to prepare job description from scratch.
    • Decrease the work-load and stress of having to prepare job description from scratch.
    • Helps to prevent and eliminate mistakes as most job description is usually prepared by professionals.
    • It saves cost as instead of paying someone with the skills and qualification to prepare the job description needed as it can be easily downloaded for free or at a minimal cost.
    • It gives your business a professional presentation, is usually well laid-out and organized as it is prepared mostly by professionals.
    • Job descriptions may need to follow certain standards, meet certain criteria or formats that a person without certain skills and qualifications might not have knowledge of.
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