When recruiting candidates for a new position, employers ensure they attract the best talent as quickly as possible. For that, they need to start by writing a compelling job description.
When employers carefully tailor the fundamentals of a job description, they can effectively target the most qualified candidates from the talent pool. A job description for the legal industry must be well-written and practical so that accountability and the person’s role are already there.
An effective job description should imply a careful analysis of important job factors – such as assigned individual tasks and qualifications required for the job.
Job description – Why get it right?
The reason for making a good job description is to let your ‘perfect candidate’ know exactly what you want from them. Besides putting all the technical requirements, you need to ensure the candidates make a cultural fit for your organisation, thus creating the right balance for your job post.
The information in the job description should be concise yet detailed enough for applicants to understand the job role. This makes the hiring process easy and smooth, subsequently attracting talented professionals.
All organisations that take care of defining who the new recruits should be, are always great to work with.
Steps for writing an effective job description
Writing a job description is a daunting task – a well-written one can be focused on deliverable results. Below are the steps to create a compelling job description.
- Create a job-specific title
The first step to attracting quality talent is making a job-specific title. The title should be targeted rather than generic, so only key phrases should be added to describe the job role accurately. This information is mandatory as it attracts the right job seeker.
For instance, you should specifically describe whether your firm requires a Legal Assistant, a Legal Intern, or a Legal Executive. The job seekers will understand whether these are entry-level positions or need some added experience to fill in the application. All these titles are also easily understood in the law industry. Your job title should:
- Demonstrate the nature of the job
- Be consistent with the industry standards or other similar jobs so that it is easier for potential candidates to search the job online
- Indicate the designation to reflect the skill level
Without a doubt, a job title acts as a gateway for the best candidates you seek.
2. Include a job summary
Anything in the opening section of a job description should be attention-grabbing and captivating. The summary is designed to focus on the general nature, objective, purpose, and location of the job. It includes the scope and broad function of the position you’re hiring for, for instance, the exact location of your job and details about the work timings.
In simpler terms, the purpose of adding a job summary is to provide what expectations your company has for the required position. A survey states that 82% of candidates in the UK consider company descriptions to be an important source of information in a job description.
3. Outline duties and responsibilities
Provide a detailed description of the core responsibilities of the new recruits. The responsibilities mentioned must be detailed yet concise. Also, keep your emphasis on the duties assigned by your organisation.
For instance, if you’re hiring for Solicitor Apprentice, the key responsibilities of the candidates must include assisting the partner and associates in various tasks, attending departmental training sessions, and ensuring document management, etc.
Don’t forget to specify how the job position will fit within the company, such as whether they’ll be working in a team or separately. Your goal must be to list down the most effective duties and responsibilities.
4. Highlight the skills and educational requirements
Include all the soft and hard skills required for the position. Besides the skills, specify the educational qualifications, previous experiences, technical skills, and certifications, if needed.
Adding too many skills or qualifications will only dissuade potential candidates from applying to your company. For instance, for the role of an attorney, you need a licensed individual with at least a minimum of 4 years post-qualification experience.
5. Provide salary and benefits
Most job descriptions state the salary they will provide for the specific position. The salary must be competitive with other organisations or the industry average. Posting about salary and benefits eliminates applicants who’re looking for better options.
By adding salary and job benefits, you will only attract the best-fitting candidates. However, the salary can be flexible and can be discussed with the candidates during the interview, based on their education, skills, and experience.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 5 steps to writing a job description?
To write a good job description, you need to focus on every detail so that candidates know what to expect from you. The list of things included in a job description is as follows;
- Job title to specify the role
- Duties and responsibilities
- Skills and qualifications
- Salary package
- Experience required
How do you write a 2022 job description?
To write a compelling job post in 2022, here’s what you must do;
- Introduce your company brand
- Describe your company culture and its values
- Provide a specific job title but avoid creativity
- Eliminate the language bias
- The job description should be candidate focused
How do you create a strong job description?
Be assertive and upfront in defining what you want from the candidates.
Clearly define the duties and responsibilities of the given job post.
Ensure that your job description offers growth opportunities to potential candidates.
Provide details on how much past job experience you require from the new recruits and give an example or two of the job experiences that would be helpful for the required job.
What are the 3 components of a useful job description?
Three major components of a job description are; a clear job title, a detailed summary of the role, and professional skills and requirements.
What are the 5 benefits of a job description?
- Smooth the hiring process by ensuring that applicants understand the role.
- A fully detailed job description can help you find the right candidate for your company.
- A great tool in helping the employer review the performance management of the new recruits.
- Analyse the pay scale and identify if the employees are paid what they deserve.
- Determine the employee skill set and fill the gaps with further training.
Photo by Clarisse Meyer on Unsplash
