How to Write Captivating Job Descriptions for Startups

Business revolves around people. The former COO of GE Lawrence Bossidy said, “Nothing we do is more important than hiring and developing people. At the end of the day, you bet on people, not on strategies.” As your company grows, you will ultimately need to find and hire the best people to join your team.

A compelling and clear job description will help you attract the most qualified candidates and hopefully save you time and resources during the interview process and beyond. Not only is a good job description important to clearly set expectations for potential job candidates, but it also helps applicants self-select whether they’re a fit before applying.

But what if my startup isn’t ready to start hiring? Writing job descriptions isn’t only a helpful exercise for startups ready to grow the team, but it can prepare you for growth by showing you what positions you will need in the future and helping you stay focused and prioritize the types of employees that will help you achieve your goals.

There are six main sections to include when writing a job description, from the company background to listing skills and credentials. Let’s explore what makes a captivating job description that will provide an accurate and attractive view of the role.

1. Company Background

The company background summarizes what your organization is all about. It allows a candidate to get to know more about your company and brand, and it should emit the vibe of your culture. Include key details like the mission or employee benefits. This is your chance to sell your company and the opportunity to potential applicants!

2. Job Title

The title of the role should be clear and specific. Make sure it is relevant and comparable to your industry and correlates accurately to the expectations and level of the role.

Remember, fFuture applicants are also searching online, so the title needs to have searchable keywords and be easily understood. Put the employee first and consider what candidates might find attractive. You may want to be creative to stand out in the sea of open positions, but “Sales Ninja,” or “Account Rockstar,” or “Director of First Impressions” could be too far out there to resonate with your pool of applicants.

3. Role Summary

This overview is intended to provide clear expectations of the job to be performed. Who will the position report to? Where will the job be located? What does success look like? Use this section as an opportunity to clearly define the role the employee will play in your company.

4. Essential Duties

List out any tasks, duties, and responsibilities associated with this role, from day-to-day operations to unique activities. The size of your list may vary based on the job, but make sure it is clear and concise. Keep it as straight-forward as possible. This section helps candidates understand the expectations and details required for the job.

5. Preferred Credentials

This section specifies key credentials that you’d like the candidate to have, including education, prior job experience, technical qualifications, or certificates. List what is essential to be successful in the role. Be cautious — too many expected credentials may limit or discourage good candidates from applying.

6. Desired Skills

Finally, you will want to share any soft skills or traits that would make a new hire successful in your company. Attributes ranging from leadership to teamwork to attention to detail, might be core competencies to enhance a candidate’s alignment with the position. Be clear on what is essential for the role versus what is a nice-to-have.

Putting it All Together

While your job description does have to be searchable and easy for applicants to understand, to create a captivating job description, you have to find ways to reflect your startup’s unique brand and corporate culture. Try for a more conversational or casual tone or insert bits of humor if that aligns with your brand.

In a Glassdoor article highlighting exciting job descriptions, Rhino Camera Gear demonstrates how a job description can be entertaining, informative, and specific what life is like at a startup.

“We’re looking for someone who is well rounded in photography, videography, design, and social media. Our marketing team is highly collaborative and moves fast on executing new campaigns and ideas. We try out new ideas constantly, learn from them and execute again… You will be a critical part in taking Rhino and [its] image to the next level in this position.”

What tips do you have for writing job descriptions? Share in the comments!

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