How to Write a Job Description Online
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Learning how to write a job description for the internet is crucial to finding the right applicant in less time. Writing job descriptions for online job boards is much different than writing a help wanted classified ad for the local paper. Online, you are reaching a global audience, which means your job is going to attract a lot more applicants than if you put out an ad in the paper. Online, you're not being charged by the word, so why not elaborate on what the job entails and the type of applicant you're looking for, rather than wasting your time weeding through hundreds or thousands of applications from non-qualified applicants later? Learn how to write a job description which will save you and your applicants a lot of time and frustration.
Essential Keys to Online Job Descriptions
The secret of learning how to write a job description online is learning all the basic ingredients so you can include them in your job ad. Your position description should include the specific job duties. People applying for a job want to know what they'll be doing on a daily basis. Writing "I am looking for an assistant editor for an online magazine" doesn't tell the applicant what he'll be doing. An assistant editor's tasks will vary greatly depending on the publication. Adding "The assistant editor will review new article submissions, edit accepted articles for length, and communicate rejections via email" gives applicants a better understanding of the position. The more information you give, the better. Otherwise, you will spend hours replying to questions people email you about the position. You should list the requirements for the job, including education and level of experience. If you want someone who has online editing experience, state this information in your ad. Otherwise, you will waste a lot of time reviewing applications from people who aren't qualified to do the job. Make sure to also include the start date for the job and the duration of the job (if contract or freelance).
Optional Information Most Job Seekers Want to Know
Because telecommuting (or working from home) is becoming so common in many fields, a lot of applicants will want to know whether a job allows telecommuting. This applies to some fields more than others, but is particularly common in most freelance fields like writing/editing, programming, web design, and even administrative freelance positions. Most job seekers want to know a pay rate or salary range. Putting "negotiable" or "to be determined" or "depends on experience" as your salary will bring you a lot of responses from applicants wanting to know how much you're paying. Also, by not specifying your pay rate, you will turn off many serious applicants who don't want to be bothered taking time to apply for a position which might not pay a high enough rate. On the other hand, not stating a salary range can also get you many applications from people who will turn down the job if you don't pay enough. Stating even an estimated pay rate will save you and your applicants a lot of time and frustration. If hiring for a full-time job, including whether you offer benefits (like health insurance and 401K) is a good idea.
Hiring for a freelance position? Use these tips for learning how to write a job description to post a free job ad at Go Freelance. You'll begin receiving applications from qualified freelance professionals right away.
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