A job description should be very well written in order to attract highly qualified candidates for hiring. There are thousands of job vacations out there on employment websites, you have to make your job position stand out by writing a strong job description. A job description should be well detailed i.e. highlight job responsibilities, preferred qualification or working experience, expected salary, etc.
Writing job description for any job posting becomes easier once you have a job description template with you. In this post, we have covered important information related to job description and provided FREE templates in editable and printable format.
What is a Job Description?
A job description is a document that is written to outline the essential duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills required for a specific job position. Through a job description, job seekers get to know what the job vacancy is and what’s the eligibility for it.
Through a job description, a company gets to explain what type of candidates are needed for a certain job position, what’s the preferred qualification or work experience, etc.
Following are some of the important fields you will see in every good job description:
- primary job responsibilities of the job position
- preferred qualification or work experience
- preferred skills and abilities
- job title, salary or stipend, employment status, etc
- additional benefits for employee i.e. health insurance, conveyance, etc, if applicable
A well structured job description will attract high qualified candidates because it’s easier for job seekers to see whether they fit for a role or not.
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Benefits of a Job Description
- Right and qualified candidates will apply once there is a detailed and well written job description.
- A well written job description builds company’s credibility. Many job seekers check the company’s caliber before applying.
- A well structured job description provides clarity to job seekers, they get to know about the preferred qualification, working experience, skills, etc.
- A job description is a part of recruitment. It helps to streamline the recruitment process by attracting qualified candidates.
What to Include in a Job Description
Start with a Job Title: The job title should be there, title will be seen first so make sure to write it clear and specific. You cannot go wrong with writing a title because it’s the first thing that will attract the potential candidates. Keep it very clear.
Then comes the Job Summary: Make sure to give a brief summary of the role, write about it’s purpose, key responsibilities, etc. Keep it concise yet informative.
Job Responsibilities and Duties: In this section, you need to list down the primary job responsibilities and duties that a candidate will be doing if hired. You can write down this section in bullet points so a job seeker can understand whether he or she fits the role or not.
Preferred Qualifications and Skills: This is one of the important section of a job description which will filter out the candidates. Make sure to mention the preferred qualification, preferred work experience, and skills required for the role. By reading this section, job seekers will get to know whether they are eligible to apply for a job position or not.
Employment Type: Make sure to mention whether it’s a full time employment or part time. You need to explain the nature of job as well i.e. remote, office based, hybrid, etc. Write down if there are special conditions.
Salary & Benefits: It’s advised to mention the salary range because that will attract a lot of potential qualified candidates. Write about additional benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, and professional development opportunities, etc.
Application Process: Make sure to mention how candidate can apply and what to attach i.e. resume, cover letter, or portfolio, etc.
Closing Date: Make sure to mention the deadline for sending job applications.
Things to Avoid While Writing a Job Description
We have already covered what to include in a job description and here are some of the things that you need to avoid. Make sure to keep these things into consideration in order to avoid the most common mistakes.
Vague or Generic Language: Refrain from using any vague or generic language. It’s better to be specific so that a job seekers can clearly understand the job requirements and eligibility.
Discrimination: Refrain from using any discriminatory language. Use inclusive language to attract a diverse candidates.
Difficult Language: Job description should be very easy to read and understand. Do not make it complicated, keep it very simple and clear so everyone can understand it. A job description is the foundation of the recruitment process, so it should be clear and specific.
Lengthy Descriptions: A job description should be detailed but not overwhelming. Try to keep it concise, yet informative. Keeping it concise yet informative is not everyone’s cup of tea, this is why you need to professional to write one for you or download a suitable template for it.
Not Mentioning Salary & Benefits: This is one of the common mistake that you may find in many job descriptions. If you cannot mention the exact salary then mention the salary range. Job seekers look for salary and benefits before applying, so make sure to mention them.
So these are some of the things that you must avoid while writing a job description for any job position.
Conclusion
A job description template comes in handy when it comes to write down a well structured job description in minutes. The use of these templates has streamlined the hiring process and improved the recruitment efficiency. If you are running a business and looking to hire qualified candidates then you must have a job description template with you.
Employee are the backbone of a company, the success of a company depends a lot on how qualified their employees are. Hiring qualified candidates takes efforts and writing a well structured job description is a first step towards it. Check out the free editable templates here and download a suitable one for your use.