How to Write a Job Description

Use our step-by-step guide to write a compelling job description.

By Simoné Gambrell, Apr 19, 2024

Simoné Gambrell is a Betterteam Copywriter based in South Africa. She enjoys using her creativity to write about a variety of subjects and find the best way to express a point.

Person's hands on a MacBook writing a job description with an iPhone next to them.

A good job description can be written in an hour or less and will attract excellent candidates if done right. It can be completed in three easy steps but may require some additional research if you're not familiar with the role. Have a look at our step-by-step guide to get you started on writing a compelling job description.

How To Write A Job Description:

$0.00 USD

1 Hour

Three easy steps to crafting a great job description.

Introduce the role in question.

1.1

Use an accurate job title.

Avoid using internal jargon or clever or complicated titles for your job descriptions. Rather, use the accepted and most common job title. While job descriptions are often for internal use, they are also used to form the basis of a job posting. You may lose potential employees if they do not understand what job you are advertising.

1.2

Write a brief summary paragraph.

Your summary paragraph should provide an overview of the job. This usually includes a brief idea of what the role contributes to the company overall. You may also decide to define what success looks like in the position after 30 days, the first quarter, and the first year.

List the necessary responsibilities and skills required.

2.1

Create a list of responsibilities.

You should write only the job responsibilities that are necessary for this job, not every job. List 7-10 key responsibilities of the role in brief but full sentences in order of importance. Start off each sentence with action verbs to entice the readers.

2.2

List the essential qualifications.

Again, you should only list the qualifications and requirements specific to this role. Be brief and concise in your list and include education requirements, relevant experience, any specific skills, important certifications and licenses, and personal characteristics or physical abilities that are necessary to complete the job successfully.

Edit and post your job description.

3.1

Have someone proofread it.

Ask someone in your organization to edit your job description to remove any spelling errors and unclear sentences.

3.2

Get HR and the hiring manager to sign off on it.

This is a good step to take as it provides a sounding board to ensure that you have included the correct duties and qualifications needed for the role in question.

3.3

Publish it where employees can get easy access to it.

As your job description is mainly for internal use, you will want your employees to be able to access it as a reference to double-check their duties and what is expected of them.

Job Description Template

FREE download + guide.

FAQs:

How do you write a good job description?

Use an accurate job title.
Write a brief summary paragraph that provides an overview of the job.
Define what success looks like in the position after 30 days, the first quarter, and the first year.
Write only the job responsibilities that are necessary for this job, not every job.
List essential qualifications.
Have someone proofread it.
Get HR and the hiring manager to sign off on it.
Publish it where employees can get easy access to it.

What should I write in a job description?

Job title.
Job brief.
Responsibilities and required tasks.
Qualifications and abilities.

How can I improve my job description?

Clearly define what is expected of the employee at different intervals, such as the first 30 days, 90 days, 180 days, and the first year. Make this part of your sample job description template across your company to get everyone creating job descriptions that set expectations.

How do you write job roles and responsibilities?

Do your research on the role and list all key responsibilities.
Make use of action words.
Provide sufficient details.
Thoroughly communicate your expectations.
Explain your company's standards.

What makes an effective job description?

An effective job description is concise, short, and detailed. To ensure that the candidates understand and feel compelled to apply, the job description should leave no or little room for further questions or confusion about the job's KPIs and requirements.

How do you write an appealing job description?

Write up a short and engaging summary of the job.
Avoid superlatives.
Ensure the focus is on the responsibilities and development requirements.
Ask current employees for advice on writing job descriptions.

What is some advice for writing a job description for a job I've never done?

Writing job descriptions when you've never done the job can be a bit intimidating. You'll want to be sure to talk to anyone at your company who is more familiar with the job, especially for help writing the description of responsibilities. You can also check out the job descriptions we've created for thousands of jobs that will get you started with a sample job description format.

What job requirements should I include in my job description?

Include traits that a successful applicant must have in order to succeed in the job. For ideas, check out our job requirements guide.