How to write a job description people actually read

A job description is often the first real contact a candidate has with your company. Yet most read like a legal document: a long list of requirements, a few vague benefits and a line about a dynamic team. Strong candidates scroll past them in seconds.

Start with the work, not the wish list

Describe what the person will actually do in their first six months. Which problems will they solve, who will they work with and what does a good week look like? That picture is far more convincing than ten bullet points of must-haves.

Cut the requirements in half

Long requirement lists scare off exactly the people you want, especially those who are honest about their experience. Keep the few skills that truly matter and move the rest to nice to have.

• Three to five real requirements

• One honest sentence about the challenges

• A salary range, or at least a clear indication

Show the people behind the role

Mention who the hiring manager is and how the team works. Candidates want to know who they will spend their days with. A short, personal note from the manager often does more than any employer branding campaign.