Job descriptions
Today let's talk job openings. I have to start by saying that I've never worked in HR but as you know I am a marketer and a mother and I've learned to evaluate a kid's character from the first minutes of playtime with my sons. Similarly by reading tons of job openings you get the sense of what a company is like and what its expectations are.
Writing a job description
First things first. Here's what I would do if I were to write a job opening:
- Follow a logical order by thinking what questions and in which order applicants would ask themselves.
- What is the title of the position they need to fill in ? (What)
- Which is the company? (Who)
- What kind of tasks come with the job and what are the requirements? (How)
- What does the company offer in terms of salary and benefits? (Why)
- When will I know if I got selected for the first interviews round? (When) - Keep it as short and concise as possible.
- Set realistic expectations
- Avoid (if possible) automation software especially when it comes to more creative positions.
Companies' traits
When it comes to companies' culture and way of thinking I had the chance to identify these profiles. This is certainly a generalisation but it gives you an idea of the different faces an enterprise can show.
The Overly Excited
There are companies that gloat so much about their own success that they don't feel the need to share any information with potential employees. After all everybody knows who they are and what they do. You may be surprised to know that some of these companies are not as known as you may think. They have probably fallen prey to delusions of grandeur. Jokes aside, I believe that no matter how known and respected a company can be, it's always good practice to include an "about me" section in the first part of a job description.
The Dreamer
Everybody would like to have it all, don't you? Dreamers not only want it all but they are not afraid to ask for it. In short they want a fully-fledged professional for half the price. You can spot them because if you read the opening they ask for entry or mid-level professionals but they require people who have plenty of experience and knowledge. The ideal situation for sure but not very realistic.
The Perfectionist
They probably have good reasons to do what they do. My guess is that they are overwhelmed by the amount of job applications they receive and they need to be very specific in terms in requirements. However sometimes they exceed in details and they make it difficult for you to read through the job description.
The Confused
Lack of structure is not always synonym of chaos. On the contrary it can give you freedom and space of movement and action. However the confused tend to live in a contradictory world made of what they want the company to be like compared to what the company is actually like. In their lopsided view they believe what they say. They may need someone who can deal with a lot of pressure and responsibilities but at the same time want an easygoing and relaxed environment. Can these two aspects even coexist?
The Chilled-out
It happens, I swear. Normally job vacancies set the bar high in order to slim down the list of candidates. Chilled-out companies however introduce you to a dream job but presented like it's no big deal and fairly accessible. These job openings often hide more complexity and detail but they are nonetheless very attractive.
You have to forgive me for this simplistic view but I think an outsider perspective (like mine) can maybe help some companies rethink their way of introducing themselves to potential candidates. It needs to be said that there are certainly "regular" companies that write clear and well-balanced job descriptions too. And although they are not the subject of this blogpost they're worth mentioning.
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