One of the very first things you do when you have an open position is writing a job description. Many recruiters will rush through this step, anxious to get it posted so they can start fielding candidates and scheduling interviews. Do not be so hasty! The job description is how you set you and your construction company up for success. Write a vague – or downright bad – job description, and you will either have far too many applications pouring in or hardly any. The trick is to provide the correct information so that only qualified candidates throw their hats in the ring.

This article will go over some of the dos and don’ts of writing strong job descriptions. Follow these tips, and you will make the rest of the hiring process and a whole lot easier. Plus, you will end up with an excellent fit for your project and team.

Include the information that people care about

Unless you want to spend your time responding to the same questions repeatedly, make sure that you are providing essential info that candidates will be looking for. This includes the hourly rate or salary range and required skills. Besides resulting in more applications, this will also give candidates a better sense of the required experience.

Discuss what makes your company different

There are a lot of construction companies trying to hire top candidates at the moment. If you want to attract top talent, talk about opportunities for advancement and what a career path looks like within your company. Beyond that, highlight some of the perks that you offer. Remember that these do not need to be all monetary-based – they could involve flexible work hours, performance rewards, or gym memberships.

Use clear and concise language that is easily understood

While you want to provide candidates a good sense of what their day-to-day would look like, you do not want to over-inundate them with information. Keep your job posting simple and to the point. Remember that “clear and concise” does not have to mean “boring and corporate.” A job posting is also an opportunity to give an initial impression of your company – it is okay to show a little personality. Worried your job description is confusing? Have a colleague or two read through and give feedback before posting. It is also a good idea to have someone proofread for any spelling or grammatical errors.

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