Are your job postings getting literally hundreds of responses? Are they getting none at all? Or are they simply not getting the responses that you expected? Writing a good job description is a difficult process, but it's essential to building the correct pool of candidates. Here are a few of the issues that are most commonly encountered, even by experienced HR personnel.

Listing Requirements That Aren't Really Requirements

Many HR representatives find themselves listing requirements that are nice to have but not actually required, such as four years of experience when they'll really accept two. If a requirement isn't essential, it should go under a "preferred" subheading rather than a required one. Otherwise you may be missing out on talented employees who prefer to follow directions. Conversely, you should list all the requirements that really do exist. If you absolutely need someone with a Bachelor's Degree but don't list it, you may waste both your time and their time sorting through unqualified applicants.

Failing to Update the Job Description

Jobs change. When conducting an exit interview for a position, you may want to ask the exiting employee how they would have described their job. Too often, human resources managers end up relying on initial job descriptions for each of their posts -- and that could be something that was written ten or even twenty years ago. As jobs change and adapt, their descriptions need to change as well. This is especially important in technology-oriented positions. 

Not Giving Enough Information About the Company Itself

The best positions require talented individuals -- and talented individuals want to know more about the place that they'll be calling home. When creating a job description, avoid focusing just on what the employee can do for you. You should also describe what the employee's experience will be at the company. If you're stuck, try describing an average day at your company for the individual being hired. Who will they report to? What will their responsibilities be? How is the working environment? This will give them something to visualize when they're considering applying for the position.

Hiring new employees is a stressful and daunting process -- and sometimes it's better off left to the professionals. Staffing agencies can save an organization both time and money by sorting through pools of available candidates and sending only the best. For more information about the employment process and the benefits staffing agencies can provide, contact OneTech today.