It’s no surprise that the IT job market is very competitive. More than 90% of IT workers are currently employed, which creates a significant lack of available talent. According to the latest IT Job Market and US National Employment Data, the demand for IT professionals continues to grow in spite of inflation and high energy costs. The IT job market is expanding at record pace, with an additional 46,100 available jobs than at the same time last year—and more than 200,000 IT jobs remain unfilled.
Although there are various steps you can take to increase your chances of securing IT talent, having a well-written (not cookie-cutter) job description can help you find the right pool of applicants. Here are five tips to consider for writing an effective IT job description.
1. Describe the Work Accurately
Hiring managers should provide enough information about the day-to-day responsibilities to help paint an accurate picture of the position. You can include projects they will be working on, teams or people they’d interact with, and career growth opportunities (if any)—as well as the value this hire will add to the overall growth of the company. By providing sufficient information on what this role entails, applicants can better evaluate the opportunity and be more engaged throughout the application and interviewing process.
2. Focus on Required Skills
It is critical that hiring managers solely focus on the skills that are required to perform the job. IT workers are becoming more and more specialized; therefore, applicants are most interested in the requirements that align with their current skillsets and career goals. Focusing on just the must-have skills, instead of nice-to-haves, will help filter the number of qualified candidates.
3. Use a Precise Job Title
Job titles can occasionally be misleading, especially in IT. What one company calls an IT support role could mean something completely different to another. While providing a great overview of the responsibilities is vital to writing an effective job description, having an accurate job title is just as important, since this will serve as the keyword applicants will search for on job boards.
4. Include Education and Certification Requirements
List any education, employment eligibility, and certifications that are required for either the role or by your organization. This is something that is often overlooked, but can save you and the applicants time and effort in the long run.
5. Showcase the Compensation and Benefits
While some states require compensation to be included in the job description, providing your pay range in the job description shows full transparency. It also minimizes the back-and-forth of salary negotiations. Imagine having an amazing applicant who is a great fit for your job opening, only to find out at the end that their salary expectation is out of your budget. It is also important to highlight some of the benefits your organization offers, whether it’s paid time off, 401k options, memberships, health programs, and any other perks that could be a compelling reason for someone to join your company.
If your job descriptions are clear about the responsibilities for the role and are concise about the skills you want from an applicant, you will receive a higher quality pool of candidates. And if you need professional help, organizations across the U.S. can leverage Connection’s IT and staffing expertise to find qualified candidates to hire. Our experienced staffing team takes the time to understand your IT staffing requirements and provide tailored recruiting strategies to help fill your hiring needs in a cost-effective and timely manner.
Patrick Dja Konan
Patrick Dja Konan is a Lifecycle Staffing Business Development Manager at Connection. Patrick joined Connection in 2019 as a staffing subject matter expert (SME) after helping numerous companies hire IT talent as both Technical Recruiter and Account Executive. His enthusiasm for technology, along with his profound understanding of today’s IT job market, enables Patrick to work as a strategic hiring partner to companies across the United States and provide them with tailored recruiting solutions to fill critical IT positions. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children.
