Hiring can be a challenge, especially in today’s job market. Finding qualified candidates starts with a good job description that outlines the responsibilities and role in an appealing way. Too often, organizations use canned job descriptions that aren’t very engaging to job seekers, and this can lead to low application rates. The posting for an open position should do more than simply describe what the role will do every day. It should also set forth the important qualifications the organization seeks and serve as the foundation for creating interview questions.

In some areas, job listings are required to include certain information, such as the classification (full-time vs. part-time, contract, etc.) and/or salary range. As you consider what should be included, make sure to review this list before you hit “post”:

1. An engaging title: Stick to a title that someone can find during a standard search, even if your company issues catchy or unique job titles to employees.
2. Info about the company: Including a few sentences about the organization and highlighting the mission, values, and culture, can help an applicant know what the company stands for and what to expect.
3. Benefits: Indicate whether the position is eligible for benefits and what’s included. If your company offers any unique perks, such as flexible scheduling or paid time off to participate in community service, you can include them here.
4. Location: Unless the job is fully remote, it’s important to note the location in the listing. The location of the job may impact whether someone applies or not.
5. Pay info: Job seekers are far more likely to apply for a job that includes salary info in the posting. It’s also become more normalized, as applicants want to know whether they’d qualify for higher pay when changing jobs.
6. Duties: In brief, easy-to-read bullet points, highlight the responsibilities of the role so an applicant knows what they’d be doing all day.

Here’s what you can leave off your job description:

1. Too much information: Keep the listing brief and easy to read to avoid information overload.
2. Promises the company can’t keep: If you oversell the position or company too much, candidates might be disappointed when they come to work and find that some or all of what was promised wasn’t accurate.

With the right job postings (and an effective recruiting system that keeps everyone in the process on the same page), you can increase your company’s application rates and fill positions more effectively.