The Future of Hiring: How to Write a Job Description in 2014

Hiring in 2014 will be all about purpose and a paycheque.

We all know the basic ingredients of how to write a good job description. Appropriate job title, clear position overview, list of key responsibilities, required skills and qualifications, and an inviting company overview that speaks to your company’s personality. But like every great recipe, there’s a secret ingredient to make your job description a standout. And in 2014 that ingredient will be purpose.

Why purpose?

The number one most important trend for hiring managers to take note of is that the job seeker’s definition of career success is changing. For today’s job seeker, career success is no longer only defined by material compensation but by a sense of meaning. Women, and millenials in particular, are choosing their career paths by the difference they can make on the world.

So what does this mean for attracting top talent? As the job market continues to improve, businesses and nonprofits will be facing stiff competition for recruiting. Smart organizations have begun recognizing this trend and are embedding social purpose into their companies, from creating sustainability positions to certifying as B corps.

More likely than not, your company will be hiring in 2014 and the first step to attracting top talent is writing the job description, so ensuring that you know how to write an awesome one is key.

Our three tips for a standout job ad are:

1. Articulate your purpose.

Identify what your company is doing to make a difference. A 2011 report commissioned by the Career Advisory Board and conducted by Harris Interactive, found that although compensation was important, it came secondary to meaning. 30% of millenials identified meaningful work as the single most important factor for a successful career. This is in stark contrast to the 11% of hiring managers who held this belief about millenials. That’s a sizable disconnect! Our mantra at Bmeaningful is a purpose and a paycheque, so hiring managers should appeal to the job seeker’s search for meaning.

Think only a nonprofit can do this? Think again. We take social good company Warby Parker’s recent job description as a case study.

Warby Parker is a transformative fashion brand offering designer eyewear at a revolutionary price while leading the way for socially-conscious businesses.

2. Be compelling.

A great job description is like a commercial, compelling your audience to want to know more or buy your product and in the recruitment world that means encouraging top talent to apply to your job. Craft an introduction that uses questions or statements that appeal to your target candidates, like Warby Parker.

We strive to deliver an extraordinary shopping and ownership experience, and as a Customer Experience Associate, this will be your specialty. You will kill customers with kindness and knock their socks off every day with absolutely stellar service!

3. Be Future Forward.

58% of millenials cite career growth as their primary professional goal. Surprisingly, only 28% of hiring managers think millenials have career growth as their top goal. Another disconnect which demonstrates the need to focus on potential growth opportunities and benefits of working with your organization.

We believe that we’re all responsible for each other’s professional and personal growth, and we work hard to create an environment where our team will flourish. For star employees, there will be tremendous opportunity to take on increased responsibilities and grow professionally with Warby Parker.  Since all work and no play makes a dull office, we’re thoroughly committed to infusing our days with food, surprises, brain-stimulating activities and, when appropriate, costumes. As a team member at Warby Parker you can look forward to catered lunches three times a week, company outings, guest speakers, and all sorts of other goodness.

What other hiring trends do you see for 2014? Let us know what you think in the comments.

If you enjoyed this post, please share!

Photo Credit photologue_np, on Flickr