Killer Job Descriptions

For most people, the heart and soul of their qualifications--the "substance" that ultimately sways employers--is their job descriptions. Optimizing them is a priority, but how do you write job descriptions that get employers' attention? Is there a magic formula?

Ask five recruiters or hiring managers to define what a "good" job description is and you'll get five different answers. There are many opinions on how to write job descriptions, but these are the attributes that make them effective:

They are packed with active verbs. Each sentence starts with an active verb; the language is assertive but not overbearing -- appropriate for the candidate's profession and level of experience.
They focus on relevant keywords. In other words, they focus on what the potential employer wants.
They are well written. Sentence structure, spelling, grammar, and punctuation are correct.
They are carefully edited. Extraneous (non-supporting) data has been eliminated or minimized.
They are easy to read. They don't contain long, bulky blocks of text, but are broken into (logical) easy-to-read sections.
They do not focus on mundane job duties. Instead, they emphasize relevant experience, special projects, contributions, and accomplishments.

Best Practices:
Job Descriptions

Use active verbs
consistently

No first person
references

Focus on results

Use bullets to emphasize accomplishments

Edit non-relevant
extraneous data

Emphasize relevant keywords from the get-go

Use a dynamic and telegraphic writing style

Check your existing job descriptions against the criteria above. If they don't measure up, it's time to start editing!

Job Descriptions: Structure

For many, the most effective way to write job descriptions is to start with an opening statement that outlines relevant responsibilities. Typically, this introduction is written in paragraph form and is followed with bulleted accomplishments and special projects.

There are several good reasons to use this technique:

It breaks up long job descriptions
It helps you to summarize job descriptions
It makes your accomplishments stand out
It makes the page (as a whole) more inviting to read

About the Author: Pat Kendall is a nationally certified resume writer and e-resume expert with 20+ years of experience. Pat is the author of two books on electronic resumes / online job search and contributor to The Complete Job Search Guide for Latinos.