What are the parts of a job description?

Job descriptions should include four main parts: a targeted job title, an overview of the company, a bulleted list of key responsibilities, and a list of required skills and qualifications.

What should be included in a job posting?

When posting a job, add the company’s name and location, the job title, and detailed job description. Within the description, include a job summary, core responsibilities of the position, and a list of qualifications and skills required for the role.

How do you create a job posting?

When posting jobs, include key information like a job title, the role description required experience and qualifications. To create a job posting on Indeed, log in to your Indeed account and click on the "Post a Job" button. Then, add relevant job details and keywords to your posting to attract the right candidates.

What are some examples of job titles?

A few examples of job titles are Administrative Assistant, Registered Nurse, Sales Representative, and Web Developer.

How do you write a job title?

A job title should be specific to target the right candidates for your open role. Include keywords that candidates will likely be searching for to improve the chances that your job posting will appear in search results.

What is the difference between job title and position?

A job title is term that describes a role or position in a few words or fewer, while a position indicates the function or rank of that role.

How to Write a Job Description

Q: How do you write a job posting?

To write a job post, include enough detail so candidates understand the role and your company while keeping your description concise. Job postings between 700 and 2,000 characters get up to 30% more applications.

Crafting a compelling job description is essential to helping you attract the most qualified candidates for your job. With more than 25 million jobs listed on Indeed, a great job description can help your jobs stand out from the rest. Your job descriptions are where you start marketing your company and your job to your future hire.

The key to writing effective job descriptions is to find the perfect balance between providing enough detail so candidates understand the role and your company while keeping your description concise.

Use the tips and sample job descriptions below to create a compelling job listing.

How to write a job description. Text reads: Use a clear, concise title, open with an engaging summary, include job duties, list required qualifications.

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What Is a Job Description?

A job description summarizes the essential responsibilities, activities, qualifications and skills for a role. Also known as a JD, this document describes the type of work performed.

A job description should include important company details — company mission, culture and any benefits it provides to employees. It may also specify to whom the position reports and salary range.

An effective job description will provide enough detail for candidates to determine if they’re qualified for the position.

Job Title

Make your job titles specific. Targeted job titles are more effective than generic ones, so be precise by including key phrases that accurately describe the role.

Avoid internal lingo that may confuse the job seeker. Stick to standard experience levels like "Senior" rather than "VI" or other terms people are less likely to look for.

Job Summary

Open with a strong, attention-grabbing summary. Your summary should provide an overview of your company and expectations for the position.

Hook your reader with details about what makes your company unique. Your job description is an introduction to your company and your employer brand. Include details about your company culture to sum up why a candidate would love to work for you.

Include an exact job location. Provide an exact job location to optimize your job posting so it appears higher in job search results.

Responsibilities and Duties

Outline the core responsibilities of the position. Make sure your list of responsibilities is detailed but concise. Also emphasize the duties that may be unique to your organization. For example, if you are hiring for an “Event Management” role and the position requires social media expertise to promote events, include this detail to ensure candidates understand the requirements and can determine if they’re qualified.

Highlight the day-to-day activities of the position. This will help candidates understand the work environment and the activities they will be exposed to on a daily basis. This level of detail will help the candidate determine if the role and company are a right fit, helping you attract the best candidates for your position.

Specify how the position fits into the organization. Indicate who the job reports to and how the person will function within your organization, helping candidates see the bigger picture and understand how the role impacts the business.

Qualifications and Skills

Include a list of hard and soft skills. Of course, the job description should specify education, previous job experience, certifications and technical skills required for the role. You may also include soft skills, like communication and problem solving, as well as personality traits that you envision for a successful hire.

Keep your list concise. While you may be tempted to list out every requirement you envision for your ideal hire, including too many qualifications and skills could dissuade potential candidates. According to a 2018 Indeed survey, 63% of candidates said they chose not to apply for a job because they felt like they didn't know the specific tools or skills listed in the job description. A further 47% said they didn't apply because they didn't have the specific years of experience listed in the job description.*

That’s why it’s important to identify the must-haves vs nice-to-have skills and qualifications for the role to encourage a more diverse set of candidates to apply.

*Indeed survey, n=607

Salary and Benefits

Include a salary range. Quality candidates look for opportunities that meet their salary needs. However, according to a 2019 Indeed survey, almost 70% of candidates said they never or only occasionally saw job descriptions that included salary information.* Stand out from other employers by adding the salary band to your job description to help attract best fit candidates.

*Indeed survey, n=1,000

List out your top perks and benefits. What’s in it for the candidate? Encourage more people to apply by sharing the attractive rewards and benefits you offer your employees, such as:

Unlimited PTO
Flexible hours
Medical, dental and vision coverage
Office snacks
Tuition reimbursement
Dog-friendly office

Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.