It’s no secret that most job descriptions are awful. They make the hiring company sound boring and the work tedious. This could be a real problem for employers when they try to hire Generation Y Millennials. While some managers and recruiters are fed up with the stereotypically whiny and self-entitled “Trophy Kids”, Generation Y is predicted to comprise nearly 75% of the world’s workforce by 2025, according to a study by the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation. Companies will eventually be fighting for the best of them, so start using the job description to court talented millennials.
How do you write a job description millennials will care about?
It’s not as hard as you might think! Here are six easy ways employers can tweak job descriptions to attract millennials:
1. Tell them why they should want to work for you
This is your company’s opportunity to make job seekers fall head over heels in love with you and the open position. Millennials don’t just want to crank out work and check off items on a to-do list. They want to love the company they work for, and hiring managers can use the job description to get them excited.
2. Tell them why the position matters
Understanding how my job contributes to the organization is one of the biggest motivators for me and my Gen Y colleagues. Make sure the job descriptions describes where the position falls within the company, how the candidate could make an impact, and where it fits in the grand scheme of things.
3. Talk about what the job could do for them
Aside from a salary and fringe benefits, how would they benefit from the position? What skills might they gain, what professional connections can they make, and why would this position make them more desirable candidates when they start looking for their next jobs?
4. Tell them about your creative benefits
Does your company offer any extra, exciting benefits, like flexible work hours or gym membership reimbursement? Be sure to mention those creative perks (no matter how small) in your millennial-focused job description. If your company supports VTO (volunteer time off), don’t forget to mention that, too!
5. Tell them about your vision for the position
While millennials may not envision working the same job for decades, it’s important that we work for a company where we could envision ourselves growing and contributing for several years. We want the job description to reflect that same sort of vision for the candidate who ultimately fills the position.
6. Tell your company story, quickly
Your company has a story. Tell a brief version of that story within your job description to quickly convey your company’s mission and how it came to be as it pertains to the kind of applicant you’re looking for.
What do you think millennials want to see in a job description?
Jennifer King is an HR Analyst for Software Advice, a web-based resource that compares and reviews HR and employee evaluation software. Read her full post on her HR blog.
