As we adjust to the ‘new normal’ of the post-pandemic era, organisations and their HR teams are facing a new set of challenges around recruitment. One of the toughest is arguably the skills shortage. Closed international borders have contributed to an unprecedented candidate short job market, across many industries. Even now that the borders are opening, vacancy activity has risen so far that it could take two years or more before renewed immigration eases the skills shortage.
According to a new report from the recruitment firm Hays, over 90% of Australian and New Zealand businesses believe that skill shortages will impact operations or growth in the next year.
“Australia and New Zealand are facing a singular skills shortage at a level unmatched in Hays’ 46 years in recruitment,” said Nick Deligiannis, managing director of Hays Australia and New Zealand.
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that, in the second quarter of 2022, there were over 360,000 job vacancies, up from 288,000 in the first quarter – the highest number ever recorded by the ABS.
What this means for employers is they’re competing in an increasingly candidate-driven market. With the skills shortage affecting many sectors, candidates have their pick of jobs. And if your organisation is currently in the market for new talent, you need to find ways to stand out, to make the vacancies at your company more attractive than similar options.
One of the most effective ways to do this is by focusing on job descriptions. The mistake many organisations make is seeing job descriptions as just laundry lists of responsibilities and qualifications. If they don’t include any personality or a sense of the company, chances are that job-seekers will barely give them a glance, let alone consider them seriously.
Not only will a great job description help you get the best candidates, it will also:
· Ensure job expectations are clearly established and introduces your organisational culture
· Act as a positive reflection of your employer brand
· Saves you time in the long run by answering potential candidate questions and filtering out unqualified applicants
If you want to attract top talent, your job descriptions need to stand out. And that’s what we’re here to help you do.
Discover how to write job descriptions that will encourage job seekers to look no further
Having helped over 400 organisations find the right people for their teams, we’ve learned a thing or two about what makes an effective job description, one that will stop job seekers in their tracks. And we’ve collated this expertise into a practical guide that will walk you through job description best practices and how to apply them.
The guide will help you to:
· Understand why it’s important to write quality job descriptions
· Learn what a good job description consists of
· Discover what a good job description looks like
For those time-stretched readers, we’ve also included a free job description template you can use to create impactful job listings in a fraction of the time but with all the right details.
Ready to start capturing the attention of the best candidates? Download the guide and template and you're on your way.
