Compelling, captivating, intriguing. The latest bestseller? Hardly. It's the all-important job description. It was GREAT to be a speaker for the Valley Industrial Association along with my cohort and IT search and recruitment superstar Laurie Swanson, founder of The Laso Corporation.
HR professionals, tell your story and you will keep the talent pool abundantly filled. Here are highlights from our presentation entitled "The Job Description: A True Story in 3 Parts."
Part 1: The Story of Your Company and People: give people reasons to believe.
- The candidate is the hero, you are their guide to success (every hero has one. What would James Bond do without Q?). The villain: lost opportunity to contribute to your company's success.
- Your company story requires exploration: What are your roots? How do you slay the competition? How do others see your brand? How do you give back? What values guide your mission?
Part 2: The Story of the Open Position: show how your company helps people live an amazing life - then show how their contribution makes that possible.
- Define the career path and the vision.
- What's the day in the life of the position?
- Show, don't tell (No. 1 rule in writing): include vivid details.
- What does success look like in the role?
Part 3: The Story of the Successful Candidate
- Think of two buckets: required skills and nice-to-have skills
- Create a clear and direct call-to-action (I love it when people tell me what to do!)
Go on, tell your story, HR professionals. People are perched on the edge of their seats waiting for it.
Laurie Swanson is the founder of The Laso Corporation. Contact her at lswanson@lasocareers.com.
Michele Kelly is co-founder of K+L Storytellers. Contact her at michelekellywriter@gmail.com.