Flexible work job descriptions serve an important purpose: to inform potential candidates and to find the very best fit for the role. If your company is hiring for flexible workers, whether a remote job, a flexible schedule, a freelance gig, or a combination of these, you need to ensure your job descriptions are working in your favor.
We’re going over five ways you can improve your flexible work job descriptions in order to provide the best information and set your company apart as a flexible work supporter.
Here are five ways to improve your flexible work job descriptions:
1. Clearly define your flexwork options.
One of the most common issues with flexible job descriptions is a lack of clarity about what type of flexibility is being offered. Often referred to as “hiding your flex,” many companies would benefit from promoting their flexible benefits in the job description.
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Start by being clear about where the job is located or where the job candidate can be located. Is the job open to candidates in a certain country, state, city, or area of the country? Next, mention what type of flexwork is being offered. Is it 100% remote work? Is it 75% remote work with travel? Is it an in-office job with a flexible schedule? Is it a freelance job that can be done from home? Also, consider the hours. Does the job have to be done between normal working hours? Can it be done on the weekend or overnight? Get all of these stipulations written down in the job description so that any candidate applying for the job knows if the job is a fit for them.
2. Lay out requirements and expectations.
Include in the job description any requirements and expectations you may have for a flexible worker. Some employers specifically seek out candidates with previous remote work experience, and some are okay with an unexperienced remote worker. Or perhaps your company has requirements around the type of home office a candidate has, or the kind of computer and Internet connection needed. Some remote teams have weekly meeting times that are required. Lay out all of this information, the years of experience needed, and any required equipment.
3. Mention team and company dynamics.
A section of the job description should be dedicated to talking about team and company dynamics and culture. If the whole company or the team works remotely, mention this. Candidates will want to know if they’ll be the only ones working remotely. A big key to finding the right candidate is ensuring they fit into your company culture. Talk about the mission of the company and the mission of the team. This can hone your candidate pool to those who are actually passionate about your company and not just looking for their next job.
4. Consider the formatting.
Long blocks of text are a turn-off to any reader. It’s a fine line between including all of the necessary information and including too many details. Look at your flexible work job descriptions and see where you can add in headers and paragraph breaks. Make it easy for job seekers to find the information they’re looking for. As mentioned earlier, do not hide your flex. Clearly state near the top of the job description what type of flexibility is being offered, along with the details surrounding it. Continue with a company description, a job description, candidate requirements, and application instructions.
5. Have team members help.
Getting employees involved in writing flexible work job descriptions can be a big help. Get their feedback on task descriptions and requirements. Solicit their opinion on the description of the flex offered and see if you’re missing any important information. Employees doing the same job, or who will be team members of the new hire, can be invaluable in helping improve your job descriptions.
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