Writing IT Job Descriptions

Effective writing of IT job descriptions can draw in suitable candidates for the job. When job descriptions for IT positions are well-crafted, they can capture the attention of qualified candidates who possess the necessary skills, experience, and qualifications required for the role. A job description that is clearly written and tailored to the specific IT position will help attract the right kind of candidates and deter those who may not be a good fit for the role.

A well-written job description can also provide candidates with a comprehensive understanding of the position and what is expected of them, which can lead to a higher level of job satisfaction and performance.

Investing time and effort into writing high-quality job descriptions will eventually pay off during the screening and evaluation phase of the hiring process. This is because the quality of the applicant pool will have significantly improved.

3 Tips for Creating Great IT Job Descriptions

Tip #1: Keep the sections separated

Each section should include only information that pertains to that section. It’s always somewhat confusing to see a job description that includes core requirements in all the sections but omits them in the requirement section.

In the Responsibilities section, include only the tasks and responsibilities that the role will perform. Avoid including duties that are not relevant to the position or are not part of the daily tasks. Similarly, the Summary section should provide an accurate and concise overview of the position, including the role’s primary functions and key objectives.

Tip #2 Include all the relevant sections

Make it a habit to include all the sections (see below) in the job description. When you do that, you give the candidate enough information to make a decision of whether to apply/reach out to you, or not. When you add these sections – it gives the impression that the job was well thought out. 

There are 3 sections that should always be in a job description, no matter how short a sentence it contains. The sections are Job Title, Job Summary, Job Responsibilities, and the Job Requirements.

• Job Title. This is the simple one, everyone knows the importance of titles. When a job title is present in a job description or resume, it removes any kind of doubts about what the job/resume might be about.
• Job Summary. This section includes the description of the position and a summary of what the company is looking for.
• Job Responsibilities. This is the area where the tasks the position will perform are listed. Note that this is the job role requirements or qualification section.
• Job Requirements. This is perhaps the most important section of a job description. This is the measuring scale – where candidates look to know if there measure up to the position. This section will list the requirements – from the educational requirement to technical and then non-technical skills.

Tip #3 Add the job environment section

Include a section about the Job Environment, something to show the candidates the environment of the job. For instance, something about the team might include how many other developers are on the team, and the infrastructure available (make sure you have permission to divulge such information). Only include information that will attract candidates to the position.

Job Environment. Not mandatory, but useful addition. If you’re able to specify, then do so. For example, how big the team is, and how many other people have the same job title as the open position.

Here are some sample IT Job Descriptions.

• Application Developer (C#, .Net, SQL)
• Business Analyst
• Business Data Analyst
• Java Developer
• SQL Server Developer (DBE)
• SQL Server Administrator (DBA)
• Quality Assurance Analyst
• Business Intelligence Analyst
• ETL/Data Warehouse Developer
• Program Manager

After writing your description it is advisable that you review it so as to ensure that it accurately reflects the role’s responsibilities, qualifications, and expectations.