What top juniors look for in job descriptions

The top juniors for your company look for certain details in your job descriptions.

Writing a job description isn’t as easy as you might think. The all-star juniors you need on your team are picky when it comes to job adverts and descriptions. You need to know what they look for to win them over!

But writing a job advert isn’t just about attracting the right talent, it’s also about selling your company. As a business owner, this is something you’re probably used to – so why are you falling short?

A common belief in hiring is that job applicants don’t read the advert. But when it comes to the top talent, this couldn’t be more wrong!

The top applicants are always going to be in high demand. They could be juggling multiple job offers at once, and one of the deciding factors that determines their choice of job is the description.

So business owners and hiring managers that don’t pay attention to the way they write job descriptions are always going to fall behind the big companies with tried and tested advert templates.

We spoke with our top candidates to find out what they look for in a job advert.

So what exactly are the top juniors looking for in your job descriptions?

"I first look at what I'll be doing every day..."

Every candidate wants to know what they’re signing up for, but only the all-star applicants will read every daily responsibility bullet point.

And although you could probably get away with writing out a general list of what you think your new hire might get up to, it’s best to have a certain idea from the get-go.

This is because your top candidates will pour over the daily responsibilities you list. If they can’t see themselves doing that day in, day out for years then they won’t apply. But if they can, they’ll instantly get excited and send off their application!

You’re looking for a hire for the long-term – you don’t want to be reading this article again in 6 months! So having a clear vision of the role and communicating that well is a must.

"... And then I always check the salary to make sure I won't be underpaid for the role."

Even when you’re hiring juniors, salary is big.

And when you’re looking for an all-star candidate with a year or so experience, it’s even bigger.

And when your company’s offices are in a big city, you just can’t afford to gloss over salary.

Like I said before, all star talent will really think it through before they hit apply. And things like living and travel costs could change their mind entirely.

With hiring, you get what you pay for. Just make sure you’re at least starting with National Minimum Wage or Living Wage and go from there! We have a handy article all about salary here!

"Benefits are a big one for me. I want to know why I should work for you and what benefits I'll get in return."

Ah those startups and their office perks. Anyone want to play some pool between our meetings this afternoon?

But benefits aren’t just about spending money on strange office furniture or posh coffee machines. Benefits cover things like time off, bonuses, equipment, expenses and a whole host of other bits and bobs.

As I said before, top talent will be in high demand. They might be weighing up multiple job offers at once! You don’t want to lose out to a company just because they have a ‘casual Friday’ every other week, do you?

So I would recommend having a think about what you can offer and writing it all down at the end of your job description.

"I want to know about the company culture and working environment first."

Another startup buzzword is company culture. It might control the hiring decision you make, but it also influences your candidates too.

Some companies try to sell their culture in job adverts by saying things like ‘we’re a family’. I don’t know about you, but when I was hunting for a job that phrase would get an eye roll!

I would suggest trying to say something specific about how you and your team work. Maybe you mention that your end of year Christmas party is something your whole team plans for months. Maybe everyone brings their dogs into work.

"For me, the ability to be original is important. I want to read an interesting and exciting job description."

And here is your warning that job hunters can tell when you don’t put in the effort. No one wants to read ‘Job Description Template.pdf’, they want to read about a real job, company and life they could live.

Ten minutes is probably all it needs!

"I want a really clear job description. I look for simple, matter-of-fact language because I want to work for honest, straightforward people."

Now if you’re hiring for a role that’s beyond you, for example if you’re a sales professional but the company needs an app developer, this one can be tricky.

I would recommend having your co-workers and any industry experts take a quick read through the job description for you. Try to cut out any jargon or fluff and stick to the facts.

"I always look for independence. I prefer to work on my own rather than in a team."

And finally, this job hunter proves the point that you can’t win them all. No matter how much time you spend perfecting a job description, there will always be someone that doesn’t like it. So don’t spend too long agonising over it and post your advert to the world!

Sometimes your hiring problems come from the place where you post your advert. So if you’re tired of being bombarded with low-quality applications, check out DigitalGrads. We make sure you only see the stars by training our candidates ourselves before adding them to your shortlists.

We even help you look for top juniors, write amazing job descriptions, arrange interviews and get set up for a fantastic period of employment.

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