Creating just the right job description is tough, but it’s an essential part of attracting and retaining the right employees. According to Recruiterbox.com, the sweet spot for length is somewhere between 700–2,000 words. For context, that is between two-and-a-half and seven pages typed out — much longer than a typical job posting! However, once you start to think about the level of detail a job description should communicate, the length makes sense.

Your description should explain the role’s daily responsibilities, including a breakdown of each task to be performed by percentage, address who the position communicates with regularly, communicate desired experience, and, of course, communicate what it is that makes your organization unique. 

If you can manage to write a job description that provides tons of specifics and details, conveys your brand’s personality, and emphasizes everything you do to benefit your employees lives, your job postings will act like a filter that attracts the right kind of applicant while keeping out candidates who are not a good fit for the position. A good job description should help applicants self-select themselves out of the applicant pool if they’re not a good fit.

Of course, finding the right fit can be overwhelming. The good news is that small business owners don’t have to do it all alone. One of the many membership benefits of AFEUSA is discounts on services like Gusto, a payroll and HR platform that is built specifically for small businesses. To learn more, visit Gusto.com.