Crafting Effective Job Descriptions to Attract People Operations Professionals

At People Jobz, we specialize in connecting employers with top HR, recruiting, and people operations talent. Crafting a well-written job description is key to attracting the right candidates in these fields, especially in competitive markets like the San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley, and beyond. If your job posting lacks clarity or fails to engage, potential applicants may move on to other job opportunities.

Let’s explore how People Jobz helps you create compelling job descriptions that stand out and resonate with your target audience.

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Describe the Position Effectively

Your job description should clearly outline the role while highlighting its significance within your company. For HR, recruiting, and people operations roles, it’s especially important to emphasize the strategic value these positions bring to your team.

1. Overview of the Role
   Summarize the role in a concise and engaging way. Use direct language on the job description and focus on how the role contributes to your organization’s success. Example from People Jobz:
   • Avoid: This person will manage HR processes and handle employee relations.
   • Use Instead: As our HR Manager, you will oversee key people operations functions, such as employee engagement, compliance, and talent development, ensuring our workplace thrives.
2. Key Responsibilities
   Use bullet points to outline the most critical responsibilities on the job description. Start each point with an action verb to make the duties clear and actionable. Example from People Jobz:
   • Avoid: Responsible for recruiting, onboarding, and managing HR compliance.
   • Use Instead:
     • Design and implement recruiting strategies to attract top talent in competitive markets.
     • Lead onboarding processes that inspire new hires and set them up for success.
     • Ensure compliance with labor laws and HR best practices in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

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Keep It Easy to Read

At People Jobz, we recommend making job descriptions simple, engaging, and easy to scan. Here’s how to do it:

• Avoid wordiness: Stick to the most critical details of the role.
• Limit adjectives: Descriptive words should add value, not clutter the description.
• Avoid negative adjectives: Focus on positivity and professionalism to appeal to top candidates.

Example from People Jobz:

• Avoid: This role requires a tireless, aggressive self-starter who thrives in a high-pressure environment.
• Use Instead: We’re looking for a proactive HR professional who enjoys tackling challenges and driving meaningful change within our organization.

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Avoid Projecting Past Traumas

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Share Organizational Values and Culture

For HR, recruiting, and people operations roles, aligning candidates with your company culture is vital in any job description. Use this section to showcase your mission, values, and workplace environment.

Example from People Jobz:
At People Jobz, we believe in the power of people. Our team fosters collaboration, innovation, and a passion for making workplaces better. As an HR professional on our team, you’ll drive initiatives that enhance employee satisfaction and promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

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Qualifications and Skills

Job seekers in HR, recruiting, and people operations want to know if they’re qualified for the role. Clearly separate “required” and “preferred” qualifications in the job description for transparency.

Consider What Is Truly Required in a Job Description
For roles in these fields, ask whether a degree is genuinely essential. Many exceptional HR professionals have honed their skills through experience rather than formal education.

Example from People Jobz

• Required:
  • Proven experience in HR, recruiting, or people operations
  • Strong understanding of employment law and compliance in the San Francisco Bay Area and California
• Preferred:
  • Bachelor’s degree in HR, business, or a related field or equivalent practical experience
  • Familiarity with HR tech tools like Workday or Greenhouse

By valuing equivalent experience in a job description, you can promote equity and attract a more diverse pool of candidates. An HR certification from SHRM or HRCI can also showcase vast HR knowledge. 

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Highlighting Geography and Industry

When hiring in the San Francisco Bay Area or Silicon Valley, include location-specific keywords to optimize your job postings. Candidates searching for opportunities in HR, recruiting, and people operations often use terms like:

HR jobs in San Francisco

People operations roles in Silicon Valley

Recruiting positions in the Bay Area

These keywords ensure your posting reaches top talent in this competitive market.

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Avoidable Terms

Inclusivity matters in job postings. At People Jobz, we recommend avoiding gendered language and biased phrases to appeal to a diverse audience when crafting a job description.

Avoid Gendered Terms

Use gender-neutral language to ensure inclusivity.

Example from People Jobz

• Avoid: Chairman, salesman, man-hours
• Use Instead: Chairperson, sales associate, work-hours

Top 20 Words to Avoid in Job Descriptions

Here are words and phrases to steer clear of when crafting your listing:

Better Alternatives for HR and Recruiting Roles:

• Replace “rock star recruiter” with “talented recruiter.”
• Use “collaborative team environment” instead of “fast-paced.”
• Highlight “problem-solving skills” rather than “fearless attitude.”

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Explicitly Outline Remote / Hybrid / In-Office

People Jobz advises employers to clearly state the nature of the work arrangement to avoid confusion and attract the right candidates in your job descriptions. Use precise language and specify any location-based requirements.

Examples for HR and Recruiting Roles

1. Remote Work:
   This is a fully remote role. Candidates may reside anywhere within the United States.
2. Work-From-Home (WFH):
   This role is primarily WFH but requires candidates to be based in the San Francisco Bay Area for quarterly on-site meetings.
3. Hybrid:
   This position is hybrid, with three days a week in our Silicon Valley office and two days working from home.
4. On-Site:
   This is an on-site role based at our office in downtown San Francisco. Candidates must be available to work in the office full-time.

The Differences Between Work-From-Home and Remote Work

While often used interchangeably, "work-from-home" and "remote work" can mean different things:

• Work-From-Home (WFH):
  Typically refers to employees working exclusively from their home office. WFH often implies a proximity requirement to the company’s physical location for occasional in-person meetings or events.
• Remote Work:
  Indicates the employee can work from anywhere without a proximity requirement. Remote workers may be based in a different city, state, or even country from the organization’s headquarters.

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Why It Matters

Language shapes how job seekers perceive opportunities. At People Jobz, we care about you hiring the talent you need and want you to craft inclusive, engaging job postings tailored to HR, recruiting, and people operations professionals. By avoiding unnecessary barriers, you’ll attract top talent ready to drive meaningful change in your organization.

Whether hiring for roles in the San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley, East Bay or beyond, People Jobz ensures your job descriptions and postings connect with the best candidates.