For companies looking to fill a role, finding the right candidates begins with crafting a clear, well-written job description. This is particularly crucial for part-time positions, as scheduling, compensation, and benefits often differ from full-time roles — a consideration for part-time job seekers who may have varying requirements and expectations for their employment.
If you’re looking to attract qualified part-time employees to your open position, here’s how to write an effective part-time job description.
Summarize the role
To write any job description, you’ll need to fully understand the position and its overall purpose. If you haven’t already, create a job title that concisely encapsulates that purpose, along with a brief overview of the position, its overall function, and how it contributes to the company as a whole.
You should also clarify where the position fits within the company, including department (if applicable), seniority level, and who the position will report to.
Detail key responsibilities and qualifications
Next, build out the bulk of the job description with key responsibilities and candidate qualifications. Start by listing the day-to-day tasks of the role — ideally, no more than seven bullet points — in order of importance. Ensure each task connects to your company’s mission and objectives.
After that, clearly state the candidate qualifications you are seeking, such as skills, experience, and education. Consider dividing this section into requirements (your “must-haves”) and preferences (your “nice-to-haves”) to open the position to a wider pool of talent.
Describe the part-time work arrangement
Especially for part-time employees, you should clarify expectations for scheduling. List how many hours you anticipate the position will require, and whether the role calls for a specific schedule or permits flexible hours.
In addition to scheduling information, ensure your job description includes the payment structure. Hourly payment is common among part-time workers, though some salaried part-time roles exist, depending on the company.
[Read more: The Difference Between Contract, Part-Time, and Full-Time Workers]
Especially for part-time employees, you should clarify expectations for scheduling.
Highlight any part-time benefits and opportunities
While most part-time positions are not eligible for more traditional benefits, like health insurance coverage or retirement plan contributions, you may have other hiring benefits for part-time staff. Showcasing these perks — such as flexible scheduling, health and wellness services, and professional development opportunities — can make your part-time position more attractive to prospective candidates.
If the position has room for growth and advancement, such as the possibility of scaling up to full-time salaried work, include this in the job description as well. In addition to providing necessary context to part-time candidates, who can weigh these advancement opportunities against their long-term career goals, this can also open the role to full-time candidates who begin as part-time employees.
[Read more: 7 Health and Wellness Benefits You Can Offer Part-Time Employees ]
Tailor your listing for the right candidates
Even the best-written job listings won’t see traction if they don’t reach the right eyes. Use strategic job keywords in your header and description to ensure qualified candidates will see your listing when they search for relevant positions. These may include the work type (in this case, “part-time”), the job title, the job location (whether remote or in-person), or job responsibilities.
When posting your opening, consider where part-time job seekers may look for employment opportunities. Sites like Indeed, FlexJobs, and Snagajob are common hubs for part-time job listings; you can also tap your current network for referrals and ask them to share your job description.
Review for clarity
As with any job listing, your part-time job description should be clear and concise. Avoid jargon or overly technical language when possible, and proofread your posting for grammatical and spelling errors. Opt for clean formatting, breaking content up with bulleted lists or headers as needed for readability. Make the application process simple, with a clear point of contact candidates can reach if they have questions.
[Read more: How to Manage Scheduling for Part-Time Employees]
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