Remote work is becoming more and more popular with employees and freelancers for several reasons. For one, it improves their work-life balance. Remote workers have more free time to handle chores, make doctor’s appointments, and see their friends, families, and children.
For another, remote work leads to better mental health. A 2022 FlexJobs survey shows that 84% of employees think a remote or hybrid job would make them happier and more content.
Employers who provide more work options also benefit significantly from higher productivity, increased retention rates, and money savings. Remote work also attracts more talent.
But to find that talent, you need to write a job posting that reflects what employees want from a remote job. Fortunately, writing remote job descriptions isn’t that different from in-office postings.
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How Remote Job Descriptions are Similar to In-Office Postings
Writing a remote job description sounds complicated, but you’ll actually use many of the same elements of a traditional job posting to craft the perfect description. If you’re already familiar with writing an in-office job posting, you won’t have much trouble adding remote work into the mix.
Here are some essential elements you should include in all job postings:
Only include the most pressing details about the job. Tell them what their duties are, what you expect them to do, and how you measure success. Make the job sound desirable by using active voice and bombastic verbs and adjectives.
When thinking of words that sound interesting, do your best to eliminate jargon. Use specific titles, like “Human Resources Professional” instead of “People Wizard.” Not only is this unprofessional, but it also makes your job harder to search for.
You have to give potential employees an accurate description of the job, even the less positive parts. If you shy away from the bad, you’ll hire people whose expectations won’t align with the actual job. This is a surefire way to increase turnover.
Inclusivity is important to new applicants, but you can’t just say you’re “inclusive” and be done with it. You need to use non-gendered language (or feminine-coded language) in your job postings if you want to attract more talent.
Ask yourself if your job posting truly needs a bachelor’s degree. 75% of new jobs require a bachelor’s degree, but only 40% of potential applicants have one. This silent barrier is holding many employers back from finding great employees.
Always remember that potential candidates are judging you and your company culture based on your job description. If you fail to leave a good first impression, you could lose them forever.
What to Consider When Crafting a Remote Job Description
When it comes to remote work, employees are looking for two main things: flexibility and work-life balance. You’ll need to weave these benefits into your remote job description.
1. Tax Requirements for Remote Work
Many of the remote jobs available in the US have specific tax requirements they need to meet. The only way to get around this is if you hire an independent contractor, but you’ll typically only do this for a short-term contract role. For long-term roles, you’ll need a US-based employee.
However, you may need to be more specific with your location if you need to keep employees close to your local clients. Or, you need employees to attend regular meetings in person. Either way, stating your location is essential if you need to find a local employee in the US.
2. Keywords Searchers Will Use
Job applicants naturally search for the jobs they want by using relevant keywords. If a potential employee wants to work a remote job, they’ll enter “work from home,” “remote,” or “work from anywhere” in the search bar. Your job description has to include these important keywords.
But you can take it a step further by including keywords that remote workers would find attractive. These include “work-life balance,” “flexible schedule,” “equipment stipend,” and “unlimited vacations.” Only include these keywords if you’re actually offering these benefits.
3. What “Remote” or “Flexible” Means
Terms like “remote” and “flexible” are defined differently depending on the person. For many, “remote” means “100% work from home,” but if that’s not what it means to you, be sure to clarify. If you need your employees to come in once a week for meetings, state that in the post.
Do the same with the term “flexible.” Can workers work whenever they want, or do you need them during a certain time frame? You should also explain if they have to return back to the office at some point. If you’re not clear with these terms, you’re going to see some turnover.
4. Where and How They Can Work
Where you want your remote workers to work goes beyond where they live. Cybersecurity is a huge concern for many companies, and every business should have a policy discussing how remote workers can handle customer data. This means banning the use of public WiFi.
You also need to consider what equipment your remote workers will need to perform their job duties. Do they need a specific computer, a piece of software, or a VPN? Are you providing a stipend? If not, state that they have to provide their own equipment before working with you.
5. The Interview Process
In-office and remote workers alike are more comfortable with the interview process if it’s described to them. Explain if you’re conducting the interview in person or online. If you’re interviewing online, discuss what virtual platform you’ll be using or if you’re using the phone.
Make sure you touch upon the key parts of the process. How many interviews will it take before you pick a candidate? What do they need to bring for the interview? How should they dress or conduct themselves? The more a candidate knows, the better prepared they’ll be.
Your Next Remote Worker is Knocking at Your Door
Remote workers choose to work from home because they benefit from flexibility and a better work-life balance. By taking the steps in this article, you’ll be able to craft an incredible job description for remote workers. This will help you find high-quality talent for your business.
