Why You Should Include Employee Benefits In Your Job Description
Listing employee benefits in your job description is one of the best ways to attract the top talent in a competitive job market. Studies have shown that over 70% of prospective applicants would be more likely to apply for a job if the ad outlined the benefits being offered by the company.
Because employee benefits are so important to candidates, we recommend that your job description include a minimum of 2 employee benefits. ProWritingAid will check your writing and notify you if you have less than two employee benefits listed in your job description. That way, you can add in benefits and attract more qualified applicants.
Over half of all job ads still neglect to mention employee benefits at all. Indeed, most job ads are a just list of requirements from the applicant, a basic summary of the job, and (maybe) a range for the position's salary.
Ads like these are more likely to repel a prospective candidate than entice them. Any candidate looking through different jobs offering the same position and the same salary rate is inevitably going to look for the benefits that make a company great to work for. Employers need to think of their job ads as acting like a CV for their company if they're serious about attracting top talent.
Benefits Highlight Your Company Values
Although you might think that some benefits only apply to a few applicants, including benefits in your job description sends a powerful message about your values and inclusiveness as an employer. Your job description is often the first touch point with prospective employees, who'll see the benefits listed as a sign of your broader company values and culture. The benefits you offer and the company culture you encourage are just as important to job seekers as the salary on offer.
For example, allowing flexible working or granting generous parental leave will show that your company is family friendly and supportive of working parents. Whether you provide gold plated health insurance and retirement packages or free professional training and continuing education, defining your EVP (Employee Value Proposition) immediately sets your job description above the other run-of-the-mill job ads and motivates the best candidates to apply.
Most Sought After Employee Benefits
Studies have shown that the five most sought after workplace benefits are as follows:
- Flexible working hours
- Remote working options
- Paid holidays
- Subsidized or even free transportation / Company car
- Free lunches
If you plan on offering any of these benefits with your job, then it would certainly make sense to include them in your job description.
Other than the benefits listed above, you should carefully consider what will specifically be important to the type of people applying for your job. Are they likely to be graduates or young parents, commuters, or remote workers?
Once you have a picture in your head of the ideal candidate, prioritize the benefits that will appeal to them in your description of the company. Think about the statement you want to make about the broader values and culture of your company. And remember, every time they look at a job description, job seekers will ask themselves, "What is in it for me?" Make sure you can answer that question.
