• Hiring: It all starts with a good job description

    Finding the right employee can be difficult, but there some things you can do that will make it easier to find people who are a good fit for you.
    Dec. 27, 2016
    3 min read

    There is no escaping talk of the shortage of employees in the trucking industry. It’s not just drivers and technicians anymore. I am hearing of difficulties finding people to fill a variety of roles at fleets, dealerships, repair garages and leasing companies.

    Finding the right employee can be difficult, but there some things you can do that will make it easier to find people who are a good fit for your business and its culture.

    I am going to devote the next several blogs to helping you attract the right people to your business.

    It all starts with the job description and the job posting. But be aware these are two separate and distinct things. You could bottom line it by saying that the job description is rather boring, while the job posting is designed to turn heads and get noticed.

    The purpose of the job description is to make sure everyone in your organization is in agreement on what the job duties entail. It contains:

    • Major areas of responsibility
    • Primary objectives
    • Specific tasks the person is expected to perform
    • Required knowledge and skills the applicant needs to bring to the job
    • Information on the work environment

    It is almost clinical in laying out the specifics of the job.

    Then there is the job posting. This is your chance to “sell” your organization to potential employees. It tells your company’s story in a way that will be attractive to people who are a good fit for your culture.

    Think of the job posting as a way to display the personality of your business. Your job posting needs to be visually appealing to applicants because studies have shown that job seekers spend about a minute reviewing a job posting before deciding to apply.

    Make sure your posting uses proper key words. In other words, it has to be searchable. Interestingly the terms mechanic and diesel mechanic are searched more frequently than diesel technician, even though the industry has moved to calling the folks who maintain and repair trucks technicians.

    Here are a few tips to make sure your posting gets noticed:

    • The job title needs to be searchable
    • Be honest and don’t exaggerate the role
    • Make sure the posting is free of gender and age bias
    • Describe the position comparable to other jobs in the industry
    • Tell the applicant why they will want to work for you
    • Share your mission, values and vision
    • Include your past successes in the industry

    My final piece of advice is make the application process easy. So be sure your posting contains a link to both your company and to an online application form.

    In my next blog, I’ll be giving tips on resume screening.

    About the Author

    Jane Clark

    Senior VP of Operations

    Jane Clark is the senior vice president of operations for NationaLease. Prior to joining NationaLease, Jane served as the area vice president for Randstad, one of the nation’s largest recruitment agencies, and before that, she served in management posts with QPS Companies, Pro Staff, and Manpower, Inc.

    Voice your opinion!

    To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

    Sign up for our free eNewsletters

    Latest from Operations

    Brakebush Transportation
    Brakebush Transportation was awarded the 2025 FleetOwner Private Fleet of the Year Award, sponsored by Descartes, for midsize operations.
    Members Only
    Leaders of Brakebush Transportation, a century-old family business, share some of their innovative strategies and deep commitments to drivers that earned their operation FleetOwner...
    Schneider
    schneider 90th anniversary
    Schneider hosted an anniversary event, honoring a legacy that began in 1935 and grew to 12,500 trucks today.
    346047 | Aaron Kohr | Dreamstime.com
    extending asset lifecycles
    By extending asset life cycles strategically, organizations can mitigate financial risks associated with fleet management while maintaining operational efficiency.