The Difference Between a Job Description and a Job Posting

The Difference Between a Job Description and a Job Posting

A job description and a job posting are the same thing, right? Not necessarily. “In the U.S., we tend to use the terms job description and job posting interchangeably,” says Datapeople spokesperson Charlie Smith. “Recruiters in the United Kingdom, for example, distinguish between the terms. It’s fine, either way. Just as long as you distinguish between the two documents.”

Technically speaking, a job description is an internal document used by human resources teams, hiring managers, and employees as an overview of a role. A job posting or job ad is, technically speaking, an external document used by hiring teams in recruiting efforts. It’s not terribly important whether you use job description or job posting. What is important, however, is that you have two separate documents, one for internal use and one for external use.

Many companies use a job description as an internal reference and compliance document. It’s a complete description of a position, including its roles and responsibilities, its place on the org chart, and potential skillsets required for the position. A job description can clarify expectations for both the organization and the person in the position. It helps in setting salaries, conducting performance reviews, defining advancement possibilities, complying with internal and external rules, and writing a job post to advertise a role.

A job post or job ad can introduce your organization and describe an open role. It just does it in a shorter, more digestible form that’s better at selling the role to potential candidates than the full-length version. It may help to think of it as the recruitment marketing version. A job post includes the basic roles and responsibilities as well as the minimum requirements. It also provides an overview of your compensation, benefits, and perks packages. And it (hopefully) conveys your approach to company culture, work-life balance, and diversity and inclusion.

A job description is the internal document you use to keep your house in order. A job posting is the external version of that document which you use to recruit talent. Whether or not you use the two terms interchangeably, it’s important to know the difference so you don’t use the two documents interchangeably. Because, in the end, a good job description (i.e., an exhaustive internal document) doesn’t make a good job post (i.e., a succinct marketing document).

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