How to write a Writer job description

Your job description is the first touchpoint between your company and your new hire. With millions of people searching for jobs on Indeed each month, a great job description can help you attract the most qualified candidates to your open position. To get you started, here are some tips for creating an effective job description.

Post a Job

Are you a job seeker? Find Jobs.

Writer job title

A great job title typically includes a general term, level of experience and any special requirements. The general term will optimize your job title to show up in a general search for jobs of the same nature. The level of experience will help you attract the most qualified applicants by outlining the amount of responsibility and prior knowledge required. And if your position is specialized, consider including the specialization in the job title as well. But avoid using internal titles, abbreviations or acronyms to make sure people understand what your job posting is before clicking.

Examples of Writer job titles

Copywriter

Staff Writer

Copy Editor (Freelance)

Web Content Writer

Blogger

Writer job summary

A great job description starts with a compelling summary of the position and its role within your company. Your summary should provide an overview of your company and expectations for the position. Outline the types of activities and responsibilities required for the job so job seekers can determine if they are qualified, or if the job is a good fit.

Example of a Writer job summary

Our growing creative firm is in need of a talented and experienced writer to craft and edit content for our digital platforms and print publications. The main goal of this role is to generate, nurture and convert leads through informative and engaging content. The ideal candidate will be an expert wordsmith and storyteller that can showcase our product’s value in a compelling way. The successful applicant will be a team player that’s ready to give and receive feedback. You should be a stickler for meeting deadlines and great at multi-tasking, as we balance multiple projects at once. Preference will be given to those with experience in online writing and knowledge of content marketing.

Writer responsibilities and duties

The responsibilities and duties section is the most important part of the job description. Here you should outline the functions this position will perform on a regular basis, how the job functions within the organization and who the job reports to.

Examples of Writer responsibilities

Create content campaigns that align with marketing objectives and company goals

Produce, edit and customize content for all our platforms, including our website, LinkedIn, Medium and Facebook

Pitch articles to third-party websites for publication and guest post on partner websites

Perform online and on-the-ground primary research for blog posts, articles, guides and other content

Work with the marketing team to analyze content performance metrics, such as total attention time, click-through rate and social following growth, and apply those insights to improve existing content and develop better content ideas for the future

Write and A/B test our web copy, including CTAs, value props and landing pages

Writer qualifications and skills

Next, outline the required and preferred skills for your position. This may include education, previous job experience, certifications and technical skills. You may also include soft skills and personality traits that you envision for a successful hire. While it may be tempting to include a long list of skills and requirements, including too many could dissuade qualified candidates from applying. Keep your list of qualifications concise, but provide enough detail with relevant keywords and terms.

Examples of Writer skills

Ability to research and learn about a wide range of topics

Excellent teamwork, communication and organizational skills

Experience working with content management systems, such as WordPress and Drupal

Knowledge of Chicago Manual of Style

2+ years freelance or agency writing experience

Bachelor’s Degree in English, Creative Writing, Journalism or related field