The hiring market for software developers is white-hot \u2014 so your job opening needs to stand out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But how can you get your remote job posting noticed in the flood of DMs and emails that developers are receiving, let alone all remote job listings on various job boards?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By creating an amazing remote software developer job description, that\u2019s how.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jump to the Developer Remote Job Description Checklist<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Although writing great remote job descriptions takes more time up front, it\u2019s worth the investment. Remember the aim: to get better quality remote workers who more closely match your job opening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This can only happen if you\u2019re giving your future remote employees the information they need in a format that\u2019s easy to read. (And a lot of it will be recyclable information that you can use again in the future!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Great developer remote job descriptions combine two things: a great software developer JD and<\/strong> remote-specific JD requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this post, we unpack how to write the perfect remote job description, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to attract your ideal candidate?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking for top talent fast? See how <\/em>Arc<\/a> can help you:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u26a1\ufe0f Find developers, designers, marketers, and more Hire top talent with Arc risk-free \u2192<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember that trend of developers getting called titles like \u201cCode Rockstar\u201d and \u201cProgramming Ninja\u201d? Let\u2019s leave that trend in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For starters, the great developers you want to attract won\u2019t be using this kind of job title in their Google search terms \u2014 they\u2019ll be using something that actually describes what they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So let\u2019s match the developer\u2019s expectations, and use a job title that makes sense<\/strong>. Make sure you\u2019ve clearly covered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also consider including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tl;dr: instead of \u201cReact Coding Ninja \u2014 Flexible Startup!\u201d, you might end up with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n By giving some specifics in the title, you\u2019ll help the job-seeking developer figure out if they should bother clicking to read more or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, job titles are an art, not a science. An opposing view is that short job titles get the most attention<\/a> \u2014 although of course, this can also depend on the job in question. Just ensure that you\u2019re covering core search terms that describe the role well, and front-load the most important information<\/strong> into the job title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should also take into account where<\/em> you\u2019re posting your remote job description. Check out the competition \u2014 what\u2019s everyone else writing, and how will your proposed job title look when displayed amongst the other search results? Can you make it stand out more?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, take into account the design of the job boards<\/strong> where you will post this role. If things like company name, tech stacks etc, are built into the design, then you can use a shorter job title, e.g. \u201cSenior Staff Engineer\u201d. Since job seekers will have already filtered for e.g. \u201cFront-end\u201d and \u201cReact\u201d, repeating these probably won\u2019t be necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: We Analyzed 7832 Words from Software Engineer Job Descriptions<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out our entire set of tech job descriptions and choose the one which fits your hiring needs best:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Or, say goodbye to writing job descriptions altogether with HireAI. Discover top remote developers instantly without manual searching and screening. Try HireAI now!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Have we got your attention? Great \u2014 because now we\u2019re into the substance of it, your developer remote job description needs to start with a bang!<\/p>\n\n\n\n First thing to remember: this is a remote<\/strong> role that you\u2019re advertising. Job seekers won\u2019t be able to walk into the office and just pick up on the company vibe. Instead, they need to figure out company culture fit based on what you write, and how you interview<\/em>. And cultural fit is make or break for a hire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So let\u2019s give them what they need to make good decisions \u2014 and save you from the expense and hassle of making an inappropriate hire and having to re-run the process a month from now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reality is: good devs are in demand. You need to pitch your company to them, rather than just the other way around. So intrigue potential applicants:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This kind of information will help you stand out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n So open strongly, and show off your company\u2019s personality, describe your company culture, and talk about what your company does<\/strong>. This means including, at minimum:<\/p>\n\n\n\n One sentence should cover it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s where it gets interesting: a great project is super attractive to developers. So if you\u2019re building something cool, interesting, or unique, now\u2019s the time to tell the world!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If it\u2019s going to require use of new technologies, new ways of doing things, or have plenty of opportunities for the dev to learn new skills, also point this out. A job that will give devs opportunities to grow and stay on top of trends is the best!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to go above-and-beyond \u2014 and for remote jobs, we suggest you do \u2014 then also consider providing more specifics. What problems is the company working on? What\u2019s a brief outline for the near-term product roadmap?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Transparency is a big part of successful remote work, so if your business situation allows you to let the world know a bit more about what you\u2019re up to, this is also a good way to show that you \u201clive\u201d transparency culture as a company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Likewise, people love a story. If you\u2019re a mission-driven organization, telling your story and why your work matters can help inspire applicants and get them interested!<\/p>\n\n\n\n How about your company values? If you have these articulated, listing them out (or providing a link to them) is a great idea. Finally, if you\u2019re a startup, now\u2019s the time to chat about your growth trajectory, if you\u2019re open to it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re looking for some inspiration when it comes to giving candidates genuine insight into your organization, check out these curated remote-first companies who do this really well<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n To really, really<\/em> stand out, you can also consider embedding a short video about your company (or the role itself \u2014 more on this in the next section!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: How to Find Developers: 18+ Expert Tips & Essential Strategies for 2022<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, enough about you. Now it\u2019s time to talk about your ideal developer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this section, you need to help the prospective candidate quickly understand:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Frankly, this is all bread-and-butter job description content \u2014 and if you\u2019ve read our\u00a0software engineering job description post<\/a>, you\u2019ll already know what to write.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But since we\u2019re talking about a remote developer<\/em> job description here, there are a few more things to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sure, you could copy-paste a generic list of developer duties. But that\u2019s probably just going to attract generic job seekers rather than qualified candidates. The result? A whole lot more applications to sift through, making your job much more difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re e.g. a hiring manager, now\u2019s the time to get some technical specifics from the company CTO or Head of Engineering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re not sure, and you\u2019re\u00a0hiring through Arc, we can help you with that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also try <\/em>Arc<\/a>, your<\/em> shortcut to the world’s best remote talent:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u26a1\ufe0f Access 450,000 top developers, designers, and marketers <\/a>Try Arc and hire top talent now \u2192<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Again, remote workers like your desired developer won\u2019t be co-located with the rest of the engineering team. They need to understand what day-to-day work would be like based on information only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So consider including information like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want to go above and beyond with this job description? Help the developer envisage themselves in the role by talking about what defines success. A common approach is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n What should the candidate achieve in the first week, first month, and first 90 days in the role?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Or similarly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n What does success in this role look like?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n By setting out clear expectations, your potential candidates will have a better idea of whether they can fulfil your expectations \u2014 or even pitch to you how they might supersede them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read More<\/strong>: How to Implement a Welcoming Software Developer Onboarding Process<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Required skills and experience are, of course, a critical part of the job description. There\u2019s no point attracting Python developers if you\u2019re actually looking for a React one!<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this section, you need to help the dev understand if they\u2019re a good fit by outlining who you\u2019re looking for in terms of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again, we\u2019ll point you to the\u00a0dedicated blog post on the topic\u00a0of software engineering job descriptions<\/a> if you want to deep-dive into how to write these. But for a quick recap:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019d urge you to take a few more things into account for a remote developer job description.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hang on, what?! Yes, we just talked about writing out requirements \u2014 but actually, there\u2019s another way of getting the same results by using more inclusive wording.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After all, we\u2019re writing a remote job description \u2014 and since people from all over the world might be applying, it makes sense to write in a way with which everyone can identify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of a \u201crequired skills\u201d list, consider listing \u201crequired results\u201d or \u201cyour responsibilities\u201d.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n What does this look like in practice? Let\u2019s compare the approaches when talking about the same skill requirement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u26a1\ufe0f Freelance or full-time remote + fully vetted<\/em>
\u26a1\ufe0f Save up to 80% with global hires<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nNinjas Not Required (Job Titles Matter!)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Mid-Level Front-End React Developer (100% Remote) \u2014 Fast-Growing EdTech Startup<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nLook Here! (The Opening Hook)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Your industry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What you\u2019re building<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your company\u2019s mission\/motivations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hi, This Is Your Developer Job Role<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Start with the basics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re non-technical, get some technical input<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u26a1\ufe0f Vetted and ready to interview<\/em>
\u26a1\ufe0f Freelance or full-time<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nIncluding more \u201cdaily\u201d information than usual<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What defines success in this role?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Got The Skills And Experience?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Consider NOT listing required skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n