1. Creating Skills-Based Job Postings: An Overview Guide

2. Contents
Skills-Based Hiring: An Introduction
Skills-Based Hiring: Implementation Overview
Example Skills-Based Job Postings

3. Skills-based hiring builds on two key practices: focusing on skills and minimizing requirements
What this means
Focusing on skills
The posting focuses on the key competencies actually required to successfully perform the role, using commonly-used terms
The posting clearly distinguishes “required” versus “preferred” competencies (e.g., “Java programming ability preferred but not required”)
The posting includes the key common activities but avoids long laundry lists that may dissuade people from applying
The posting uses language that invites people with diverse experiences and backgrounds to apply (e.g., “Military experience welcomed”; “Industry experience valued but not required”)
Minimizing requirements
The posting minimizes requirements (e.g., “College degree required”; “5 years experience required”) that are not directly related to the performance of the job
Instead of emphasizing requirements, postings focus on the key competencies needed in plain-spoken English

4. Skills-based hiring offers three major benefits
Why skills-based hiring helps
Expanded applicant pool
Many companies require a college degree to apply for a job but only 30% of working-age Americans have a college degree
Focusing on the actual skills needed for a role allows an additional 70% of the US working population to apply (e.g., veterans, workers with non- traditional training)
An expanded talent pool reduces the time to fill a job, decreases wage pressure, and reduces hiring costs by increasing the number of people eligible to apply for a given role
Attract better fit candidates
Skills-based hiring clearly articulates a company’s “requirements” and “preferences”
By focusing on what’s critical and most important, this attracts candidates best suited to the given job
Sharpen both hiring and training
Emphasizing certain skills help job-seekers understand what they need to succeed in the position
This increased insight helps to hire the right people – and train current workers to gain valuable skills

5. A few key principles to consider as you move from traditional to skills-based job descriptions
DO’S
DON’TS
Clearly distinguish what is "required" from what is "preferred" throughout the posting
Minimize the number of “Required” competencies to include only those actually required, not ones that are "preferred" or "ideal"
Limit experiential requirements (educational or professional) as those exclude large segments of the job-seeking population that may have the needed skills
Be as succinct and concrete as possible; in general, less is more
Have consistent formatting across job postings
Include location, title and contact on the posting to be included in job search websites such as Indeed and LinkedIn
Do not explicitly or implicitly present capabilities or credentials (e.g., "5 years in an IT company") that are “nice to have” as requirements; instead, call such capabilities as "ideal but not necessary”
Do not duplicate content in each section and throughout the overall posting
Do not use language that might turn off or exclude certain populations, (e.g., "Our company is a traditional workplace", "Hard and tough people will thrive in this role") particularly in areas related to politics, gender and ethnicity 

6. Contents
Skills-Based Hiring: An Introduction
Skills-Based Hiring: Implementation Overview
Example Skills-Based Job Postings

7. Creating Skills-based Job Postings: A four-step process
Gather job posting
Get Skillful
template
Customize with O*NET Data
Refine to company’s needs
Phase:
Key Activities:
Gather your company’s job postings and job descriptions
Decide which postings to convert to skills-based
Search on O*NET to determine which O*NET occupation(s) are most similar to your company’s
Visit Skillful.com
Navigate to the employer section and download the relevant job posting template
Add a short overview of your company
Map all O*NET fields to Skillful fields
Determine and distinguish the required and additional skills for the role
List skills as “Required” and “Preferred” competencies respectively
Meet with a hiring manager to refine and tailor the necessary skills for the job
Meet with current employee in the role to ensure all listed skills are required for the role, tailor if necessary
Deliverable:
Job postings/ descriptions that are to be adapted
Sample Skillful template as a word document
Customized draft of a skills-based job posting using O*NET fields
Customized skills-based job description for your company
Deep dive guide to mapping O*NET fields follow

8. Job Summary and Responsibilities Required Certifications
O*NET’s occupation description fields map to Skillful’s template fields
Skillful Job Posting Template Fields
O*NET Fields
Job Summary and Responsibilities
“Job Summary”
Required Competencies
“Knowledge” / “Abilities”
Occupational Competencies
“Skills”
Foundational Competencies
Preferred Competencies
“Knowledge” / “Abilities”
Occupational Competencies
“Skills”
Foundational Competencies
“Tasks”
Example Activities
“Find Certifications”
Required Certifications

9. For 10 roles in IT and Advanced Manufacturing, Skillful has already created job posting templates
IT: Top 10 Roles
Advanced Manufacturing: Top 10 Roles 1
Software Developers 1
Quality Control Inspectors 2
Computer Systems Analysts 2
Machinists 3
Computer User Support Specialists 3
Computer-Controlled Tool Operators 4
Business Intelligence Analysts 4
Logistics Analyst 5
Network Systems Administrators 5
Electric and Electronics Repairers 6
Database Administrators 6
Industrial Engineering Technician 7
Computer Systems Engineers 7
CAD Drafter 8
Information Security Analysts 8
Manufacturing Production Technicians 9
Computer Network Architects 9
CNC Programmer 10
Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 10
Visit Skillful.com to download a job posting template for these roles complementary

10. With a Skillful job posting template, follow the three-step process below
Prepare
Customize
Refine
Phase:
Key Activities:
Gather job postings the company wants to make skills-based
Visit Skillful.com to download job posting template and occupation deep dive
For each role, find the most similar occupation and download that content
Using the job posting template that is most similar to the role in question, fill in “Company Overview” and “Job Details” sections
Review Skillful’s proposed “Required” and “Preferred” competencies and edit the content as desired
Review Skillful’s proposed “Key Activities” list and edit to fit your company’s situation
Review all other sections and customize as needed
Meet with the hiring manager to review refine draft based on their input and insight
Meet with current employee in the role to ensure all listed skills are required for the role, tailor if necessary
Deliverables:
Job postings to be converted
Skillful job posting template
Deep Dive Guide
Customized skills-based job posting
Validated, customized skills-based job description

11. Contents
Skills-Based Hiring: An Introduction
Skills-Based Hiring: Implementation Overview
Example Skills-Based Job Postings

12. Skills-Based Job Posting Examples (1/3)
Loan Officer

13. Skills-Based Job Posting Examples (2/3)
Quality Manager

14. Skills-Based Job Posting Examples (3/3)
Business Analyst