what to include in a job spec

Product Designer Hiring Guidelines

A good job description for product designers is crucial for attracting top talent and setting clear expectations for the role. Here are some characteristics, structure, and content guidelines to create an effective job description:

Clear and concise title: Begin with a straightforward title that accurately reflects the position, such as "Senior Product Designer" or "Product Design Lead."

Company overview: Provide a brief introduction to your company, including its mission, values, and culture. This helps candidates understand the organization they may be joining and its overall goals.

Role overview: Summarize the primary purpose of the position and its significance within the organization. Outline the main responsibilities and the impact the role will have on the company's success.

Key responsibilities: List the main duties and tasks the product designer will be expected to perform. These may include:

Collaborating with cross-functional teams to define product requirements

Creating wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs

Conducting user research and incorporating feedback into designs

Ensuring designs meet accessibility standards and guidelines

Participating in design reviews and presenting work to stakeholders

Required skills and qualifications: Clearly state the necessary skills, educational background, and experience candidates should possess. For product designers, this may include:

A degree in design, human-computer interaction, or a related field, but highlight if your company don't need degree

Proficiency in design tools such as Figma, or Adobe Creative Suite

Strong understanding of user-centered design principles and best practices

Experience with user research methods and usability testing

Familiarity with Agile methodologies and design thinking

Preferred skills and qualifications: In addition to the required skills, list any additional skills or experience that would be beneficial for the role, such as:

Experience in a specific industry or domain

Potential Knowledge of front-end development languages (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript)

Potential expertise in data visualization or motion design

Personal attributes: Describe the personal qualities that would make a candidate successful in the role, such as:

Strong problem-solving abilities

Excellent communication and collaboration skills

Attention to detail and commitment to high-quality work

Adaptability and openness to feedback

Benefits and compensation: Add information about remote working, geographical or time zone restrictions. If you are in the UK, add outside or inside IR35. If in the US, add visa and location restrictions if any. If it's a freelance or contract role, add day rate or hourly rate budgets, Provide details on the salary range, benefits package, and any other perks associated with the position. This helps candidates understand the rewards of the role and ensures transparency.

Application process: Clearly outline the steps candidates need to take to apply for the position, including any required documentation, highlight you need a portfolio with showcase of work or deadlines. Emphasize whether the process includes a design task, because you might scare senior candidates off and you might want to avoid any misunderstandings about the compensation of assigning design tasks.

Equal opportunity statement: Include a statement expressing your company's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity employment. This shows candidates that your organization values a diverse and inclusive workplace.

By following these guidelines, you can create a comprehensive and engaging job description that attracts qualified product designers and sets the stage for a successful hiring process.