The importance of writing job descriptions at the understandable B1 level

Diversity and inclusion in the workplace are highly valued nowadays. Of course, it’s the right thing to do. And research shows that diversity plays an important role in the profitability of a company. A prerequisite for diversity and inclusion in the workplace is posting job descriptions that everyone can understand. Research shows that the average reading level is dropping. Meanwhile, most job descriptions are written at a level that only a very small percentage of people can understand. This suggests that the importance of understandable writing in job descriptions is not yet fully understood by those responsible for recruiting. 

The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)

In Europe, the CEFR specifies three language levels: A, B and C. These are divided into two sublevels: 1 and 2. Language level A1 is the lowest (easiest to understand) and C2 is the highest (most difficult to understand). The language level that most people (about 60% of the population) are able to read and understand is B1. Do you want as many people as possible to understand your job descriptions? Then you need to write them at a B1 level. Job descriptions that aren’t written at a CEFR B1 level are not readable for the majority of your target group. 

Keep it simple: write at a B1 level

The majority of the job descriptions posted these days use language that is too complex. That’s a shame. It means you’ll probably miss out on a large group of very suitable candidates. On top of that, it makes it even harder to reach your diversity and inclusion goals. Because what are the chances of attracting a diverse group of candidates when very few people find your job descriptions understandable? That’s why you need to keep it simple. Understandable writing in job descriptions means writing at a B1 level. By doing so, most people will be able to fully understand the requirements of the job. You’ll also make your job description more accessible to people suffering from dyslexia or those who aren’t native speakers of the language you’re writing in. 

A little help

Do you want to make sure your job descriptions are written at a CEFR B1 level? Then there are a number of tips and tricks you can use. But it’s far easier to use the platform we offer at Textmetrics. This platform uses AI algorithms to assess the readability of your job description. And they give you suggestions to reach the desired B1 level. This is as easy as it sounds. And it is an important step toward more diversity and inclusion in your workforce.